This picture depicts the bulkhead being constructed in the salt marsh.

A lot owner in the Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach illegally filled in approximately 1500 sq. ft. of salt marsh to make his lot bigger.

Wayne C. Hill was issued a critical area permit by OCRM for the construction of a bulkhead and a dock on his property at Heritage Shores Subdivision, North Myrtle Beach, in Horry County. The permit was issued with conditions and required that the bulkhead be constructed no further than 1.5 feet from the escarpment. Upon investigation, OCRM concluded that at certain points Mr. Hill's bulkhead was over 30 feet from the escarpment and, therefore, was not constructed in accordance with the permit. OCRM issued an Administrative Enforcement Order for violations of the permit and the SC Coastal Zone Management Act. Mr. Hill requested a hearing before the Administrative Law Court.

On behalf of the Coastal Conservation League, our Motion to Intervene and fight to restore the destroyed salt marsh was granted. Administrative Law Judge John D. Geathers held a hearing on April 20, 2004 and ruled in our favor that Mr. Hill did, in fact, fill in salt marsh in violation of the coastal protection laws. Judge Geathers ordered Mr. Hill to remove the offending bulkhead and restore the destroyed marsh vegetation. Mr. Hill has appealed Judge Geathers' order to the Coastal Zone Management Appellate Panel (CZMAP). SCELP will continue to ask the CZMAP to affirm the order and require Mr. Hill to correct the violations.

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