The department shall implement a statewide erosion and sediment reduction and stormwater management program as follows:

(1) The department is designated as the state agency responsible for developing, coordinating, and promoting erosion and sediment reduction and stormwater management programs in the State.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 48-18-40

  • Department: means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. See South Carolina Code 48-18-20
  • Erosion: means the wearing away of the ground surface by the action of wind, water, gravity, or any combination thereof. See South Carolina Code 48-18-20
  • Local government: means any county or municipality. See South Carolina Code 48-18-20
  • Quasi-state agency: means any entity other than a state agency but having some attributes of a state agency by virtue of the fact that the State has some authority to make rules and regulations by which it is governed. See South Carolina Code 48-18-20
  • Sediment: means soil or other earth-like material that has been moved by the forces of water, wind, gravity, or any combination of them. See South Carolina Code 48-18-20
  • Sedimentation: means the process or action of depositing sediment. See South Carolina Code 48-18-20
  • Stormwater: means the direct runoff of water and associated material resulting from precipitation in any form. See South Carolina Code 48-18-20

(2) The department must develop general guidelines for reducing erosion and sedimentation and improving stormwater management for use by conservation districts, local government, landowners, and land users of the State. The department must publicize and promote these guidelines through information and education programs.

(3) The department must conduct surveys, investigations, and assessments of erosion, sediment, and stormwater management problems.

(4) The department must make available existing technical assistance upon request to local governments, conservation districts, landowners, and land users.

(5) The department must promulgate regulations for erosion and sediment reduction and stormwater management only on land either owned by the State, a state agency, or quasi-state agency or land under the management or control of such an entity through right-of-way easements or other agreements between such entities and private landowners, and must develop regulations for this purpose pursuant to § 48-18-70. The regulations shall apply to privately owned lands only where they are under the management or control of the State, a state agency, or quasi-state agency through right-of-way easements or other agreements.