Horry County’s Infrastructure and Regulation Committee is reconsidering local mining regulations after the county dropped its local permit in 2020.
The county was involved in a federal lawsuit in 2017 after a mine received state permits and was denied a permit from the county. The county’s mining permit was found to be conflicting with state law, and it ultimately eliminated all local regulations. Mining permits for locations in Horry County are at complete discretion of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.
After years of controversy from mines popping up in residents’ backyards, the Infrastructure and Regulation Committee asked county staff to discuss options for local regulations to better protect existing residential areas without interfering with state permitting decisions…