South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) is a specialized nonprofit law firm dedicated exclusively to environmental advocacy and protection across South Carolina. Since 1987, SCELP has served as the state’s last line of defense against harmful land uses and major environmental threats, leveraging deep legal expertise to safeguard natural resources and communities from the mountains to the marshes.
With a team of eight attorneys and over 100 years of combined legal experience, SCELP employs a strategic, impact-driven approach focused on stopping the degradation of essential natural systems, protecting water resources, and advancing environmental justice. The organization prioritizes cases that address systemic issues, representing community groups, nonprofits, and vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by pollution and irresponsible development.
Services Offered
- Environmental litigation and legal advocacy
- Coastal management law
- Water and wetlands protection
- Wildlife and habitat conservation
- Land use and zoning challenges
- Environmental justice representation
- Nuclear and toxic waste litigation
- Landfill permitting and compliance challenges
- Stormwater management disputes
- Representation in cases involving pollution and industrial impacts
- Community and nonprofit legal support
- Appeals and administrative law proceedings
SCELP handles over 25 active cases at any given time, addressing issues ranging from mining projects and drinking water safety in rural communities to coastal development and nuclear waste management. The organization works statewide and has a particular focus on supporting low-income and historically marginalized communities facing environmental hazards.
