The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC or DHEC) is the
government agency responsible for
public health and the
environment in the
U.S. state of
South Carolina.[1] It was created in 1973 from the merger of the South Carolina State Board of Health and the South Carolina Pollution Control Authority.
The agency's Director manages the day-to-day operations of the agency, while the Board of Health and Environmental Control is responsible for supervising DHEC's operations. Each of the board's seven members is appointed by the
governor with the
advice and consent of the
South Carolina Senate.
Besides offices in
Columbia (South Carolina's state
capital), DHEC operates health and environmental regional offices, as well as local health departments and clinics, to ensure that the many programs and services the agency provides meets the needs of local areas. Some services are available to all; some have eligibility requirements. Many are free, while others may carry a charge. Because each region has a custom mix of services, each local DHEC office may have a differing array of services available.
Responsibilities
DHEC staff:
respond to environmental emergencies 24 hours a day;
perform lab tests to identify
viruses, hazardous chemicals and other health threats;