Resilient, Thriving, and Sustainable South Carolina Public Survey

Who is conducting this survey?

This survey was developed by state and regional government planning groups participating in the U.S. EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program. The South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) manages the survey on behalf of the

Palmetto Air Quality Collaborative (PAQC). The agencies involved in the development and use of this survey include SCOR, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), the Catawba Indian Nation, Appalachian Council of Governments (COG), Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester COG, Catawba Regional COG, and Central Midlands COG.

If you have questions about the survey, please contact Amanda Rahimian, SCOR’s CPRG Program Coordinator.

What is the Palmetto Air Quality Collaborative?

The Palmetto Air Quality Collaborative (PAQC) is a four-year planning initiative aimed at developing innovative strategies to reduce air pollution, engaging communities, and supporting workforce and economic development in South Carolina. The PAQC is co-led by SCOR and SCDES and is funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program. The PAQC grant runs from July 2023 to June 2027.

For more information, please visit the PAQC website: https://scor.sc.gov/paqc.

What is the purpose of this survey?

The survey is designed to inform the second of three deliverables for the CPRG program due to the EPA in December 2025. The PAQC will utilize survey responses in developing the Clean Air Strategies for South Carolina (CASSC), a document that will include a statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory, projections of future GHG emissions, and strategies to reduce emissions, as well as other economic, community, and environmental benefits for the state. Public input and comments, such as through this survey, are a vital step in the CASSC development process and help to ensure that the document aligns with the interests and needs of local communities and residents.

Which other agencies are involved?

How will the survey results be shared? Survey responses from residents of certain counties or Tribal Citizens will be shared with the following South Carolina organizations that are participating in the CPRG program and developing regional documents and strategies:

Catawba Indian Nation: Citizens of Catawba Indian Nation Contact: madison.moore@catawba.com

Appalachian COG: Residents of Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Pickens Counties Contact: Chip Bentley

Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester COG: Residents of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties Contact: Nina Miller

Catawba Regional COG: Residents of Chester, Lancaster, and York Counties Contact: Stephen Allen

Central Midlands COG: Residents of Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, and Saluda Counties Contact: Jory Fleming

Survey responses will not be shared outside of the respective regional agency or the PAQC. Survey responses from counties not included in the previous section will not be shared outside of the PAQC. Aggregate data from a compilation of all survey responses may be published in state or regional strategic or planning documents but will not include any personally identifiable information. Your information will only be used for planning purposes and will not be sold or otherwise distributed.

Are all questions required?

No, not all questions are required. The survey was designed to be user-friendly and to allow you to share as much or as little feedback or input as you choose. Some questions are required for planning purposes, such as the county you reside in. Additional questions are required to inform the logic and branching of questions in the survey. For example, the responses you provide for the sectors that you prioritize will branch you to a list of actions related to that specific sector.

Can I save my survey responses and finish the survey later?

No, the survey does not feature a save-for-later option. If you wish to submit the survey before you have completed it, you may navigate to the end of the survey using the buttons at the bottom of each page.

How can I stay informed of this initiative? How can I get involved?

If you provided your contact information in the survey, you will be added to the PAQC listserv. The listserv is used to share news and updates through a monthly newsletter. The PAQC website also has a “Resources” tab with links to tools, slide decks, videos, and links to other websites to learn more about GHG emissions and specific strategies to reduce emissions.

If you would like to be further involved with the PAQC or would like additional information, please contact SCOR’s CPRG Program Coordinator. We are happy to assist you.

If you would like to be involved in a regional initiative or learn about regional resources, please contact the respective representative.