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Recent and Ongoing Projects
 

Voluntary Compliance Assistance for Local Governments

  In 2002, the department received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement a voluntary compliance assistance pilot program for small local governments in South Carolina . On-site compliance assistance site visits were conducted to:
 
  • Help local governments understand and meet their environmental obligations;
 
  • Find cost-effective ways to comply with regulations; and
 
  • Encourage “beyond compliance” activities through pollution prevention, environmental management practices, and innovative technological solutions.
  Environmental issues for which compliance assistance is available include:
 
  • Drinking Water and Wastewater Management
  • Fleet Management
 
  • Stormwater Phase II Rule
  • Environmental Management Practices
 
  • Solid Waste Management and Recycling Programs
  • Pollution Prevention Opportunities
       
  To assist a local government's review of its environmental operations, a Site Visit Check List is available.
  For help with compliance questions, or to schedule a site visit, contact Bob Burgess at the Center for Waste Minimization, (803) 896-8986.
   
 
Compliance Assistance for the Chemical Industry Sector
  In 2002, the department, prompted by a history of compliance issues within a specific sector, organized the Small Specialty Chemical Manufacturing Company Compliance Assistance Initiative to help small facilities within South Carolina 's chemical industry understand and comply with the state and federal environmental regulations that apply to their businesses. The Initiative had two phases: phase I was a series of three workshops and phase II was compliance assistance site visits.
   
  To assist small chemical companies with identifying their compliance requirements, a Chemical Manufacturing Facility Guide to South Carolina's Environmental Regulations was developed.
   
 
Compliance Assistance for Wastewater Treatment Systems
  The Center for Waste Minimization, in conjunction with DHEC’s Bureau of Water personnel and industry experts, has developed a set of surveys for drinking water generators and wastewater treaters, both publicly owned treatment works and industries that treat their wastewater and discharge under a NPDES permit. These surveys are designed to help the client evaluate the Management, Operations, and Maintenance functions of their facilities. These surveys are not inspection documents and are not used to initiate or contribute to regulatory actions. By weighting the answers to the survey questions, weaknesses in the program may be highlighted that, while not currently cause of concern, may need to be addressed to help avoid regulatory concerns in the future.
 
 
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Center for Waste Minimization
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 896-8986