Okatie Construction, LLC has applied to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) for a modification to their permit to mine sand at a site located at 835 Glover Road in Jasper County, approximately 2.9 miles southeast of Ridgeland, SC.  A proposed reclamation plan to restore the site to a lake 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 modification to Glover Road Mine on March 7, 2024. The BLWM provided notice of the application in the Jasper County Sun Times newspaper and began accepting comments on May 27, 2026. Additionally, the public notice was mailed or emailed to adjacent landowners, local and state government/regulatory agencies, and other interested parties.  

• Public Notice of Application for Modification of Operating Permit - May 27, 2026
• Notification to Adjacent and Nearby Landowners – May 27, 2026

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

•    Permit Application and Reclamation Plan – May 4, 2026
•    Mine Maps and Reclamation Map – May 4, 2026
•    Location Aerial Topographic Maps -- May 4, 2026
•    ACOE Wetland Concurrence – May 4, 2026

SCDES received a request for a public hearing. The request was acknowledged on June 30, 2026.

•    Acknowledgement of Public Hearing Request – June 30, 2026
•    Well Survey

A final decision on the mine permit application will not be made until after review and consideration of all comments received through October 2, 2026.

Questions about the proposed Glover Road Mine modification and the BLWM’s mine permitting process may be directed to:

Hatice Gezgin
Project Manager, Mining and Reclamation Section 
Phone: (803) 898-1375
Email: Hatice.Gezgin@des.sc.gov 

Water Quality

SCDES’s Bureau of Water (BOW) issues National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to minimize environmental impacts from stormwater runoff and other water discharges that may occur during construction and operation of a facility. 
Coverage under NPDES General Permit SCG730000 “Discharges Associated with Nonmetal Mineral Mining Facilities” is required for Glover Road Mine in conjunction with a mine operating permit. The general permit coverage addresses water quality issues of both the stormwater and wastewater discharged from the site. It also requires the installation of Best Management Practices for sediment and erosion control and report and inspection requirements.

The original NPDES coverage, SCG731598, for the Glover Road Mine was issued on November 5, 2021.  The BOW received a Notice of Intent (NOI) for the proposed modification on May 19, 2026. The website will be updated when a proposed modification to SCG731598 is issued.

Documents related to the BOW’s NPDES permitting process are available below:

Notice of Intent (pdf) 
Site Map (pdf) 
Location Map (pdf)

Questions about the NPDES general permit coverage and SCDES’s water 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 Glover Road Mine modification 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