Bill > S0110

This bill amends South Carolina's air quality law to explicitly prohibit geoengineering activities within the state's borders. Specifically, the bill adds a new provision that makes it unlawful to intentionally inject, release, disperse, or emit chemicals or substances into the air with the purpose of manipulating temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity. The bill's preamble acknowledges that federal government or other entities might conduct geoengineering experiments within South Carolina, and expresses concern about the potential risks to human health and environmental welfare from such activities. The legislation is framed as a protective measure for public health, with the Department of Environmental Services maintaining its existing responsibility to monitor and regulate air, soil, and water quality. The new law would make any deliberate atmospheric manipulation aimed at changing environmental conditions illegal, while still preserving authorized activities permitted under state law. The amendment will take effect upon the Governor's approval, adding a clear prohibition against intentional atmospheric intervention to the state's existing air quality regulations.