South Carolina’s coastal areas are experiencing increased development pressures, particularly in rural areas, where dense clusters of conventional septic tank systems are often chosen by developers because of lack of access to sewer and low cost. Currently, DHEC does not review septic tank permits for consistency with the Coastal Management Program when they are placed in the coastal zone – despite applying these policies to almost every other type of state environmental permit.

Two landmark live oak trees, one 60 inches in diameter and one 43 inches in diameter, and both estimated to be nearly 200 years old, were under threat by developers attempting to clear the land for five homes in Port Royal.