Bureau of Water – Mercury Warnings
In its Nov. 16 story, The State, in listing what it called DHEC’s 10 Major Miscues said about mercury warnings, “For years, DHEC tested fish in S.C. rivers and lakes for signs of mercury contamination and developed booklets describing the dangers of eating those fish. But the agency warned residents of the dangers only by notifying newspapers and radio and television outlets.”
That is simply wrong. DHEC has issued fish advisories since the 1970s in a variety of ways including news releases, radio public service announcements, brochures and booklets about the advisories in English and Spanish, as well as postings on the agency’s Web site. The following information will give you examples of where the materials were most recently distributed.
In 2006, about 42,000 advisory booklets were distributed to:
- All DHEC offices throughout the state
- All S.C. Department of Natural Resources offices
- All OBGYN offices
- All county, state and federal health departments and clinics
- All known midwives
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program sites
- All South Carolina State Parks
- Catawba Indian Reservation
- Congaree National Park
- Biedler National Forest
- SCDNR Wildlife Rules and Regulations (notice only)
In 2007, about 52,000 advisory booklets were distributed to:
- All DHEC offices
- All S.C. Department of Natural Resources offices
- All OBGYN offices
- All county, state and federal health departments and clinics
- All known midwives
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program sites
- All South Carolina State Parks
- Catawba Indian Reservation
- Congaree National Park
- Biedler National Forest
- SCDNR Wildlife Rules and Regulations (notice only)
- Sportsman’s Warehouse (Columbia)
- Bass Pro Shops (Myrtle Beach)
- National Hunting & Fishing Day (DNR Cooperation)
- Freshwater Marinas (DNR Cooperation)
In 2008, more than 58,000 advisory booklets were distributed to:
- All DHEC offices
- All S.C. Department of Natural Resources offices
- All OBGYN offices
- All county, state and federal health departments and clinics
- All known midwives
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program sites
- All South Carolina State Parks
- Catawba Indian Reservation
- Congaree National Park
- Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest
- SCDNR Wildlife Rules and Regulations (notice only)
- Sportsman’s Warehouse (Columbia)
- Bass Pro Shops (Myrtle Beach)
- National Hunting & Fishing Day
- Freshwater Marinas (DNR Cooperation)
- Over 100 coastal vendors (DNR Cooperation)
- SC DNR Boating Safety Program
For additional information, contact: (803) 898-3432