COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two new agencies launched Monday, with the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) splitting into two agencies.
The new Department of Public Health will take over government health initiatives like disease control, inspecting health care facilities, and promoting healthy lifestyles, while the new Department of Environmental Services will take over environmental responsibilities; things like air quality, coastal management, and water monitoring.
The Department of Environmental Services will be more focused and efficient now that it's able to dedicate all of it's resources to the environment, says Interim Director Myra Reece.
"I know it's a huge goal, but we want to be a model for the entire country. We think we have the opportunity to do that now that we can really have a laser focus on environmental protection," said Reece.
The Department of Public Health is also launching today. Reece says they'll still continue to work together, but the new environmental agency will be more focused on transparency. Their data will no longer be tied to the HIPPA-protected health data.
"On the environmental side, we want to push our data out. We want people to take advantage," says Reece. "We are such a data rich organization. We want to take that data out of the file cabinet and let it speak and let it help our partners and others across the state as we continue to do the important work that we do."
The department says it will have 1200 employees, which is double the size of environmental personnel they previously had under DHEC.
While the new department might have more resources, it could be at risk for less funding while splitting from the health agency, says Conservation Voters of South Carolina's Zach Bjur.
“I think the benefit of being involved with the medical affairs side of things was funding was almost guaranteed because you’re not going to defund public health," says Bjur. "Something we’ll be watching for with the split it making sure the department of environmental services will be getting proper funding.”
He says one other big issue the department will have to continue to work on is PFAs, which were found in South Carolina's water this year.
"We’d like to see the department of environmental services come out strong in finding ways to reduce exposure to PFAs for South Carolinians. Continuing to work on that private well program and make sure people are protected from those contaminants," Bjur says.
The Department of Environmental Services will be housed at the old DHEC office on Bull Street, while the Department of Public Health will move down the street to the Mills Building.