Plan to ease wetlands rules could damage drinking water resources

The coastal regions of South Carolina contain important natural wetlands which supply, filter, and store natural rainwater that provides vital drinking water to the coastal communities. They are, in essence, our “other” municipal water plants. We know that water is the most critical element to the existence of all growth and tourism and the dollars they generate. Without it, economic developers cannot develop.

For years, politicians, developers and their interests, including elected officials, have wanted to fill in those wetlands and plant shopping centers, residential communities, and golf courses, which consume precious water in increasing amounts but do not replenish the supply. There is nothing wrong with good development that provides economic development, homes, and leisure lifestyles to those who wish to enjoy South Carolina’s abundant resources. However, without fresh water, none of those things can exist. This writer is not a conservationist, but I am in favor of responsible development that maintains a critical balance between development and natural resources.

This week, an article by Sammy Fretwell of The (Columbia) State and published in The Sun News, reported that the S.C. DOT Commissioner from Horry County – Mike Wooten — attacked conservation groups trying to protect coastal wetlands. Since one of Wooten’s top priorities for being on the DOT Commission is to get Interstate 73 funded and built, as were his predecessors, this is no surprise. It is just another part of a strategic effort to do so, most recently using Sen. Greg Hembree, R- Horry, Dillon.

Sen. Hembree became a Senator in 2013, and it didn’t take long for him to land on committees that make critical decisions regarding I-73. He recently proposed an amendment to a Senate bill – that would eliminate coastal regulation law that has been in existence for decades. The push is to develop more and more inland protected wetland areas in all of SC’s coastal counties. The State newspaper reported the following:

State Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry, said the idea of easing the rules for western areas of coastal counties has merit. He said he’d like to know whether Horry County’s western section requires continued regulation as a coastal area.

It is no surprise that Sen. Hembree, an attorney, has proposed such an amendment along with a companion bill in the House that would remove the protected wetlands designation in Horry and Dillon County and other coastal counties. This could open the door to filling in the wetlands for development.

The true motive for Commissioner Wooten and Sen. Hembree’s actions may be that those counties contain the proposed route of I-73, the controversial and unnecessary $3 billion highway project. A project as big as I-73 and the related development that would occur all along the route would do significant damage to those vital wetlands, perhaps destroying them and the critical water supply they provide to the coast.

“It appears to be a deliberate and strategic position that Sen. Hembree is on these two committees. He has also ‘introduced S. 165, legislation which would eliminate the “automatic stay,” an important measure that allows citizens to challenge a governmental issued permit and prevent irreversible damage while the courts consider the merits of their objection.” Sen. Hembree’s actions were noted in the Charleston Post and Courier by former legislator, state judge and President of the College of Charleston – the Honorable Alex Sanders.

Senator Hembree and I-73 supporters have an ally in the most powerful (arguably)politician in the State - President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman (R) (Florence) - who has been a long-time supporter of I-73 in concert with elected state, county, and municipal officials, tourist facilities, and Chambers of Commerce in Horry and Dillon Counties. They are looking at the money they believe might flow into state and private coffers from (supposed) increased tourism should I-73 be constructed, but conflicting economic development studies cast doubt on their claims.

Those same business interests also have several PACS (and there may be more) in Horry County that are used to increase campaign funds — from U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham to U.S. House Representative Tim Scott to S.C. representatives and senators — to help ensure their votes and grants, when needed, for I-73, among other purposes. Sen. Graham and Sen. Scott have been supportive of I-73.

Our state has transportation needs with greater priority than I-73, including widening I-26 from the Charleston Port to (at least) I-95, and widening I-85 to the NC line to handle the Inland Port and major commerce along that national, critical route. And our state (not federal) secondary roads and bad bridges have been given maintenance leftovers in funding for decades while gas tax dollars go to politicized projects – like I-73.

“Water, water everywhere – and not a drop to drink” – that is, if Sen. Hembree, Commissioner Wooten, and I-73 supporters have their way.

The writer was a S.C. DOT commissioner from 2008-2012.

This story was originally published April 3, 2015 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Plan to ease wetlands rules could damage drinking water resources."