Standing Up for Public Health
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. In addition, the need to seek the General
Assembly’s approval for new regulations has led to inappropriate
legislative interference. We believe that reforms are needed to make
the agency more accountable to the public and to improve oversight of
agency operations and decisions.