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Review of Mining Permits

for SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)


The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) advises the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s (DHEC’s) Division of Mining and Solid Waste Management on the potential impact of mining operations on historic properties. Upon the SHPO’s recommendation, the Division may require a mining permit applicant to conduct a survey of the proposed mining site to identify buildings, sites, and structures that are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and to modify plans to avoid damage to sites listed in or eligible for the National Register.
In order to reduce the time and expense of cultural resource surveys performed for DHEC-Mining permits, the SHPO will accept letter reports for mine permit surveys that 1) do not identify sites or 2) identify only sites that are not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The SHPO requires full reports for mine permit surveys that identify eligible or potentially eligible sites. Follow this link to Guidelines for Mine Permit Survey Letter Reports. 

For guidance on hiring a cultural resources consultant, see Selecting a Consultant for Cultural Resource Surveys and Evaluations.

To learn more about archaeological surveys and evaluations, see SHPO Guidance for Archaeological Surveys.

For More Information:

  • The South Carolina Mining Act (Sections 48-20-10 through 48-20-310 of the South Carolina Code of Laws ) mandates that no mining may be carried out in South Carolina unless "plans for the mining include reasonable provisions for protection of the surrounding environment and for reclamation of the area of land affected by the mining." Applicants for mining permits must present reclamation plans to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s (DHEC’s) Division of Mining and Solid Waste Management. According to the Mining Act (Section 48-20-40), reclamation plans must include "proposed methods to limit significant adverse effects on significant cultural or historic sites."
  • Chapter 89-120(C)(4) of the South Carolina Code of Regulations authorizes the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to require surveys of cultural and/or historic resources on a proposed mine site and to use information from the survey to "determine provisions which meet the requirements for the protection, relocation, or excavation of significant cultural or historic sites as mining progresses."
  • Follow this link for more information about DHEC’s Division of Mining and Solid Waste Management.
  • Follow this link for more information about Project Review at the South Carolina SHPO.
  • If you have questions or need more information about the SHPO’s review of mining permits, contact Chuck Cantley at mailto:ccantley@scdah.state.sc.us or 803-896-6181.