Title 48, Environmental Protection and Conservation

(A) A person who after notice violates, disobeys, or refuses, omits, or neglects to comply with a regulation of the Department of Environmental Services, made by the department pursuant to Section 48-6-60, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more th…

Nothing contained in Section 48-6-60 in any way abridges or limits the right of a person to maintain or prosecute a civil or criminal proceeding against a person maintaining a nuisance.

The assent of the General Assembly required by "An Act to Promote the Conservation and Profitable Use of Agricultural Land Resources by Temporary Federal Aid to Farmers and by Providing for a Permanent Policy of Federal Aid to States for Such Purposes," (Public No. 461, 74th Cong…

The trustees of Clemson University may: (1) Receive the grants and use them for the benefit of the State in accordance with the terms and conditions expressed in the act of Congress and as it may be hereafter amended by Congress and in accordance with such rules and regulations a…

This chapter may be known and cited as the "Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law."

At any time after five years after the organization of a district under the provisions of this chapter any twenty-five owners of land lying within the boundaries of such district may file a petition with the department praying that the operations of the district be terminated and…

Within sixty days after such a petition has been received by the department it shall give due notice of the holding of a referendum and shall supervise such referendum and issue appropriate regulations governing the conduct thereof. The question shall be submitted by ballots upon…

The department shall publish the result of such referendum and shall thereafter consider and determine whether the continued operation of the district within the defined boundaries is administratively practicable and feasible. If the department shall determine that the continued …

Upon receipt from the department of a certification that the department has determined that the continued operation of the district is not administratively practicable and feasible, pursuant to the provisions of this article, the commissioners shall forthwith proceed to terminate…

Upon issuance of a certificate of dissolution under the provisions of this article all ordinances and regulations theretofore adopted and in force within such district shall be of no further force and effect. All contracts theretofore entered into to which the district or commiss…

The department shall not be required to entertain petitions for the discontinuance of any district nor conduct referenda upon such petitions nor make determinations pursuant to such petitions in accordance with the provisions of this article more often than once in five years.

The two commissioners appointed by the board shall be persons who are by training and experience qualified to perform the specialized skilled services which will be required of them in the performance of their duties under this chapter.

Effective November, 1982, and in November of the appropriate years thereafter, three commissioners from each district must be elected. The election must be nonpartisan and must be conducted by the county election commission at the same time as other county officers are elected in…

Except as otherwise provided in Section 48-9-1220, the term of office of each commissioner is four years, except that in newly created districts the elected commissioners' terms of office are until the next regular election is held under the provisions of Section 48-9-1220 and th…

The commissioners shall designate a chairman and may, from time to time, change such designation. A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum and the concurrence of a majority of the commissioners in any matter within their duties shall be required for its determina…

The commissioners may employ such additional employees and agents, permanent and temporary, as they may require and shall determine their qualifications, duties and compensation. The commissioners may delegate to their chairman or to one or more agents, or employees such powers a…

The commissioners shall provide for the execution of surety bonds for all employees and officers who shall be entrusted with funds or property, shall provide for the keeping of a full and accurate record of all proceedings and of all resolutions, regulations and orders issued or …

A soil and water conservation district organized under the provisions of this chapter and the commissioners thereof shall have the following powers, in addition to others granted in other sections of this chapter: (1) To conduct surveys, investigations and research relating to th…

As a condition to the extending of any benefits under this chapter to, or the performance of work upon, any lands not owned or controlled by this State or one of its agencies the commissioners may require contributions in money, services, materials or otherwise to any operations …

No provisions with respect to the acquisition, operation or disposition of property by other public bodies of this State shall be applicable to a district organized under the provisions of this chapter unless the General Assembly shall specifically so state. The property and prop…

The commissioners of any two or more districts organized under the provisions of this chapter may cooperate with one another in the exercise of any or all powers conferred in this chapter.

The commissioners of any district may invite the legislative body of any municipality or county located near the territory comprised within the district to designate a representative to advise and consult with the commissioners of the district on all questions of program and poli…

The commissioners shall furnish to the department, upon request, copies of such ordinances, rules, regulations, orders, contracts, forms and other documents as they shall adopt or employ and such other information concerning their activities as it may require in the performance o…

As used in this chapter: (1) "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources. (2) "Division" means the Land, Water, and Conservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources. (3) "Director" means the administrative head of the department appointed by the board.

It is declared, as a matter of legislative determination: (1) All lands of the State are among the basic assets of the State and the preservation of these lands is necessary to protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of its people; improper land-use practices h…

For the purpose of selecting the five soil and water conservation district commissioners to serve as members of the Land, Water, and Conservation Division Advisory Committee, the State is divided into five areas, to wit: (1) Area 1, the counties of Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, …

The Department of Natural Resources may employ an administrative officer and such technical experts and other agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require and shall determine their qualifications, duties and compensation. The department may call upon the Attor…

The Department of Natural Resources shall adopt a seal which shall be judicially noticed and may perform such acts, hold such public hearings and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the execution of its functions under this chapter.

The Department of Natural Resources shall provide for the execution of surety bonds for all employees and officers who shall be entrusted with funds or property, shall provide for the keeping of a full and accurate record of all its proceedings and activities and of all resolutio…

In addition to the duties and powers otherwise conferred upon the Department of Natural Resources, it shall have the following duties and powers: (1) To offer such assistance as may be appropriate to the commissioners of soil and water conservation districts, organized as provide…

Whenever used or referred to in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context: (1) "District" or "soil and water conservation district" means a governmental subdivision of this State, a public body corporate and politic, organized in accordance with th…

The department may delegate to one or more agents or employees such powers and duties as it may deem proper and it may furnish information as well as call upon any or all State or local agencies for cooperation in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

The department may require the commissioners of the respective soil and water conservation districts to submit to it such statements, estimates, budgets and other information as it may deem necessary.

Unless otherwise provided by law all moneys which may from time to time be appropriated out of the State Treasury for the use of soil and water conservation districts shall be available to pay the administrative and other expenses of such districts and shall be allocated by the d…

The Land, Water, and Conservation Division, shall be directly accountable to and subject to the director of the department.

Agencies of this State which shall have jurisdiction over or be charged with the administration of any state-owned lands and agencies of any county or other governmental subdivision of the State which shall have jurisdiction over or be charged with the administration of any count…

Any twenty-five owners of land lying within the limits of territory proposed to be organized into a soil and water conservation district may file a petition with the department asking that a soil and water conservation district be organized to function in the territory described …

Any such petition shall set forth: (1) The proposed name of the district; (2) That there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, for a soil and water conservation district to function in the territory described in the petition; (3) A description of the …

When more than one petition is filed covering parts of the same territory the department may consolidate all or any of such petitions.

Within thirty days after such a petition has been filed with the department it shall cause due notice to be given of a proposed hearing upon the question of the desirability and necessity, in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, of the creation of such district,…

If the department shall determine after such hearing, after due consideration of the facts presented at such hearing and such other relevant facts and information as may be available, that there is no need for a soil and water conservation district to function in the territory co…

After such hearing, if the department shall determine, upon the facts presented at such hearing and upon such other relevant facts and information as may be available, that there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, for a soil and water conservation …

The boundaries of any such district shall include the territory as determined by the department as provided in Section 48-9-560, but in no event shall they include any area included within the boundaries of another soil and water conservation district organized under the provisio…

After the department has made and recorded a determination that there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, for the organization of a district in a particular territory and has defined the boundaries thereof, it shall, within a reasonable time after e…

The department shall pay all expenses for the issuance of such notices and the conduct of such hearings and referenda and shall supervise the conduct of such hearings and referenda. It shall issue appropriate regulations governing the conduct of such hearings and referenda and pr…

At any hearing pursuant to due notice, at the time and place designated in such notice, adjournment may be made from time to time without the necessity of renewing such notice for such adjourned dates.