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Heritage Mine Public Meeting & Hearing

SCDES will hold a combination public meeting and public hearing on October 1, 2026, to accept oral and written comments on the proposed Heritage Mine. The public meeting will be held from 5:30 – 7:00 PM, with the public hearing beginning at 7:00 PM. Sign-in and an opportunity to meet SCDES staff will begin at 5:00 PM. These events will take place at Lakeside at Blue Heron located at 153 James L Taylor Dr in Ridgeland, SC. 

Hiers Pine Level, LLC has applied to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) for a permit to mine sand and clay on a site located at Pinelevel Church Road in Jasper County, approximately 2.2 miles northwest of Grays, SC.  A proposed reclamation plan to restore the site to a lake or pond has been submitted with the application. This webpage has been developed by SCDES as a community resource and will be updated as new information is made available. Please bring this webpage to the attention of others you know who may be interested.

Mining 

SCDES’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management (BLWM) received an application for the proposed Heritage Mine on April 3, 2026. The BLWM provided notice of the application in the Jasper County Sun Times newspaper and began accepting comments on June 24, 2026. Additionally, the public notice was mailed or emailed to adjacent landowners, local and state government/regulatory agencies, and other interested parties.  

The mine permit application, reclamation plan, maps, and other related documents are available below.  

SCDES received a request for a public hearing. The request was acknowledged on July 14, 2026.

A final decision on the mine permit application will not be made until after review and consideration of all comments received through October 16, 2026.

Questions about the proposed Heritage Mine and the BLWM’s mine permitting process may be directed to:
Jeremy Eddy, P.G.
Program Manager, Mining and Reclamation Section 
Phone: (803) 898-7609
Email: Jeremy.Eddy@des.sc.gov 

Water Quality

Questions about the NPDES general permit coverage and the BOW’s permitting process may be directed to:
Brett Caswell
Phone: (803) 898-4396
Email: Brett.Caswell@des.sc.gov 

Impact of Public Comments on SCDES’s Permitting Process 

SCDES values all comments made during the public comment period. Local community members provide a unique perspective and are valuable resources in addressing community concerns in the permitting process.  Becoming better informed is an important first step in providing effective public comments that may influence specific terms and conditions that must be followed by the owner/operator if a permit is issued.

Effective comments are those that provide accurate, specific details about the site of a proposed project, inaccuracies in the permit application, errors in SCDES’s technical review or draft permit, and any other information demonstrating that a proposed project cannot operate in compliance with environmental regulations.  

It is important to know that SCDES cannot make a permit decision based on a vote or how many comments are received. There are also some common issues/comments related to mining operations that SCDES does not have the regulatory or legal authority to consider when making a permit decision, for example:  

  • Truck traffic, access to public roads, weight limits, and traffic patterns are governed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) and the local county.  
  • Industrial development and operating hours are governed by the local county through zoning and land use planning. 

Beginning a conversation early about these and other quality of life issues is an effective way for communities to work together with local government officials, their legislative delegation, mining representatives, and other interested parties to find solutions and reach common goals. 

Stay Connected - Community Engagement and Resources

SCDES is committed to providing meaningful opportunities to hear the questions and concerns of community members and share information on our permitting processes. SCDES offers multiple ways to connect with our staff during the permitting process and beyond, including:

  • Calling or connecting with SCDES staff to discuss the proposed Heritage Mine one-on-one.
  • Submitting a written comment or question.
  • Receiving additional information by email or mail.
  • Visiting this webpage for information and updates.
  • Stay informed about local mining issues in your community.

SCDES encourages residents to ask questions and share information with us. Staying engaged in our process helps us to learn more about your community.  

Questions about community engagement in SCDES’s permitting process may be directed to:

Donna Moye 
Phone: (803) 898-1382 
Email: Donna.Moye@des.sc.gov