The League of Women Voters of South Carolina keeps an eye on a variety of legislation related to its various positions. This session, the following pre-filed legislation pertaining to environmental issues are being tracked. For the full text of the bills or to check their sponsors or status, go to https://www.scstatehouse.gov/index.php. If you have an opinion on one or more of these, take the time to express it to your representatives in the House and Senate!

• H3051 Require evaluation of green considerations feasibility (e.g. sidewalks, bike lanes) before construction begins, not as a post-road construction afterthought.
  
• H3194 Enacts reforms to Santee Cooper and authorizes sale of the utility.
  
• H3354 To amend Section 12.37.220 as amended Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976 relating to property tax exemptions so as to exempt a renewable energy resource property having a nameplate capacity of and and operating at no greater than twenty kilowatts.
  
• H3515 A joint resolution to require the Department of Health and Environmental Control to promulgate regulations to establish maximum contaminant levels for certain pollutants in public water systems.
  
• S107 A bill to amend section 48-39-280, as amended, code of laws of South Carolina,1976, relating to the state's beach preservation policy, so as to apply certain exceptions to the establishment of a baseline for coastal erosion zones and to remove the study requirement in cases where primary oceanfront sand dunes do not exist.
  
• S162 A bill to amend section 44-96-40, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to solid waste policy and management, so as to provide that post-use polymers and recoverable feedstocks used in pyrolysis and gasification processes are "recovered materials" and are not "solid waste" for the purposes of regulation by the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
  
• S184 A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 7 to Chapter 15, Title 50 entitled the "sea turtle protection act", to provide that the Department of Natural Resources shall establish designated coastal areas which are utilized or likely to be utilized by sea turtles for nesting, to define necessary terms, to prohibit the use of artificial light to illuminate an area of the beach designated by the department, to establish requirements for certain types of lighting, and to provide a penalty.
  
• S294 When a person or corporation using an electric vehicle charging station is not an electric utility, and to further provide that any increase in customer demand or energy consumption associated with transportation electrification shall not constitute revenues for an electrical utility.
  

Spartanburg Water is accepting public comment on its draft Watershed and Reservoir Rules and Regulations through August 30, 2019. Visit www.spartanburgwater.org to see details and offer comment.

Invitation Letter:
"We wanted to let you know Spartanburg Water is opening a window of opportunity to submit public comments for a draft set of Rules and Regulations governing our drinking water reservoirs. The Watershed and Reservoir Management Rules and Regulations will serve as a framework to encourage the responsible use of these natural resources in order to help us achieve our top priority: to protect the integrity of the water quality and sustain a long- term supply of source water. These draft Rules and Regulations are a comprehensive document that apply to all three reservoirs.

In a continued effort to engage with our customers and community, Spartanburg Water will accept feedback on the draft Watershed and Reservoir Management Rules and Regulations between August 1, 2019, and August 30, 2019. Your input is important to us. In order to maximize participation during the public comment window, we have made the complete Rules and Regulations document readily available to you in several formats.

You can read the draft as a digital version on our website, www.spartanburgwater.org. If you prefer to review a hard copy of the document, the digital version will be print-ready and we will also have copies available for review at each of the following Spartanburg County Library branches: Downtown Spartanburg, Boiling Springs, Chesnee, Inman, Landrum.

While we prefer you submit comments electronically through the online form that is available on the SWS website, written comments will also be accepted by mail. If sending written comments, please make every effort to note the document section you are referencing. Written comments can be sent to: Spartanburg Water System Attn: Public Comments P.O. Box 251 Spartanburg, SC 29304"

Lake Alert: Drawdown begins December 1

Spartanburg Water is initiating a lake level drawdown project for both Lake Bowen and Lake Blalock beginning Saturday, December 1.

Important details:

• This process will require the lower level to remain in place until the end of February, providing our watershed management staff and adjacent property owners an opportunity to examine the shoreline and perform other routine maintenance. 
• Although not required, we recommend that any boats be moved from the water during the drawdown. Our wardens can answer any specific questions regarding boats on the lake.
• A lot of different variables may cause lake level fluctuations during the drawdown period, the most significant being heavy rainfall. This may result in a longer time to reach our target drawdown level and, if wet weather patterns persist, may actually prevent us from reaching or sustaining these lower levels in Lake Bowen.
• The drawdown will slowly lower Lake Bowen’s and Lake Blalock’s standard, or “full pool,” heights by approximately two-and-a-half to three feet.

For Lake Bowen FAQ’s about watershed maintenance and lake levels, click here.
For Lake Blalock FAQ’s about watershed maintenance and lake levels, click here.

For more information, visit Spartanburg Water's Website or call the Lake Bowen Wardens’ office at (864) 578-5442.

Spartanburg Water's number-one priority continues to be the fulfillment of our mission to provide quality water in a reliable manner. Reliance on facts allows us to address this issue and get back to the business at hand: Ensuring the delivery of safe, quality water to more than 200,000 people.

Spartanburg Water announced a new program that provides an opportunity to gain authorization for any existing improvements — including both permanent and semi-permanent structures around Lake Bowen — that currently exist on Spartanburg Water property below the 827’ Contour Line.

The Pause Program started October 1, 2018, and continues through December 1, 2019. During this 14-month period, adjacent property owners may request to “Press Pause” and establish a baseline of permits for the improvements below the 827’ Spartanburg Water property line.

Spartanburg Water staff will work with each property owner to review and establish a baseline of permits, licenses and/or agreements. All existing improvements, semi-permanent or permanent structures, as of October 1, 2018, in good condition, will receive an authorization from Spartanburg Water.

This one-time program is open to every adjacent property owner living around Lake Bowen with property abutting the 827’ MSL contour and applies to currently constructed and existing permanent or semi-permanent structures located below the 827’ MSL contour, on Spartanburg Water property.

You may register for “Let’s Press Pause” by using one of the following methods:

• Email:  presspause@spartanburgwater.org
  
• Voice Mailbox:  864-580-2095
• Register online: https://www.spartanburgwater.org/pause
• Stop by the Lake Bowen office and complete a form. (8515 Highway 9, Inman, SC 29349)
  

by Lindsey Jacobs, Upstate Field Director, Conservation Voters of South Carolina

Join us and invite your friends and family to this free screening of The Burden, a film connecting the dots between clean energy and national security.  This is part of the Conservation Voters of South Carolina's Defense Week (October 22-25, 2018), in partnership with Upstate Warrior Solution.

Monday, October 22, 2018
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Ciclops Cyderi
197 E. St. John Street, Spartanburg, SC
First drink and snacks on CVSC

Although the event is free, please RSVP to aid in preparation for the event.  RSVP here.

We are seeking volunteers to assist with set up and facilitation of this event. Volunteers get drinks and swag on us!
 
We hope to see each of you there!

As citizens of the world we must protect our planet from the physical, economic and public health effects of climate change while also providing pathways to economic prosperity.

Why it matters:
The preservation of the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the earth’s ecosystem is essential for maximum protection of public health and the environment. The interrelationships of air, water and land resources should  be recognized in designing environmental safeguards. The federal government should have the major role in setting standards  for environmental protection and pollution control.

What we're doing:
Since the 1960s, we have been at the forefront of efforts to protect air, land and water resources. Our approach to environmental protection and pollution control is one of problem solving. The League’s environmental goals aim to prevent ecological degradation, and to reduce and control pollutants before they go down the sewer, up the chimney or into the landfill. We support vigorous enforcement mechanisms, including sanctions for states and localities that do not comply with federal standards as well as substantial fines for noncompliance.