This аppeal concerns an industrial solid waste permit sought by Appellant, Southeast Resource Recovery, Inc. (SRRI). Respondent, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), initially issued and later withdrew Solid Waste Landfill Permit No. 362624-1601 (the “permit”), thereby preventing SRRI’s construction and operation of an industrial waste landfill in the Helena Community of Newberry County. The Involved Citizens of the Helena Community and others (Citizens), are also respondents in this proceeding.
FACTS
Before SRRI applied for an industrial waste landfill permit, SRRI submitted a written request to the Newberry County Council for a determination the proposed landfill was consistent with the Newberry County Solid Waste Management
After receiving the LOC, SRRI began planning its proposed facility. During September and October 1995, SRRI performed a hydrogeologic characterization of the site at DHEC’s request. In December 1995, SRRI submitted its permit application to DHEC’s Bureau of Solid and Hazardous Waste. In 1996, SRRI conducted a wetlands delineation and in September of that year SRRI received a letter authorizing fill of the wetland. In June 1997, SRRI undertook another wetlands delineation after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers changed the threshold for issuance of a permit to fill the wetlands. As a result of the 1997 delineation, SRRI dеcided to eliminate the portion of the landfill that would occupy wetland areas and voluntarily established a 200-foot buffer around the wetland.
During the 1997 legislative session, the General Assembly enacted Act No. 100, 1997 S.C. Acts 487 (Act 100), which prevents a commercial industrial solid waste landfill from being constructed within 1,000 feet of a residence. Act 100 does not define “residence.”
Following the enactment of Act 100, Bill and Eliza Parr, named respоndents in this action, placed a mobile home on their property, which is adjacent to SRRI’s landfill site. SRRI redesigned the landfill to establish the 1,000-foot buffer from the mobile home prior to making a final permit decision.
After conducting a thorough analysis of the facility, DHEC issued the permit on September 5, 1997. DHEC applied the requirements of 25 S.C.Code Ann. Reg. 61-66 (1976) relating to Industrial Waste Landfills. One day prior to DHEC issuing SRRI its permit, a recreational camрer was moved onto another area of the Parr property. DHEC did not require SRRI provide a 1,000-foot buffer from the camper.
SRRI sought review of the ALJ order and the Board of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control affirmed the ALJ deсision in its order dated June 29, 1999. SRRI petitioned for judicial review of the Board’s order. The circuit court upheld the ALJ decision, but modified the holdings. The court concluded (1) Act 100 did not apply to a recreational сamper placed on the property and (2) the provision of the Newberry County Solid Waste Management Act relied upon by the ALJ did not support the finding. However, the court concluded Section 10.2 of the Plаn supported the ALJ’s finding. On appeal, SRRI requests this Court hold the permit be issued and effective.
ISSUES
I. Did the circuit court err in holding that the revocation of the consistency determination compelled denial of the permit?
II. Did the circuit court properly conclude the proposed facility is inconsistent with Newberry County’s plan?
ANALYSIS
In environmental permitting cases, the ALJ presides as the finder of fact. S.C.Code Ann. § l-23-600(B) (Supp. 2003). The Boаrd, on the other hand, sits as a quasi-judicial tribunal in reviewing the final decision of the ALJ. S.C.Code Ann. § 1-23-610(A) (Supp.2003). As the reviewing tribunal,
On appeal, the ALJ’s findings must be affirmed if they are supported by substantial evidence in the record. Substantial еvidence is “evidence which, considering the record as a whole, would allow reasonable minds to reach the conclusion that the administrative agency reached.”
Lark v. Bi-Lo,
(a) in violation of the constitutional or statutory рrovisions;
(b) in excess of the statutory authority of the agency;
(c) made upon unlawful procedure;
(d) affected by other error of law;
(e) clearly erroneous in view of the reliable probative and substantial evidence on the whole record; or
(f) arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion оr clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion.
S.C.Code Ann. § l-23-610(D) (Supp.2003).
We reverse the decision of the circuit court because substantial rights of SRRI have been prejudiced. The finding of the circuit court the revocation of the consistency determination compelled denial of the permit is affected by error of law.
I.
The South Carolina Solid Waste Policy and Management Act, S.C.Code Ann. § 44-96-10,
et seq.
(2002) (the SWPMA), requires a person obtain a рermit from DHEC before operating a solid waste management facility. S.C.Code Ann. § 44-96-290(A). Permits are issued based upon local need for the requested facility and the consistency of the proposed facility with lоcal ordinances. S.C.Code Ann. § 44-96-290(E). DHEC cannot issue a permit unless the proposed facility is consistent with “local zoning, land use, and other applicable
DHEC’s practice has been to delegate to the counties the authority to determine consistency through the counties’ issuance of LOCs. We сonclude this delegation of authority is impermissible. S.C.Code Ann. § 44-96-290(F) does not give a county veto authority over decisions made by DHEC. There is no statutory authority providing a county’s consistency determination is determinativе of the ultimate permitting decision. Although Section 44-96-290(F) requires a proposed facility comply with local standards, it does not designate the county as the final arbiter on whether the proposed facility сomplies with its local zoning, land use, and other ordinances.
In this case, DHEC withdrew its initial decision to issue the permit in error because it based its decision solely on Newberry County’s withdrawal of the LOC. The SWPMA authorizes DHEC to “issue, dеny, revoke or modify permits, registrations, or orders under such conditions as the department may prescribe ... for the operation of solid waste management facilities.” S.C.Code Ann. § 44-96-260(2) (2002). DHEC, not the county, is charged with еnsuring such facilities meet the requirements for permitting.
II.
Under the facts of this case, there is no basis for concluding the proposed landfill is inconsistent with the New-berry County Solid Waste Management Plan. The ALJ relied on Section 4.1.3 of the Plan. Section 4.1.3 of the plan “Industrial Collection” provides:
In Newberry County, industries are responsible for their own solid waste collection and disposal. There are several private haulers оperating in the County under separate contracts with different industries. This stream of solid waste is completely outside the operation, direct knowledge or control of Newberry County.
We agree with the cirсuit court that Section 4.1.3 of the Plan refers only to private haulers who are operating in the County under contracts with different industries. Therefore, this
Instead of relying on Section 4.1.3 of the Plan, the circuit court relied on Section 10.2 in finding the proposed facility inconsistent with the Plan. 3 Section 10.2 discusses the goals associated with Newberry County’s solid waste disposal. Section 10.2 states, in relevant part, that one of the goals is to “preserve, protect, and enhance the environmental quality of Newberry County.” This broad, general statеment of goals cannot serve as a basis for concluding the proposed facility is inconsistent with Newberry County’s plan. To hold otherwise would invite a reviewing court to conclude, on an arbitrary and caрricious basis, any proposed landfill facility falls within the ambit of such general language. Therefore, the circuit court erred in relying on Section 10.2 in holding the proposed facility inconsistent with the Plan.
Having determined the facility is not inconsistent with Newberry County’s SWPMA, we conclude the permit should be issued and effective. Before issuing the initial permit in September 1997, DHEC experts determined the facility met all regulatory requirements based оn a meticulous study of SRRI’s proposed facility. DHEC properly applied the requirements of 25 S.C.Code Ann. Reg. 61-66 (1976) relating to Industrial Waste Landfills. A public hearing concerning the proposed facility was conducted in Mаrch 1997. DHEC received comments both during and after the hearing. These comments were addressed by DHEC in a document entitled “Responsiveness Summary.” DHEC made specific findings including, but not limited to, groundwater protection, excavation procedures, and the design of disposal cells as related to the SRRI facility. Based on DHEC’s thorough analysis of the proposed facility, they concluded, and we agree, the facility is not incоnsistent with the County SWPMA or DHEC’s regulatory requirements.
Our resolution of this matter makes unnecessary a consideration of the remaining issues presented by SRRI. The permit
Because DHEC’s revocation of the permit was based solely on Newberry County’s withdrawal of its LOC and the proposed facility is not inconsistent with the Newberry County Plan, we reverse and order the pеrmit issued and effective.
REVERSED.
Notes
. This section was formerly § 44-96-290(G) and was redesignated as § 44-96-290(F) with the 2000 amendment.
. Marlboro Park Hosp. v. South Carolina Dep't of Health and Envtl. Control, Op. No. 3774 (S.C. Ct.App. filed April 12, 2004) (Shearouse Adv. Sh. No.-at-).
. Section 10.2 of the Plan appears only once in the Record. In a letter from the Newberry County attorney to the County Administrator, the County's attorney indicated the proposed landfill would violate Section 10.2.