- Associated Developers - Updated
On behalf of the SC Coastal Conservation League, we are appealing OCRM's issuance of a permit to construct a cartpath across public trust tidelands to a small marsh island in Mt. Pleasant, Charleston County. The project does not comply with OCRM regulations and we believe that this permit could lead to evading the regulatory requirements and the development of small marsh islands.
- Carl DiPace
We have been assisting a commercial shellfisher in protecting his shellfish lease area from violations of the SC Coastal Zone Management Act. The violator has formally agreed to remove the unpermitted structure and restore the disturbed area.
- Carolina Bays Parkway - Updated
SCELP is local counsel working with the Southern Environmental Law Center to represent the SC Coastal Conservation League and the Waccamaw Audubon Society in a potential suit for violations under the Clean Water Act that occurred during construction of Phase I of the Carolina Bays Parkway.
- Central Electric Power Line - Updated
On behalf of the Winyah Rivers Foundation, SCELP has challenged DHEC´s certification of a project that would rip through more than 14 acres of beautiful, mature forested wetlands and floodplains across pristine Lane´s Creek and the Black River – all in the face of evidence that alternative routes are available that would practically eliminate the environmental harm.
- Cherry Grove/Heritage Shores - Updated
In 1998, SCELP filed an appeal of permits for wetland fill, bridging, and development of a filled-in marsh area in North Myrtle Beach; our clients are two groups and a large number of individuals loosely allied as neighbors; after winning our permit appeal, we negotiated a successful settlement that preserves about one-third of the proposed development area as a public recreation area; the file is open now only for monitoring compliance with the settlement conditions.
- Colleton County
Colleton County´s proposed Buzz Aldrin Business and Technology Park requested to fill in almost 30 acres of isolated freshwater wetlands for a commercial development. SCELP asked DHEC to deny the permit because it was entirely inconsistent with coastal protection laws, and the agency did in fact deny the permit. Colleton County appealed, challenging the validity of the Coastal Management Program – a program designed to protect isolated wetlands in the coastal zone.
- Creekside Cottages - Updated
This case is an appeal of a permit issued to Charles E. Cox/Creekside Cottages to fill wetlands that drain into Parsonage Creek in Murrells Inlet. SCELP is representing the SC Coastal Conservation League, the League of Women Voters of Georgetown County, and Murrells Inlet residents, Chip Smith and Hobie Kraner, in this appeal.
- Daufuskie Seawall - Updated
In 1988, after much study and upon recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Beachfront committee, South Carolina enacted the SC Beachfront Management Act.
- DeBordieu Dredging & Beach Nourishment Project
The DeBordieu Colony Community Association applied to OCRM for a permit to dredge sand from a sandbar in public waters in pristine North Inlet for beach renourishment. SCELP assisted the SC Coastal Conservation League, the Sierra Club, and the League of Women Voters of Georgetown County in opposing this project. A public hearing was held on December 17, 2003 where citizens voiced their concerns about the negative impacts associated with dredging in North Inlet.
- DeBordieu/Clemson
We assisted DeBordieu residents in securing a conservation easement over a 162-acre tract once slated for commercial development.
- Inlet Oaks - Updated
This is an appeal of a permit issued to Inlet Oaks Development Corporation for the dredging of a canal, bulkheading, several docks and relocation of a boat ramp in a dead-end, man-made canal off Main Creek in Murrells Inlet. We represent the Leage of Women Voters of Georgetown County and the SC Coastal Conservation League.
- Isolated Freshwater Wetlands - Updated
After the 2001 Supreme Court decision, Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, took away federal jurisdiction over isolated freshwater wetlands, the state's ability to regulate these wetlands has faced legal challenges. In a recent case, the state's authority to regulate these wetlands was under attack, but the developer eventually dropped these claims. Click on Update below for more information on this case.
- Kiawah Island - Updated
Working with Audubon South Carolina and the S.C. Wildlife Federation, SCELP has filed an appeal of a permit that would allow excavation of 150 acres of sand from the eastern end of Kiawah Island that is used by the federally endangered Piping Plover. This endangered bird´s habitat would be destroyed to protect a golf course.
- McQueen Takings Case - Updated
SCELP has filed an amicus brief in this appeal. The case is pending in the S. C. Supreme Court. This issue is whether denial of a wetland fill permit is an unconstitutional taking.
- Middleton Place Conservation Easements
We are assisting Middleton Place Foundation in negotiation of conservation easements to preserve views in the scenic Ashley River corridor.
- Port Royal Plantation - Updated
Appeal of permit for groin construction on Hilton Head Island beach, Beaufort County; in 2001, we won this case in the SC Court of Appeals; a further appeal is now pending in the SC Supreme Court.
- Safety-Kleen/Laidlaw Landfill - Updated
After 15 years of legal proceedings, in 2000 SCELP finally won the Sierra Club's appeal of the permit for this hazardous waste landfill, located on the shores of Lake Marion in Sumter County, and the landfill is now closed. The landfill filed suit in Federal Court, but so far we have defeated all efforts in that case. The landfill company is now in bankruptcy.
- Wake Stone Mine
Challenge (on behalf of local group, Round Swamp Concerned Citizens) to permit for open-pit de-watered limestone mine in area prone to sinkholes. This case is pending in state court in Horry County. The legal issues are whether the SC Mining Council has legal jurisdiction to hear our appeal of a coastal zone consistency certification for the mine, whether the Mining Council erred in dismissing our appeal, and whether the Mining Council's appeals process violates constitutional rights.
- Wando River
In 1997, we represented 6 groups who were sued by a bankrupt developer who was seeking to overturn part of a 1979 settlement of a suit over the original Wando River port terminal in Mt. Pleasant, Charleston County. We successfully negotiated another settlement that obtained conservation easements along a large amount of waterfront along Wando River and one of its tributaries, Rat Hall Creek.
- Wedgefield Plantation - Updated
Wedgefield Plantation Homeowners Association ("WPHA") applied for a permit to dredge the man-made canals within the community, and to place the dredged material in 15 acres of freshwater wetlands adjacent to the Black River in Georgetown County.
SCELP
P.O. Box 1380Pawleys Island, SC 29585
843-527-0078