DHEC reaction
Headlines after the series
- Sanford opposes coal plant, Feb. 12, 2009
- DNR opposes coal-fired plant, Feb. 11, 2009
- Governor should control DHEC, senators say, Feb. 4, 2009
- Leaking underground tanks prompt response from DHEC, Jan. 30, 2009
- 2-year ban proposed for S.C. megadumps, Jan. 28, 2009
- Out-of-state garbage: Controls sought on rising dumps, Jan. 17, 2009
- DHEC board chairman thinks governor should control embattled agency, Jan. 17, 2009
About DHEC
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control was formed in 1973 after several years of controversy over which of two state agencies could better protect the environment. In the end, the Legislature decided to merge the former State Health Department with the state Pollution Control Authority. The PCA had been under the health department until legislators split the agencies in 1970. The change was reversed within three years, putting the PCA back under the health department, but under a new name. Today, DHEC is a familiar acronym in South Carolina, synonymous with the general topics of health and environment.
SIZE. DHEC is the fifth-largest state agency, with 4,200 employees. It has a $578 million annual budget and oversees more than 150 programs for health and the environment. South Carolina is among about a half-dozen states that combine health and environment departments.
LOCATIONS: Besides main offices in Columbia, DHEC maintains health departments in each of the state’s 46 counties and additional vital records offices, clinics and home health care offices.
THE BOARD. DHEC is overseen by seven part-time members nominated by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Various lobbying groups vie for behind-the-scenes influence with the governor, trying to ensure the selection of members who have the “right” philosophy.
The board sets policy for the agency and reviews staff decisions. Board decisions can be appealed to Administrative Law Court.
The board also is responsible for hiring and firing DHEC’s commissioner, who manages the agency’s day-to-day operations. The current commissioner is Earl Hunter, a former agency lobbyist and regulator for the agency.
There is one board member from each of the six congressional districts, plus one at-large member. The members at the time this series was published were:
• 1st District. Edwin Cooper III of Sullivan’s Island. Real estate and construction attorney
• 2nd District. Henry Scott of Barnwell. Lumber executive
• 3rd District. Steven Kisner of Aiken. Residential developer
• 4th District. David Mitchell of Spartanburg. Orthopedic surgeon
• 5th District. Glenn McCall of Rock Hill. Senior vice president, Bank of America, Charlotte
• 6th District. Coleman Buckhouse of Florence. Anesthesiologist
• At-large. Paul “Bo” Aughtry of Greenville. Chairman. Real estate developer; principal in hotel management firm
How these stories were reported
Over eight months, reporters Sammy Fretwell and John Monk interviewed more than 200 people, filed dozens of requests for information and reviewed thousands of pages of public documents.
The result is this eight-day special report, published originally from Nov. 16-24.
Fretwell specializes in environmental issues for The State newspaper. For the past 14 years, he has covered air, water and land issues, from the beaches to the mountains. He has won many writing awards.
Monk is an award-winning investigative reporter who reports on a variety of issues for The State. His most recent in-depth work was on South Carolina’s illegal drug trade.
Tim Dominick has won dozens of state and regional awards in his 27 years as a professional photographer. He has worked for The State for 25 years.
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