Emergency Permitting Procedures for Storm Damage

Published Sept. 14, 2017

CHARLESTON, S.C. --- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District announced the initiation of emergency regulatory permitting procedures in response to conditions resulting from possible erosion and storm damage associated with Hurricane Irma in South Carolina that will last until March 18, 2018.

Any resident of South Carolina that feels they have an emergency situation as a result of Hurricane Irma that would require a Department of the Army permit is encouraged to contact us to apply for an emergency permit. Pursuant to Corps regulations, an “emergency” is defined as “a situation which would result in an unacceptable hazard to life, a significant loss of property, or an immediate, unforeseen, and significant economic hardship if corrective action requiring a permit is not undertaken within a time period less than the normal time needed to process the application under standard procedures.”

Emergency permitting requests will be expedited by the Charleston District and coordinated with resource agencies as needed. Corps review and approval of most emergency permitting requests is anticipated to be completed within 24-48 hours.  

Please be advised that emergency work subject to DA permitting requirements may also be subject to other federal, state, and local approvals required by law. It is highly recommended that affected individuals contact all other agencies that have regulatory authority over the emergency work to learn their independent requirements prior to performing any emergency work.

The following is contact information for Corps offices in each county in South Carolina:

  • For requests in Horry, Georgetown, Marion, Florence, Williamsburg, Dillon, Sumter, Lee, Darlington, Marlboro, Chesterfield, Lancaster and Kershaw Counties, please contact Tommy Fennel, Chief, of the Northeast Branch (Conway Regulatory Field Office), Charleston District Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Fennel can be reached at (843) 365-4239, or by e-mail at: Tommy.E.Fennel@usace.army.mil. 

  • For requests in Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, York, Anderson, Laurens, Union, Chester, McCormick, Greenwood, Newberry, Fairfield, Richland, Lexington, Edgefield, Saluda and Aiken Counties, please contact Brice McKoy, Chief, of the Northwest Branch (Columbia Regulatory Field Office). Mr. McKoy can be reached at (803) 253-3444, or by e-mail at: Peter.B.McKoy@usace.army.mil.

  • For requests in Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Colleton, Hampton, Beaufort, Jasper, Allendale, Bamberg, Orangeburg, Calhoun, and Clarendon Counties, please contact Ms. Robin Coller-Socha, Acting Chief, of the Charleston District Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ms. Coller-Socha may be reached at (843) 329-8044, or by email at: Robin.C.Socha@usace.army.mil.

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Contact
Glenn Jeffries
843-329-8123
glenn.e.jeffries@usace.army.mil

Release no. 17-008