REGULATORY PROCESSES
INFORMATION AND CONTACTS FOR THE SC COASTAL REGION
 OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CONTROL (EQC)
http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/
 The environmental regulatory arm of the SC DHEC
1) Enforce federal and state environmental laws and regulations
2) Issue permits, licenses and certifications for activities which may affect the environment
 Composed of four program areas:
 Bureau of Air Quality
 Bureau of Environmental Services
 Bureau of Land and Waste Management
 Bureau of Water
 BUREAU OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (BES) http://www.scdhec.gov/eqc/envserv/index.htm

The BES District Services Program has 12 offices within the state’s 8 District Regions that
serve to provide local support to the public.
o
Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties are located in Region 7
EQC Region 7 Office Location:
1362 McMillian Ave. Suite 300
Charleston,SC 29405
843-740-1590
http://www.scdhec.gov/eqc/envserv/dsreg7.htm
Local Office Contacts:
Title
Name
Regional Director
Rick Richter
Water Programs Manager Harvey Wilkins
Phone
843-740-1590
843-740-1590
Email
richtecr@dhec.sc.gov
wilkinvh@dhec.sc.gov
o
Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties are located in Region 8
EQC Region 8 Office Location:
104 Parker Drive
Beaufort, SC 29406
843-846-1030
http://www.scdhec.net/eqc/envserv/dsreg8.htm
Local Office Contacts:
Title
Name
Regional Director
Russell Berry
Water Programs Manager Penny Cornett
o
Phone
843-846-1030
843-846-1030
Email
berryre@dhec.sc.gov
cornetpa@dhec.sc.gov
Horry and Georgetown Counties are located in Region 6
EQC Region 6 Office Location:
927 Shrine Avenue
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-238-4378
http://www.scdhec.net/eqc/envserv/dsreg6.htm
Local Office Contacts:
Title
Regional Director
Assistant Director
Name
Larry Ragsdale
Fred Earnhardt
Phone
843-238-4378
843-238-4378
Email
ragsdala@dhec.sc.gov
earnhafr@dhec.sc.gov
REGULATORY PROCESSES
INFORMATION AND CONTACTS FOR THE SC COASTAL REGION
 BUREAU OF WATER (BOW)

http://www.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/html/programs.html
Composed of 6 program areas:
1. Water Facilities Permitting Division
2. Industrial, Agricultural, & Stormwater Permitting Division
3. Compliance Assurance Division
4. Water Quality Division
5. Water Enforcement Division
6. Water Monitoring, Assessment, & Protection Division
BOW issues a wide variety of permits, approvals, and certifications for a number of different
activities and facilities in South Carolina (drinking water, wastewater, groundwater, agricultural
facilities, stormwater, dams and reservoirs safety, wetlands, and recreational waters). Each of the
permitting programs is supported by laws and regulations that are specific to the program area.
http://www.scdhec.gov/eqc/admin/html/permtype.html#Water

401 Water Quality Certification:
Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act requires that the State issue certification for any
activity which requires a Federal permit and may result in a discharge to State waters. This
certification must state that applicable effluent limits and water quality standards will not be
violated. http://www.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/html/401.html
 Stormwater Permitting:
1) NPDES Stormwater Program
http://www.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/html/swnpdes.html
2) Sediment, Erosion, & Stormwater Management Program
http://www.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/html/erfmain.html
BOW Staff Contact Information:
Division
Director
Phone
Email
Water Facilities Permitting
Jeff deBessonet
803-898-4157
debessjp@dhec.sc.gov
John Litton
803-898-4167
littonjt@dhec.sc.gov
Glenn Trofatter
803-898-4233
trofatge@dhec.sc.gov
Water Quality
Rheta Geddings
803-898-4229
geddinmr@dhec.sc.gov
Water Enforcement
Doug Kinard
803-898-3543
kinarddb@dhec.sc.gov
David Baize
803-898-4272
baizedg@dhec.sc.gov
Robert (Hop) Ridgell
803-898-4179
ridgelrh@dhec.sc.gov
Stormwater, Construction, &
Agricultural Permitting
Compliance Assurance
Water Monitoring, Assessment, &
Protection
Water Quality Standards & 401 Water
Quality Certification
REGULATORY PROCESSES
INFORMATION AND CONTACTS FOR THE SC COASTAL REGION
 OFFICE OF OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (OCRM)
OCRM implements the Coastal Zone Management Plan to manage
wetland alterations, stormwater and land disturbance activities, certify all
federal and state permits and direct federal actions and all alterations of
tidally influenced critical area lands, waters and beaches.
Main Office (Charleston):
1362 McMillan Ave., Suite 400
Charleston, SC 29405
843-744-5838
Local Offices:
927 Shine Avenue
Myrtle Beach, SC
29577843-238-4528
____________
104 Parker Drive
Beaufort, SC 29406
843-846-1030
http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/ocrm/
OCRM’s Regulatory Programs
1) Critical Area Permitting (docks, bulkheads, boat rampls, etc.)
o
A permit is required from OCRM prior to any alteration to the critical areas, defined as tidelands,
coastal waters and the beach/sand dunes systems of South Carolina.
http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/ocrm/permit/cap.htm
2) Beachfront Development
o
South Carolina’s beaches are also under OCRM’s jurisdiction. Using historic shoreline and presentday profile information, OCRM designates a baseline and setback line along the coast. These lines are
revised every 10 years as required by the SC Coastal Zone Management Act (the last revisions were
made in 1999 and 2000). All construction seaward of the setback line requires an authorization or
permit from OCRM.
3) Stormwater Management
o
Prior to any construction in the coastal region, an approved stormwater management permit must be
obtained through OCRM. The reason for this permit is to ensure that stormwater runoff during
construction of projects as well as completed projects will not have an adverse effect on rivers,
streams, marshes and other sensitive areas of the coast.
http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/ocrm/permit/stormwater.htm
4) Coastal Zone Consistency and Certification
o
A “Coastal Zone Consistency Certification” is required before any state or federal permit can be issued
for a project taking place in the eight coastal counties.
5) Freshwater Wetland Protection
o
Using a Wetland Master Planning concept, OCRM approaches wetland management on a
comprehensive basis. If a pre-development Wetland Master Plan is prepared for a project, identifying
all wetlands, draining patterns and conceptual development, isolated freshwater wetlands of one acre
or less in total size may be impacted without objection if adequately mitigated and the wetland
contains no endangered species or critical habitat.
For more information, visit the following web page:
http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/ocrm/regs/reg_programs.htm
OCRM Staff Contact Information
Name
Program Area
Title
Phone
Email
(843-744-5838)
Barbara Neale
Steve Brooks
Joe Fersner
John Hensel
Curtis Joyner
Elizabeth von
Kolnitz
Tess Rodgers
Regulatory Programs
Enforcement & Compliance
Engineering & State Cert. S
Federal Cert. Section
Critical Area Section
Coastal Planning Div.
Director
Manager
Manager
Manager
Manager
Director
ext. 129
ext. 118
ext. 127
ext. 133
ext. 115
ext. 136
nealeb@dhec.sc.gov
brooks@dhec.sc.gov
fersnejj@dhec.sc.gov
henseljl@dhec.sc.gov
malletfe@dhec.sc.gov
moorese@dhec.sc.gov
Regulatory Program
ext. 116
rodgermt@dhec.sc.gov
Jeff
Thompson
Shannon
Hicks, P.E.
Wetlands
Regulatory
Coordinator
Wetlands
Coordinator
Engineer
Associate III
(843) 846-9400
thompsdj@dhec.sc.gov
ext. 123
hickss@dhec.sc.gov
Engineer
Associate III
ext. 121
geerrv@dhec.sc.gov
Stormwater
Project Manager
ext. 103
maddoctc@dhec.sc.gov
Stormwater Permitting
Charleston County (East of the
Cooper Only)
Richard Geer
Stormwater Permitting
Charleston (All non-East of the
Cooper Areas Only) & Berkeley
Counties
Tara
Maddock
Rocky
Browder
Stormwater Permitting
Permitting
Regional
Permitting
Manager
(843) 846-9400
browdecw@dhec.sc.gov
George
Madlinger
Shannon
Hicks
Barbara Stein
Biology
Biologist
(843) 846-9400
madlingj@dhec.sc.gov
Myrtle Beach Office
Administration
Myrtle Beach Office
Administration
Myrtle Beach Office
Enforcement
Myrtle Beach
Environmental Health
Regional Office
Manager
Administrative
Specialist
Enforcement
Officer
Environmental
Health Manager
(843) 238-4528
hickss@dhec.sc.gov
(843) 238-4528
steinba@dhec.sc.gov
(843) 238-4528
kreglowl@dhec.sc.gov
(843) 238-4528
fitzgecm@dhec.sc.gov
Bill Kregloe
Cindy
Fitzgerald
Dorchester County
REGULATORY PROCESSES
INFORMATION AND CONTACTS FOR THE SC COASTAL REGION
 BERKELEY-CHARLESTON-DORCHESTER COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (BCDCOG)
The BCDCOG is designated as the Water Quality Management Agency for the region, and
serves the role of carrying out the goals of the Clean Water Act. The BCDCOG is
responsible for the preparation of the 208 Water Quality Management Plan and the review of
all permit applications concerning wastewater treatment.
Office Location:
1362 McMillan Ave, Suite 100
Charleston, SC 29405
843-529-0400
http://www.bcdcog.com/
208 Water Quality Certification
Industries, developers and local governments must submit facilities plans and preliminary
engineering information to the COG before altering discharges or installing sewer lines. The
COG’s approval must be obtained before DHEC will permit a project.

What projects require a 208 Water Quality Certification?
1.) Projects that involve point source discharges into the region’s waters
i. extension of sewer lines
ii. new point source discharges, expansions, or changes to existing discharges
2.) Projects that involve subdivision of property that will be served by septic systems
3.) The BCDCOG does not review water line extensions or projects that fall under
one of SCDHEC’s general permits.
For more information on the 208 Water Quality Certification process, visit the following web page:
http://www.bcdcog.com/WaterQualityManagement.htm
Local Contact:
Yvonne (Vonie) Gilreath
Senior Planner
1362 McMillan Ave., Suite 100
North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 529-0400
vonieg@bcdcog.com
REGULATORY PROCESSES
INFORMATION AND CONTACTS FOR THE SC COASTAL REGION
 LOWCOUTNRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (LOWCOUNTRY COG)
The Lowcoutnry COG is designated as the Water Quality Management Agency for the
region, and serves the role of carrying out the goals of the Clean Water Act. The
Lowcoutnry COG is responsible for the preparation of the 208 Water Quality Management
Plan and the review of all permit applications concerning wastewater treatment.
Office Location:
Lowcountry Council of Governments
1-95 Exit 33, Point South
P.O. Box 98
Yemassee, SC 29945
(843) 726-5536
208 Water Quality Certification
Industries, developers and local governments must submit facilities plans and preliminary
engineering information to the COG before altering discharges or installing sewer lines. The
COG’s approval must be obtained before DHEC will permit a project.

What projects require a 208 Water Quality Certification?
4.) Projects that involve point source discharges into the region’s waters
i. extension of sewer lines
ii. new point source discharges, expansions, or changes to existing discharges
5.) Projects that involve subdivision of property that will be served by septic systems
6.) The COG does not review water line extensions or projects that fall under one of
SCDHEC’s general permits.
Local Contact:
Ginnie Kozak
Director of Planning
(843) 726-5536
gkozak@lowcountrycog.org
REGULATORY PROCESSES
INFORMATION AND CONTACTS FOR THE SC COASTAL REGION
 WACCAMAW REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (WRCOG)
The Waccamaw Regional COG is designated as the Water Quality Management Agency for
the region, and serves the role of carrying out the goals of the Clean Water Act. The
WRCOG is responsible for the preparation of the 208 Water Quality Management Plan and
the review of all permit applications concerning wastewater treatment.
Office Location:
Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments
1230 Highmarket Street
Georgetwon, SC 29440
(843) 546-8502
http://www.wrcog.org
208 Water Quality Certification
Industries, developers and local governments must submit facilities plans and preliminary
engineering information to the COG before altering discharges or installing sewer lines. The
COG’s approval must be obtained before DHEC will permit a project.

What projects require a 208 Water Quality Certification?
7.) Projects that involve point source discharges into the region’s waters
i. extension of sewer lines
ii. new point source discharges, expansions, or changes to existing discharges
8.) Projects that involve subdivision of property that will be served by septic systems
9.) The COG does not review water line extensions or projects that fall under one of
SCDHEC’s general permits.
Local Contact:
Jan Davis
Environmental Engineer/208 Project Director
(843) 546-8502
jdavis@wrcog.org