Thursday, June 29, 2023
This commentary was originally published in the Post and Courier.
By Faith Rivers James, Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation League and Chris DeScherer, S.C. Office Director of the Southern Environmental Law Center
Opposition has been expressed recently over the current plans for S.C. Highway 41, referred to as the “compromise alternative” or “road to compromise.” Some of that opposition has focused on environmental impacts of the proposal and, specifically, the wetland impacts it would…
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
This opinion article was originally published in The Island News
By Marie Gibbs
In a recent Island Packet exclusive, the new owner of Pine Island stated his intentions to use golf as a “vehicle to empower economic progress” on St. Helena Island. That all sounds fine and well, but here is the catch: golf courses, resorts, and gated communities have been illegal on St. Helena Island since 1999, and they are still illegal today.
These land uses are…
Sunday, June 18, 2023
This op-ed was written for the Post & Courier by Land. Water, Wildlife Program Director, Riley Egger and Charleston Waterkeeper Executive Director, Andrew Wunderley.
The writing is on the water: Outdated septic tank policies and regulatory inaction cost our coastal communities money, threaten our health and leave our waterways polluted.
When septic tanks overflow into waterways due to lax regulations and requirements, our communities, environment and economies…
Friday, June 16, 2023
A coalition of Charleston advocacy groups is applauding the announcement Friday by the South Carolina Ports Authority and the City of Charleston that there will be a fresh start on the redevelopment of Union Pier, a significant project that for months has drawn overwhelming community feedback.
At the June 7 Planning Commission meeting focused on the proposed Union Pier project, Barbara Melvin, President and CEO of the Ports Authority, assured the hundreds of concerned citizens…
Friday, June 9, 2023
An opinion piece written for The Post and Courier by Winslow Hastie, Faith Rivers James and Brian R. Turner
The once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform a major piece of public waterfront land in the nation’s first historic district is — and should be — no small feat.
Over the past several months, our coalition of preservation and conservation organizations has identified a range of measures needed to ensure Union…
Monday, June 5, 2023
After nearly three years of development, a comprehensive plan to protect salt marsh along the coast from North Carolina to east-central Florida has finally come to fruition.
The South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative’s (SASMI) plan calls for protecting the sinewy channels of coastal grasslands for their value in reducing flooding and erosion, providing wildlife habitat and supporting coastal businesses and economies.
“Salt marshes are iconic landscapes in the coastal Southeast, yet their health and sustainability is…
Monday, June 5, 2023
Petition to shield home buyers from unforeseen costs and damages
CHARLESTON, S.C. — This month, a new disclosure form published by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission goes into effect that will ensure better information about flood history and erosion risk is shared between home sellers and buyers across the state. This improved transparency will help home buyers better prepare for future floods and take precautions such as purchasing flood insurance. Previous requirements…
Thursday, May 18, 2023
An op-ed written by North Coast Office Project Manager, Trapper Fowler.
Conway Medical Center (CMC) would like you to believe there are only two options for the property they own in Carolina Forest — homes or a hospital — but that’s simply not true. A third realistic…
Monday, May 8, 2023
Decades ago, the St. Helena community made clear that its vision for the island’s future was a place where generations of Gullah/Geechee families could continue to sustain their rich farming, hunting, and fishing culture. This vision does not include golf courses, gated communities, and resort developments, which threaten to interrupt the cultural way of life for this community.
Today, a third and final reading by Beaufort County Council of clarifying revisions to…
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Ever since their arrival on U.S. soil as enslaved Africans, the people who became Gullah/Geechee have fought to protect and preserve their culture and land. The Gullah/Geechee Nation spans from Jacksonville, NC all the way down to Jacksonville, FL and prides itself in having its own language, customs, and distinct culture that includes celebrating and maintaining their African and indigenous roots and honoring the land.
One of the largest existing Gullah/Geechee communities can be found…
