News

Over the weekend, The State focused on a question that came up at a House hearing last week: How do we know if our rivers are clean? The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) monitors the pollution levels in…

So, in our office there is always a lot of talk about water. Lately, it’s been about the rivers running dry, toxic dumps polluting and the threat of offshore drilling. We talk a lot about water. But I am not…

Whew. We’re done with Week 3 at the State House and boy did we make the most of it. Here are some of the highlights:1. It’s all about the money.

On Wednesday, over 80 advocates filled the room for Conversations with Conservationists. The South Carolina Conservation Coalition gathered to brief Senators on its conservation priorities for this legislative session. Hosted by Senators Courson and McElveen, Senator McElveen set the tone by…

After a mostly ceremonial first week at the State House, we are entering the second week with a lot of action on conservation issues. This second week is one of organization. Committees in the House and Senate will be meeting…

Days after Catherine Templeton announced her resignation, the DHEC Board appointed a new Director, Eleanor Kitzman. Previous Boards conducted public, national searches and interviewed multiple candidates before making their decision. The current Board failed to…

We were busy protecting the South Carolina you love in 2014: Here are 10 WAYS WE CAN PROVE IT. 10) The Solar Bill passed unanimously: The future of energy is now coming to South Carolina.

In 2012, I worked closely with our conservation lobbyists and environmental attorneys to defend South Carolina’s historic Pollution Control Act. In the end, we reluctantly agreed to a compromise that weakened the citizens “cause of action” but ensured that the…

On the campaign trail, candidates of both parties often tout the value of farming, forestry, outdoor recreation and tourism to the State’s economy. But who is voting for or against protecting the natural resources that drive South Carolina’s economy? Conservation…

Thank you again for supporting our advocacy efforts this past Year. With the help of our conservation partners in the lobby, we have a lot to be proud of this Year. In the hotlist wrap-up, you'll find CVSC's summary of the 2014 legislative Year as it relates to many of our Conservation Common Agenda priorities. We were able to stop anti-environmental initiatives like the “flow control” bill and prevent further weakening of the Pollution Control Act. We passed a major piece of solar energy legislation. We were disappointed that funding for the Conservation Bank was held at the same level as last Year. We look forward to a fresh start in 2014 when we hope to improve protections for our rivers. Most importantly, we want to pause to thank you for helping us make our collective voices heard to protect the South Carolina you love.