Bill > H4785

This bill establishes comprehensive safety regulations to protect schools from potential hazards caused by nearby industrial, manufacturing, and hazardous material facilities in South Carolina. The legislation creates minimum setback distances, requiring new industrial facilities to be at least 1,500 feet from school property boundaries, and facilities storing regulated hazardous chemicals to be at least 2,640 feet away. The bill mandates that facility applicants provide detailed public notices, including comprehensive safety and environmental risk assessments, to local authorities and school districts at least 60 days before seeking permits. It defines various types of facilities that could pose risks, including chemical processing plants, advanced manufacturing sites like semiconductor factories, and facilities handling toxic or explosive materials. Existing facilities operating before July 1, 2026, are not required to cease operations but must update emergency response plans and implement risk-reduction measures. The Department of Environmental Services will enforce these regulations, with potential penalties of up to $25,000 per day for violations, and is directed to create detailed implementation regulations by July 1, 2027. The bill's primary goal is to protect children from potential environmental, chemical, biological, and radiological risks by establishing clear safety buffers and increasing transparency about industrial operations near schools.

Business and Industry

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4785&session=126&summary=B