S.452- Water Withdrawal Permitting, Sen. Paul Campbell- PRIORITY (Full Senate)
Clean, abundant water is good for the environment and good for business. Power plants, jobs, drinking water, recreation, fisheries and tourism depend on available water – but right now, there is no limit on the amount of water that is taken from our rivers. Permitting how much water can be taken is the first step for comprehensive planning and long-term water management in South Carolina.
The conservation community continues to work to ensure that S.452 will protect existing water users and maintain seasonal flows in our rivers. DNR, DHEC and other stakeholders continue to negotiate on bill language on how to manage water use once draught contingency plans are approved. After years of work, stakeholders are under pressure to reach agreement because the Senate is poised to act and prepared to make water legislation a priority.
S.1170, Three Strikes Sewage Spill Bill (Senators Paul Campbell and Thomas Alexander)- PRIORITY (Senate Medical Affairs Committee)
This bill would require all sewage systems and domestic sewage treatment facilities that have had three or more spills equaling 5,000 or more gallons in any 12-month period to conduct and implement the recommendations of a comprehensive review of their operations.
H.4503 Phosphorus Limits, Rep. Mike Pitts- SUPPORT (full House)
H.4536, Phosphorus Discharge, Rep. Mike Pitts- SUPPORT
(House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee)
H.4503 places restrictions on the use, sale, or manufacture of dishwashing detergents containing phosphates, a pollutant found in many of South Carolina’s public waters. H.4536 establishes limitations on phosphorus and nitrogen pollution discharged into South Carolina’s surface waters, and establishes a compliance schedule for permittees.
H.4500 - Septic Tank Inspection, Rep. Mike Pitts- SUPPORT
(House Agriculture Committee)
H.4500 requires inspection of septic tanks for compliance with laws and regulations upon sale of a home.
H.4507- Wastewater Discharge, Rep. Mike Pitts-SUPPORT
(House Agriculture Committee)
H.4507 requires DHEC to conduct project-specific assessments of economic and social importance of wastewater discharges in public waters.
H.3603- Emergency Notification, Representatives Carl Gullick and Mike Pitts- SUPPORT
(Passed House; referred to Senate Medical Affairs Committee)
This bill requires DHEC to create a standard procedure for public notification in the event of a major spill in public waters.
S.227 – Water Basin Signage, Sen. Danny Verdin - SUPPORT
(Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee)
This bill requires DNR to coordinate with DOT to erect appropriate signs and markers along the state highway system to identify river basins throughout the state. DNR would bear the costs of the signs.
Conservation Bank (S.903, Sen. Glenn McConnell/H.4269- Rep. Bill Herbkersman) PRIORITY (Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee/House Ways & Means Committe)
Protecting lakes and rivers, working farms and forests and natural resources is a down payment toward saving what is special about living in South Carolina. Since 2004 the Conservation Bank has been the most important source of funding for land conservation in South Carolina, protecting more than 150,000 acres of natural and historic properties across the state. Through voluntary easements and acquisitions, vulnerable natural and historic lands have been protected at the rock bottom price of $534/acre.
Last year, the economic downturn almost halved the bank's income stream, which comes from a small portion of every real estate transaction. Furthermore, the "death clause" was triggered because of agency cuts, so all funding for the Bank was diverted. Finally as the session was about to end, the Legislature allocated $2.2 million for the Conservation Bank, which is about 25% of what it would have received from real estate fees. This was the largest reduction of funding for any state agency. The General Assembly needs to demonstrate that conservation is a top-tier priority by removing the Bank's "death penalty" and keeping future budget cuts in line with other state agencies.
Funding the Natural Resource Agencies that Fuel our Economy - PRIORITY
(House Ways & Means Committee/Senate Finance Committee)
Forestry, agriculture, outdoor recreation and tourism are South Carolina's top economic drivers. Public and private officials estimate that these sectors contribute $50 BILLION and over a quarter million jobs annually. Our natural resource agencies deliver a significant economic return on a relatively small investment of public dollars, yet their combined funding comprises less than 1% of the state budget. We are concerned about the human and natural resource fallout from the severe budget cuts already instituted at DNR, Forestry, PRT, Agriculture and the Conservation Bank. This is the year to protect these agencies from further significant cuts and to invest in our state's economy by supporting their budget requests and protect what makes South Carolina a place that we all want to live, grow and do business in for the next 100 years.
S.1075- Conservation Easement Protection, Sen. Vincent Sheheen- SUPPORT
(Senate Judiciary Committee)
Properties protected by conservation easements are easy targets for condemnation for such public projects as landfills, prisons or highways. S.1075 would protect taxpayers’ investments in conservation land by holding public agencies to a high standard in justifying the condemnation of lands under easement protection.
H.3924- Prescribed Fire, Rep. James Harrison, Bobby Harrell and Vida Miller- SUPPORT
(House Ways and Means Committee)
S.1118- Sen. Ronnie Cromer- SUPPORT (Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee)
These bills provide greater protection for landowners who choose to conduct a prescribed fire on their property.
S.148 - Conservation Bank Equitable Funding Act, Sen. Chip Campsen- SUPPORT
(Referred to Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee)
This legislation would remove the current budget provision that deletes funding during budget shortfalls. Since the Conservation Bank receives its primary funding from a portion of the real estate transfer fee, the Bank's funding fluctuates with the real estate economy.
H.3955- Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act, Rep. Carl Gullick and Boyd Brown- SUPPORT (House LCI Committee)
This bill states that South Carolina coal plants cannot use coal extracted by mountaintop coal mining.
H. 4445- Permit Extension Joint Resolution, Rep. Dwight Loftis- MONITOR (Passed House; referred to Senate Judiciary)
Also introduced in 2010, due to hard economic times, many development projects that have already received approval have not been completed, or in some cases, even begun. H. 4445 would prevent development approval permits from lapsing or expiring until 2012, giving these industries a chance to get back in the black and make good on the projects for which they have already been approved. The conservation community continues to monitor this legislation to make sure that any measure meant to ease the burden of permitting does not come at the expense of the environment.
H.3253, Annexation Requirements, Rep. Bill Herbkersman/S.982, Annexation Requirements, Sen. Mike Rose- SUPPORT
(House Judiciary Committee/Senate Judiciary Committee)
These bills require that proposed municipal annexations be consistent with existing land use plans and that municipalities provide a plan for extending municipal services to the area prior to annexation. They also clarify and extend the right of individuals and organizations to challenge a proposed or completed annexation.
Reducing Mercury Pollution - PRIORITY
DHEC's Mercury Reduction Strategy (www.scdhec.gov) reports that South Carolina's fish have some of the highest mercury concentrations in the nation. Mercury exposure has been linked to brain and central nervous system disorders, including autism and Alzheimer's. DHEC's report describes the problem but fails to offer real solutions for reducing mercury pollution and for protecting South Carolinians from exposure to this dangerous pollutant. As an interim step, DHEC needs to test humans for mercury poisoning. Statewide mercury advisories should be considered for suspected freshwater species such as largemouth bass, as has been done in North Carolina. South Carolina must make a serious commitment to reduce mercury releases and adopt strict standards for the largest producers of airborne mercury releases - coal-fired power plants.
S.384 - DHEC Accountability, Senators Phil Leventis and John Courson- PRIORITY
(Full Senate)
H.3197 – DHEC Restructuring, Rep. Jay Lucas- PRIORITY
(House Judiciary Committee)
The Department of Health & Environmental Control is charged with protecting the health of the public and the environment, but too often its decisions permit excessive pollution. DHEC needs new leadership and a clear mission to stand up for clean air and clean water. The head of the agency is accountable only to the DHEC Board, but the Board has been weakened because it no longer has direct oversight over the agency's permit decisions. Stakeholders have agreed to consider internal reforms that would improve transparency and increase the Board's oversight of agency operations and decisions.
H.3297 - School Health Food Standards, Rep. Bakari Sellers - SUPPORT
(Passed House; stalled on Senate floor)
H.3297 calls for elementary schools to offer only full meals for student consumption, and creates fat, calorie, and sugar content standards that foods and beverages must meet in order to be sold in schools.
S.915- Community Economic Development Act Reauthorization, Sen. John Land/H.3312, Rep. J. Roland Smith- SUPPORT
(Both in House Ways and Means Committee)
These bills would amend state law to allow funding to be appropriated for community development corporations (CDCs) and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) for five additional years, to 2015. Thus far, $2.4 million of the $5 million authorized has been appropriated and awarded to certified CDCs through a competitive process. The Act also allowed up to $5 million in state tax credits for private investments in CDCs or CDFIs. The conservation community and CDC leaders have recently begun to collaborate about ways to connect rural land conservation with sustainable development of housing, farming and energy initiatives. We support the reauthorization of the Community Economic Development Act to encourage the continued leveraging of public and private funding to benefit low income communities and neighborhoods.
H. 4448- Energy Efficiency Financing, Rep. Bill Sandifer/S.1096, Sen. Glenn McConnell- SUPPORT (S.1096 is on the House floor)
H.4448 authorizes electric cooperatives and municipal electric systems
to implement financing systems for energy efficiency improvements. It
also gives them the authority to finance the purchase price and
installation cost of energy conservation measures. This bill provides
for the recovery of this financing through charges paid for by the
customers benefitting from the installation of the energy conservation
measures.
S.547- Energy Efficiency Resource Standard, Sen. Phil Leventis- SUPPORT
(Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee)
Since the cheapest kilowatt is the one we don't have to produce, it makes sense to adopt a comprehensive state energy policy that focuses on efficiency. Being less wasteful users of energy creates jobs, reduces pollution and enhances our nation's security. S.547 would establish a statewide Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS), a simple, market-based mechanism to encourage more efficient use of electricity and natural gas. State performance targets for retail electricity and natural gas savings would be set for utilities and would encourage South Carolina to use the least-cost energy resource, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and reduce businesses and households' electricity bills. With S.547, savings to the state's economy could approach $1.5 billion and carbon dioxide emission reductions could accumulate to 43 million metric tons – equivalent to taking more than 900,000 automobiles off the road. There is also potential to create thousands of jobs in implementing the goals of the EERS and saving South Carolina businesses and households' substantial sums on their monthly energy bills.
H.3628- Renewable Energy, Rep. Joan Brady- SUPPORT
(House Labor, Commerce and Industry Subcommittee)
This bill would authorize utilities to pursue renewable energy projects up to 100 megawatts and to recover their costs as deemed appropriate by the Public Utilities Commission; encourage the investment in the research, development and demonstration of homegrown renewable energy projects through the reinstatement of the SC Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Development Fund; and provide homeowners and businesses the freedom to install solar energy technologies on their homes and businesses.
S.9 - Renewable Energy Goals, Sen. Glenn McConnell- SUPPORT
(Passed Senate; recommitted to House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee)
This bill establishes energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for state government, by directing state agencies to procure energy efficient products. Last year the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee approved S.9 and adopted a good amendment that requires all state agencies to perform energy efficiency audits. If an audit reveals guaranteed savings, then the state agency must seek performing contracts by July 2011.
S.10 - Solar Tax Credits, Sen. Glenn McConnell- SUPPORT
(Senate Finance Committee)
H.3290 – Solar Tax Credits, Rep. Leon Stavrinakis- SUPPORT
(House Ways and Means Committee)
These bills create a state income tax credit equal to twenty percent of the credit allowed against a taxpayer's federal income tax liability for qualified expenditures on photovoltaic, solar, and fuel cell property. It also creates a tax exemption for the purchase of machinery used in the production of electricity from a renewable energy source.
S.1208- Solar Tax Credit, Sen. Joel Lourie (Senate Finance Committee) - SUPPORT
H.4703- Rep. James Smith (House Ways and Means Committee)- SUPPORT
These bills increase the state tax credit for the purchase and installation of solar energy systems in residential and commercial buildings.
S.44 - Offshore Oil Drilling, Sen. Robert Ford- CONCERN
(Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee)
This bill permits offshore exploration, drilling, or production of oil and gas off of South Carolina's coast, contingent on the removal of federal restrictions. Offshore drilling puts our state's natural heritage at risk, and meanwhile, will do nothing to relieve the high cost of fuel. The Department of Energy estimates about 18 billion barrels of oil are available in offshore regions that are currently off limits for oil exploration and development. If these regions were opened, they wouldn't begin producing oil for about a decade and would have no effect on the price of fuel until about 2030 -- over 20 years from now. Each year, tourism generates $15 billion dollars for our economy, and is responsible for 11% of the state's jobs and $1 billion each year in state and local tax revenue.
H.3270- SUPERB Fund, Rep. Jeff Duncan- SUPPORT
(Passed House; referred to Senate Medical Affairs Committee)
This bill establishes new annual renewal fees at the request of industry for the registration of underground storage tanks, in order to generate money for the State Underground Petroleum Environmental Response Bank (SUPERB) account.
H.3676- Green Globes Tax Credit, Rep. Bill Herbkersman and Shannon Erickson- SUPPORT (House Ways and Means Committee)
This bill would provide a 25% tax credit for costs incurred by a taxpayer for new construction, renovation, or commercial tenant fit-out project that meets certification as receiving at least two globes using the Green Globes Rating System or at least the LEED Silver standard. The tax credit could not be claimed before the completion of a project and the amount of the credit in any year may not exceed fifty percent of the taxpayer's tax liability for the year. Excess credits could be carried forward for up to ten years.
H.4374- Solar Tax Credits, Rep. Dwight Loftis - SUPPORT
(House Ways and Means Committee)
This bill allows a state tax credit for installation of solar energy equipment, equalling up to 35% of the amount for the specific installation.
H.4241, Renewable Energy Plan, Rep. G. Murrell Smith- SUPPORT
(House L.C.I. Committee)
This bill facilitates the development of renewable energy resources and provides funding via low interest loans and grants to individuals and organizations for building renewable energy production facilities in South Carolina.
H.4373, State Department of Energy, Rep. Dwight Loftis- MONITOR
(House Judiciary Committee)
This bill establishes a State Department of Energy headed by the State Energy Director appointed by the Governor.
H.4523, Solar Panel Sales Tax Exemption, Rep. Bill Herbkersman- SUPPORT
(House Ways and Means Committee)
This bill provides sales tax exemptions for the sales proceeds of solar panels.
H.4472, Municipal Energy Efficiency, Rep. James Smith- SUPPORT
(House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee)
This bill requires that municipalities develop “Energy Independence Acts” to help residents finance energy efficiency improvements to their property.
H 4283, Small Business Green Loan Program, Rep. Anton Gunn- SUPPORT
(House Ways and Means Committee)
This bill establishes the South Carolina Small Business and Green Jobs Micro Loan and Micro Grant Program under the Energy Office, a fund to be administered by the University of South Carolina Small Business Development Center.
H. 4093- Electronics Recycling, Rep. Dwight Loftis - SUPPORT
(passed House; in Senate Committee)
This bill bans e-waste from landfills and requires the manufacturer to
offer an e-waste recovery and collection plan in a manner convenient to
the consumer.
S.131- Electronic Waste Management, Sen. Vincent Sheheen- SUPPORT
(Senate Medical Affairs Committee)
This bill creates a system for the reuse, recycling, and legal disposal of electronic devices presumed to be a hazardous waste when discarded and it provides incentives for manufacturers of these devices to design them so they are less toxic, more recyclable, and designed with recycled materials. It establishes a cost-free program for consumers to return, recycle, and ensure the environmentally sound disposal of electronic waste. The intent is to make producers and consumers of electronic devices pay for handling, recycling and disposal costs at or before the point of purchase, and not at the point of discard. The bill further encourages manufacturers to partner with each other and with public sector entities and business enterprises that currently provide collection and processing services to develop a safe electronic recycling system for SC.
S.173 – Alcoholic Bottle Recycling, Sen. Ray Cleary- SUPPORT
(Senate Judiciary adjourned debate)
This bill establishes an on-site recycling program for beer, wine and alcoholic liquor bottles and requires beverage permit holders to separate, store and provide for the collection of containers sold on their premises.
H.4318- Yucca Mountain Resolution, Rep. Tom Young- SUPPORT
(Passed House; referred to Senate Judiciary Committee)
This resolution registers the strong objection of the South Carolina General Assembly to the federal government's decision to abandon Yucca Mountain as the preferred permanent repository for defense nuclear waste and commercial spent fuel.
H.3179 – Farm to School Bill, Rep. Dan Cooper- SUPPORT
(Passed House; stalled on Senate floor)
This bill encourages school districts to purchase locally and regionally produced foods in order to improve student nutrition and strengthen local and regional farm economies.
S. 979- Sea Turtle Protection Act, Sen. Tom Davis - SUPPORT
(Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee)
Introduced in 2010, if passed, this legislation would provide sea turtles clear access to the ocean by prohibiting individuals from leaving “personal items” and/or temporary structures on public beaches overnight.
