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Donate NowWhat is the issue?
How can we make sure that DHEC has the structure and support needed to make strong decisions that protect the health and welfare of people and wildlife in South Carolina?
From water quality testing to air monitoring, DHEC studies and regulates the sources of pollution into our environment. They should have the structure and autonomy to do their job well. The Chairman of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee announced intentions to hold hearings on possible reforms to the agency.
How would it affect South Carolina?
DHEC is responsible for implementing health and environment programs all over the State and every citizen has an active interest in having an agency that is well equipped to do its job. S. 384, as well as the upcoming hearings before the Senate Medical Affairs Committee , is a chance for citizens and businesses to let legislators know how DHEC could operate more efficiently.
What can you do about it?
Participate in the public hearings, when they are scheduled, and support S. 384 when it comes back before the committee.
- S. 384 would S. 384, was introduced by Sens. Leventis, Courson, Sheheen, Reese, Mathews, and Thomas. The bill does away with the existing board structure and places policy making authority and certain aspects of agency management in the hands of a newly created Secretary of Health and Environmental Control. The Secretary would be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. This change is aimed at centralizing policy accountability in a single office.
- S. 384 creates 2 new review panels that could hear appeals in permitting matters. The Health review panel and the Environmental Control review panel would each consist of three members with expertise in relevant fields. These review bodies would ensure that the best science is used and that agency policy is consistently applied. These changes would be a signifiacnt first step in changing DHEC. The reccomendations of the Commtttiees hearing will be important in amendments to the bill.
- The recent series in the State Newspaper "DHEC Under Fire" (October 2008)Link/attach describes in details the problems that DHEC has experienced in the lest 20 years. These problems span from heavy metals in drinking water to Dioxin in the soil and paint a negative picture of our State Agency's ability to protect the environment. Change to the structure
The Senate Bill to Reform the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control,S. 384, was introduced last Tuesday by Sens. Leventis, Courson, Sheheen, Reese, Mathews, and Thomas. The bill does away with the existing board structure and places policy making authority and certain aspects of agency management in the hands of a newly created Secretary of Health and Environmental Control. The Secretary would be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. This change is aimed at centralizing policy accountability in a single office.
S. 384 creates 2 new review panels that could hear appeals in permitting matters. The Health review panel and the Environmental Control review panel would each consist of three members with expertise in relevant fields. These review bodies would ensure that the best science is used and that agency policy is consistently applied. The bill was assigned to the Medical Affairs Committee. CCL will continue to follow the discussions about how to improve the agency throughout the session.
