Highway 41 Corridor Improvements

Highway 41 Corridor Improvements Skip to main content

PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS



Charleston County has followed a detailed environmental review process in our development of the Highway 41 Corridor Improvements project. The process makes certain that the development of projects is not done without careful study, to discover any significant individual or cumulative environmental impacts that a proposed project would create.

The County submitted permit applications and supporting documentation to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in May 2023 and South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) in December 2023. As of June 2025, the project design has been updated to further minimize impacts to wetlands and critical areas. Therefore, the permit applications, Environmental Report and supporting documentation were updated to reflect the reduction in impacts and were resubmitted to the USACE and SCDES.


Environmental Process

An environmental report is required for projects requiring a federal action to:

  • Provide for an informed decision-making process
  • Include partners in the process
  • Consider a wide variety of factors
STEP 1

Initiate the Environmental Process

  • Develop purpose and need
  • Collect baseline data
  • Conduct agency and public scoping meetings
  • Begin developing alternatives
STEP 2

Collect Data

  • Analyze existing conditions
  • Identify needed studies
  • Begin preparation of the environmental report
STEP 3

Analyze Alternatives

  • Begin alternatives analysis
  • Analyze the environmental impacts of alternatives
STEP 4

Publish Draft Environmental Document

  • Release Draft environmental report
  • Conduct public meetings
  • Hold public comment period
  • Review all public/agency comments received
STEP 5

Publish Final Environmental Document - we are here

  • Review and develop responses to comments on the Draft environmental report
  • Prepare final environmental report addressing public/agency comments
STEP 6

Make Decision

  • Prepare and publish federal decision

THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW WILL EXAMINE A NUMBER OF FACTORS WITHIN THE STUDY AREA INCLUDING:

  • AIR QUALITY
  • ARCHITECTURAL / ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
  • BUSINESSES
  • CEMETERIES
  • CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, PARKS
  • CONSTRUCTION FEASIBILITY
  • COSTS
  • ENDANGERED SPECIES
  • EXISTING / PLANNED UTILITIES
  • FARMLANDS
  • FLOODPLAINS
  • HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
  • HISTORIC / CULTURAL RESOURCES
  • NEW / PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS
  • NOISE
  • RESIDENTIAL AREAS
  • STATE / FEDERAL LANDS
  • WETLANDS / WATERWAYS