Notice of 60 Day Public Comment Period
December 13, 2016 - February 13, 2017
Background
The Wave Dissipation System (WDS) is a research study under an independently designed and academically sponsored pilot program by The Citadel. The study was established by the South Carolina Legislature in Budget Proviso 34.51 of the 2014-2015 General Appropriations Act (amended in 2015-2016 as Budget Proviso 34.48) and ended on July 28, 2016.
DHEC's Role
Pursuant to 1976 Code Ann. Section 48-39-320(C), the Department is tasked with determining whether the WDS has been successful in addressing an erosional issue and whether it should be allowed for continued use.
WDS structures on Harbor Island and the Isle of Palms have been allowed to remain in place while final study results and analysis by DHEC were completed. After reviewing data and information from the Citadel's final report, the final report from a third party evaluation, and the Department's own observations and evaluations, a staff recommendation was presented to the DHEC Board on December 8, 2016.
DHEC's analysis of all available information indicates that the WDS has not successfully addressed erosional issues at the installation sites, has resulted in negative impacts to the beach and does not meet the performance criteria of a qualified device as defined by statute. DHEC-OCRM staff has recommended that the Board of Health and Environmental Control not approve the WDS for future use and that the existing structures be required to be removed from the beach following the final agency decision.
Next Steps
To ensure that the general public and potential affected parties have the opportunity to provide input, the Board granted approval to publish the DHEC-OCRM staff recommendation for a 60-day public comment period. Following the public comment period, the Board will conduct a public hearing to receive additional information for consideration in determining a final agency decision.
The public is invited to review the below documents and provide comment to the Department. Interested persons may submit comments by surface mail to Mr. Blair Williams, S.C. DHEC-OCRM, 1362 McMillian Avenue Suite 400, Charleston, SC 29405; or by email at ocrm-comments@dhec.sc.gov.
To be considered, comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. on February 13, 2017, the close of the public comment period. Comments received shall be submitted to the Board of Health and Environmental Control for consideration prior to a Public Hearing at a regularly scheduled Board meeting on March 9, 2017.