Environmental Action in South Carolina

A finding aid is a single document which explains how the collection was acquired and processed, the historical context, the size, and an inventory of the series and folders.

Environmentalists, Inc. (E.I.) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in February of 1972 originally in “reaction to fears over the building of the Barnwell Fuel Plant” and to combat the promotion of nuclear power without adequate attention to its risks and weaknesses. It later devoted itself “to the protection of the environment and public health.” E.I. is mostly involved in nuclear issues, but also is involved with toxins and other environmental projects.

In the Papers: The Environmentalists, Inc. papers include administrative files, lawsuits and legal proceedings, publications, newspaper clippings, photographs, and topical records mostly relating to nuclear energy and waste.

Hollings represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate, 1966 to 2005, as Governor and Lt. Governor, 1955 to 1963, and as a state legislator, 1949 to 1954. He was on the Commerce, Budget, and Appropriations committees, whose work impacted environmental policies, and was a key figure in the creation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

In the Papers: There are approx. 1100 relevant folders spread throughout the Legislative Files and Constituent Correspondence of his Senate Papers. Browse through folders under the headings: Animals, Commerce, Energy, Environment, and Interior. Or, search for key words/phrases like:
* environment, pollution, recycling, conservation, forestry, wetlands, endangered species
* oceans, coastal zone management, fisheries, marine, outer continental shelf, water quality, clean water, marine mammal protection
* National Wildlife Refuge, National Park Service, Congaree Swamp, Environmental Protection Agency, Land and Water Conservation Fund, BASF, National Ocean Policy Study, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), Fish and Wildlife Service, Barnwell, Savannah River Plant
* nuclear energy, nuclear waste, mining, fuel economy, natural gas, alternative fuel, oil spills, hazardous waste pipeline safety

In addition, there are approx. 100 relevant speeches in the Speeches series with additional relevant documents in Press and Media, Voting Record, Campaign Files, and Clippings. Also, some of the Senator’s digitized writings and speeches are part of Fritz Hollings: In His Own Words.

Keyserling represented Beaufort County in the S.C. House from 1977 to 1993. She served on the Joint Legislative Committee on Energy and in 1991, become Energy Committee Chair. She is associated with several pieces of major energy legislation, such as the Solid Waste Bill, Energy Conservation and Policy Management Act, South Carolina Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act of 1992, Southeastern Interstate Low-Level Waste Compact, Energy Tax Credit Bill, and the Prohibition of Nuclear Waste from Foreign Countries. From 1979 to 1982, she was a member of Congress’ Advisory Panel on Nuclear Waste Disposal. After retirement from the House, she served on the Advisory Committee to the State Energy Office.

In the Papers: Keyserling's papers reflect her concern for natural resources and the production and use of energy in South Carolina from the 1970s through 1990s. Browse through the Beaufort Co. files (boxes 3- 6), Energy files (boxes 11-21), Hazardous Waste files (box 22), Marine Resources (box 23), National Conference of State Legislatures (box 24), and Natural Resources (box 25). Or, search for the keywords below in her finding aid.

* conservation, beachfront erosion, underwater antiquities, wildlife, energy conservation, cogeneration, carpooling, hydroelectric energy, solar energy, energy tax credits, solid waste, nuclear waste, energy research, energy planning
* Shrimping, Easements, Savannah River Plant, Barnwell Nuclear Fuel Plant

Formed in 1951 from leagues in Charleston, Columbia and Spartanburg, and is a non-partisan organization that encourages citizens to learn about and become active in government.

In the Papers: The State League Records include program files for topics under study and reflect the League’s diverse concerns. Close to 150 folders under the heading “Natural Resources” relate to coastal zone management, land use in Richland and Lexington Counties, nuclear energy, hazardous and nuclear waste, and water (Boxes 25 to 31) and cover the late 1950s to the mid 1990s.

Hamby founded the all-female Bradley, Graham, and Hamby Advertising and Public Relations Agency in Columbia, S.C., in 1951. They counted numerous major businesses and high-profile politicians among their clients. In the early 1970s, they represented several environmental groups concerned about the potential impact of a manufacturing plant for dyes, plastics and petrobased products that German chemical company BASF (Badische Anilin and Sodafabrik) sought to construct in Beaufort. These groups included South Carolinians for a Better Environment, South Carolina Environmental Action, Inc., and the Citizens Association of Beaufort County.

In the Papers: The Hamby Papers (7.25 linear ft., 1946 to 2001) contain mostly client files. The Bradley, Graham, and Hamby Agency’s efforts on behalf of environmental groups in the BASF campaign are documented with 25 folders of correspondence, ad campaign files, printed materials, etc.

Kelly got involved in environmental protection causes in 1972 when she joined the League of Women Voters of SC. She became president of the State League and held leadership positions in organizations like the South Carolina Environmental Law Project. She also served on the DHEC Environmental Quality Control Advisory Board, the Governor’s Statewide Hazardous Material Steering Committee, and the South Carolina Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy Panel.

In the Papers: Most of the approx. 18 cartons document her work on issues surrounding nuclear energy and waste, hazardous waste, and natural resources in general from the 1970s through 2008.

The codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation.

Environmental laws and regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Source for information on the development of Federal regulations and other related documents issued by the U.S. government. Includes environmental documents.

The United States Code is the codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States. It is divided by broad subjects into 51 titles and published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives.