SC industries may get breaks from pollution rules because of coronavirus – By Sammy Fretwell (The State) / April 16 2020
With the coronavirus hurting businesses across South Carolina, state regulators are in some cases relaxing environmental protection requirements for industries they say have suffered as the disease pandemic sweeps across the state.
Skeptics question whether the state’s initiative is necessary, but the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control says industries have cut production and their consultants are “operating at a reduced level.’’
That could make it hard for struggling companies to meet certain requirements because they have fewer employees, DHEC said.
Already, the state agency has eased requirements on at least five environmental rules and is asking businesses, government and others if they need breaks on other environmental regulations.
Industries and businesses have hit DHEC with more than 100 questions, most of them “seeking flexibility’’ because they are short-staffed, the department said in an email Thursday afternoon.
Continue to article: https://www.thestate.com/news/local/environment/article242053696.html
