The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) admitted on May 18 to a violation of the Clean Water Act. The violation occurred while constructing a road to be used for silvaculture activities at a DNR titled property known as Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve in Horry County.

“DNR personnel performed work that exceeded what is allowed under the silvaculture exemption provided in the Clean Water Act,” said DNR agency director John Frampton in a Charleston new conference. “This additional work resulted in the unauthorized filling of six acres of wetlands. Our staff was under the assumption that they were following Best Management Practices under the silvacultural exemption of the Clean Water Act—this assumption was in error.”

This particular incident requires a public apology to the people of South Carolina. DNR is determined to be forthright and not assign blame to others. The agency made a mistake and does not seek to maneuver out of any shortcomings. DNR regrets any burden on the Corps of Engineers and thanks the Charleston District Regulatory Staff for bringing this matter forward.

DNR has title to over 250,000 acres of land in South Carolina, and this responsibility requires a considerable effort in land and management. The agency undertakes the management of these lands with a dedicated and motivated staff that is human, and sometimes does things with good intentions, but in this case, without proper coordination up the chain of command.

DNR is committed to working with the Corps of Engineers on the necessary permitting to address these actions and avoidable wetland impacts. This will include a complete and careful remediation of the wetlands impacts DNR caused to occur at Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve. It also will include mitigation and restoration efforts either at Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve or another nearby DNR titled property. DNR will work closely with the corps of engineers to determine where, and how much mitigation and restoration will be needed.

DNR will work with the corps of engineers on a Good Will Program, which will include training for DNR staff and DNR policy changes to ensure a violation like this is not repeated. The Good Will Program will include a considerable amount of public outreach and education on the values and ecological services provided to South Carolina by our precious wetland resources. Over the next many months, South Carolinians will see the DNR efforts of Good Will in many venues including through DNR news releases, in the SC Wildlife Magazine and through various electronic media. DNR will make a difference in awareness of the need for wetland protection.

South Carolina’s natural resources are essential for economic development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the state's economy overall. Find out more at: www.dnr.sc.gov/green/index.html.