Bears Bluff Proposed Mine Operating Permit Application I-002231 
Applicant - Perfect Island LLC
TMS# 1970000094

DHEC Public Comment has been extended to November 15, 2019. 

DEHEC: Public Notice of Sand Mine Application

If the above sand mine application is approved on Wadmalaw Island:

This will be the only mine on a coastal sea island in Charleston. 

How many more mines will follow?

You can answer that question for yourself by looking at that attached DHEC Map. There are 16 sand mines on Johns Island and 15 sand mines in Hollywood/Ravenel. Wadmalaw represents the only area clear of sand mines in the greater Charleston area.

*Should this mine be approved our Island will quickly follow the development patterns already seen on the once rural John's Island.

The mine is still in the application process at DHEC. Originally, the application requested a 40 acre pit with direct discharge into Leadenwah Creek. The discharge was denied so the applicant filed for a no discharge permit and reduced the mine to approximately 20 acres.

1) Issue 1 - Extensive Dewatering with potential impacts to shallow wells, and the chance of water discharge into federally protected wetlands and watersheds.

The intent is to dig 3 acres at a time. 3 acre areas are required in order to pump subsurface waters into the previous 3 acre area. Since the dig will meet subsurface water at approximately 2 feet it will most likely require continuous pumping from the active pit into the previously bermed areas.

Large pumps are required to move that amount of water and their sounds carries outside of the mining operation. Heavy equipment produces lots of noise as well that will certainly be heard across the island.

Some residents' water wells may become contaminated: DHEC has not guaranteed mining operations will not impact shallow water wells. 

2.) Issue 2 - Federal/State Endangered or Threatened Species not adequately considered in the application

Endangered or threatened animals in the Lowcountry include: Amphibians - Frosted Flatwood Salamander,Gopher Frog; Birds - American Wood Stork, Bachman’s Warbler, Bald Eagle, Black-capped petrel, Eastern Black Rail, MacGillivray’s Seaside Sparrow, Piping Plover, Red-cockaded woodpecker, and Red Knot.

3.) Issue 3 - Increased Commercial Traffic on Wadmalaw

There will be only one way on and one way off the island via Maybank Highway over the small rural Esau Jenkins Bridge.

4.) Issue 4 - Wadmalaw Agricultural Preservation District

*An industrial sand mine is not an approved use by right on AG-15.

Should the mine application be approved by DHEC the applicant would then be required to request a special exception through BZA (Board of Zoning Appeals).

In other controversial sand mine cases Charleston County BZA has approved the exception request by relying on the proximity of other mines as the criteria to approve. It is vitally important that all voice their opposition to what would be the first DHEC approved sand mine on Wadmalaw.

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Please sign this petition and write a brief letter or email to DHEC voicing your concerns. Say no to a plan to remove Wadmalaw one dump truck at a time.

Send comments to the DHEC Section Manager:
Joe Koon 
DHEC-BLWM
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201

email: koonjm@dhec.sc.gov
re: Permit Application I-002231