By The Associated Press
The board of the Department of Health and Environmental Control will not reconsider the conditional approval given by the DHEC staff for seismic testing for oil and natural gas off the South Carolina coast.
The Post and Courier of Charleston reports the board decided against taking another look on Thursday.
Coastal communities and environmental groups wanted a review after the DHEC staff last month gave conditional approval for testing, finding a proposal by Spectrum GEO consistent with state environmental laws. The company wants permission to survey from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the state reviewed its plan.
Environmental groups contend DHEC did not adhere to a state law requiring a public hearing on the matter if more than 20 people or a public official requests one.
