Opinion ID: 2506164
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: DHEC Jurisdiction

Text: The circuit court held that the isolated wetlands located on respondent's lot were without the jurisdiction of both the Army Corps of Engineers and DHEC, relying upon Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 531 U.S. 159, 121 S.Ct. 675, 148 L.Ed.2d 576 (2001). As we explained in Spectre, LLC v. S.C. Dep't of Health and Enviro. Cntrl., 386 S.C. 357, 688 S.E.2d 844 (2010), Solid Waste holds that the Corps may not regulate isolated wetlands, but has no impact on DHEC's ability, as a state agency, to do so. While Spectre decided DHEC's continuing authority under the coastal management program developed pursuant to the statutory mandate found in the Coastal Zone Management Act, this Act specifically defines the waters subject to its regulation by DHEC to include isolated wetlands. See S.C.Code Ann. § 48-1-10(2) (2008). We find the circuit court erred in holding DHEC lacked jurisdiction over the isolated wetlands located on respondent's Pawleys Island lot.