CHAPTER 51 - AQUACULTURE PERMIT ASSISTANCE OFFICE - South Carolina Statutes

Title 46 - Agriculture

CHAPTER 51.

AQUACULTURE PERMIT ASSISTANCE OFFICE

SECTION 46-51-10. Aquaculture Permit Assistance Office created; permit facilitator to be designated; powers and duties.

There is created within the Department of Agriculture an Aquaculture Permit Assistance Office. A permit facilitator must be designated by the Commissioner of Agriculture to carry out the functions of the Aquaculture Permit Assistance Office. The permit facilitator shall provide a potential aquaculturist with such information, services, and assistance as may be necessary including, but not limited to:

(1) assistance in obtaining all permits from the various permitting agencies required to operate an aquaculture operation;

(2) technical assistance from the various state and private agencies and institutions involved in aquaculture research;

(3) assistance throughout the entire permit process and information concerning changes to a state or federal law or regulation which may affect the outcome of a permit application or change the permitting process;

(4) application forms.

SECTION 46-51-20. Single application form for all permitting agencies to be established.

Within ninety days after the creation of the office the facilitator shall meet with the director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, the director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the executive director of the State Budget and Control Board to establish one application form which must be used by all the permitting agencies when a potential aquaculturist is seeking permits, licenses, and certifications to begin an aquaculture operation. The permit facilitator shall recognize the value and integrity of the permitting programs of each of the state's regulatory agencies listed above and seek to maintain the division of authority.

SECTION 46-51-30. Procedure to obtain permits.

An individual seeking to obtain the necessary permits to begin an aquaculture operation must be directed to the Aquaculture Permit Assistance Office to complete an application and provide all information required by the permitting agencies to process the application and render a decision.