1. Legislative Audit Council examination of DHEC. This upcoming state audit will study whether DHEC adequately notifies the public of fines and environmental hazards. It is expected to be finished next year.
2. Federal lawsuit against DHEC top officials. It may unearth details of whether the officials responded to political influence in an agency investigation of an asbestos disposal case in Lexington County.
3. Legislative action. Will the Legislature move to reverse the DHEC-approved trend of enabling South Carolina’s burial of millions of tons of out-of-state garbage? Will the Legislature sanction DHEC’s policy of allowing developers to build closer to the ocean on renourished beaches? Will there be a move to make DHEC a cabinet-level agency or break it into parts?
