The South Carolina Mining Act 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 Environmental Services (DES - formerly DHEC). 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 DES 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."
For more information, see DES Mining and Reclamation.
SHPO Role
The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) advises DES on the potential impact of mining operations on historic properties. Upon the SHPO’s recommendation, DES may require a mining permit applicant to conduct a survey of the proposed mining site to identify buildings, structures, sites, objects and districts that are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and to modify plans to avoid damage to historic properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register.