What SCDHEC checks during a construction site inspection in South Carolina

SCDHEC field inspectors can visit any active NPDES-permitted construction site in South Carolina without advance notice. When they arrive, the first thing they do is not walk the site: they ask for the SWPPP. The physical condition of the BMPs matters, but the inspection starts with the records. A site where the BMPs are intact but the inspection log is incomplete or out of date is still in violation. Most construction stormwater enforcement actions in South Carolina originate with a records deficiency, not a physical BMP failure.

An inspector arriving on site will typically ask the superintendent or the site contact for the SWPPP binder. The SWPPP must be maintained on site throughout active construction. An inspector who cannot be given the SWPPP during the visit notes the deficiency immediately. The SWPPP must reflect current site conditions, which means it should be updated when the site layout changes, when BMPs are added or removed, or when the permit coverage changes.

The inspection log is the second document reviewed. The inspector checks that the log is current through the most recent required inspection date: entries at minimum every seven calendar days during active land disturbance, and a separate entry within 24 hours of any rainfall event measuring 0.5 inches or more. The most common gap is a rain event inspection that did not get logged within the 24-hour window, or a seven-day entry dated more than seven days after the previous one.

Each entry in the SWPPP inspection log must include the date and time of inspection, weather conditions at the time, the name and certification of the inspector, findings at each BMP location on the site, and any corrective action taken or required. SCDHEC requires that the inspector of record be a qualified inspector. In practice that means a CEPSCI-certified inspector or someone working under direct CEPSCI supervision.

The record must cover the entire site. An entry that documents the main construction area but omits the perimeter silt fence runs, the sediment basins, and the discharge points is not a complete record even if the documented areas are in good condition. SCDHEC inspectors check whether the record reflects what the full site requires, not just whether the documented locations look acceptable.

SCDHEC enforcement findings on construction sites fall into predictable patterns. Missing rain event entries are the most common. The 24-hour inspection clock on a qualifying rain event runs whether or not the site superintendent noticed the event or measured the accumulation. An inspector with access to a nearby NOAA weather station can verify that a 0.5-inch event occurred on a given date and compare it against the log. A missing entry for that date is a documented violation.

A second common finding is an inspection record not tied to a named certified inspector. Undated entries, a log signed weeks after the inspection date, or entries where the inspector is listed without certification noted are all deficiencies. A third finding is a SWPPP that describes a site layout from early in the project that no longer matches current conditions: sediment basins that have been removed, drainage areas that changed with the grading sequence, or BMPs listed on a plan that does not reflect the current site.

Aerial drone documentation provides a GPS-tagged, timestamped photo record of every BMP location on the site on the date of the flight. When the qualified inspector of record reviews the documentation and signs the corresponding log entry, the record reflects conditions across the full site, not just the areas reachable on a ground walk under time pressure. For SWPPP consultants managing multiple active sites across the Midlands, Lowcountry, or Pee Dee regions, aerial documentation expands the inspection capacity available on a given day.

SC Drone Services provides aerial BMP inspection documentation for active NPDES-permitted construction sites statewide. For Upstate SC sites, operations are handled by our partner Upstate Drone Services. For BMP documentation and SWPPP subcontractor support statewide, see our BMP inspections and SWPPP inspection support service pages.