The Heritage Trust Program is created to achieve the following goals by protecting lands and making them available to state agencies, educational institutions, and public and private groups for the following purposes:
1. For research in such fields as archeology, agriculture, conservation, ecology, forestry, genetics, geology, history, paleontology, pharmacology, soil science, taxonomy, and similar fields by governmental employees, educational and scientific groups as well as by private individuals.
2. For the teaching of archeology, biology, conservation, ecology, geology, history, natural history, and other subjects.
3. As habitats and places for maintaining plant and animal species in communities.
4. As reservoirs of natural and cultural materials.
5. As places of natural and cultural interests and beauty whereby through visitation the public may observe, value, and enjoy natural and cultural processes and events. Unique recreational opportunities of a type not generally available through the existing State Park System may be provided, including outdoor sporting usage such as hunting and fishing as well as aesthetics, where wholly compatible and consistent with the character of the area or feature.
6. As benchmarks against which to measure such processes or events as well as the environmental degradation from natural and unnatural influences.
7. To promote the understanding and appreciation of the aesthetic, cultural, and scientific values of such areas and features by the people of the State.
8. For the preservation and protection of Heritage Preserves and Sites against modification or encroachment resulting from occupation, development, or other uses which would destroy their natural and cultural character.
9. As places for maintaining representative lands and related structures which illustrate periods, events, styles, and uses of the land in our state's historic and cultural heritage.
HISTORY: 1976 Act No. 600 Section 3; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1282, eff July 1, 1994.
Effect of Amendment
The 1993 amendment made grammatical changes.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 51 - Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Chapter 17 - Heritage Trust Program
Section 51-17-10. Definitions.
Section 51-17-20. Declaration of legislative findings.
Section 51-17-30. Purpose of Heritage Trust Program.
Section 51-17-40. Powers and duties of the Department of Natural Resources Board.
Section 51-17-50. Heritage Trust Advisory Board created; composition.
Section 51-17-60. Powers and duties of Board.
Section 51-17-70. Powers and duties of the Department of Natural Resources.
Section 51-17-80. Establishment of Heritage Preserves.
Section 51-17-85. Disposition of Heritage Trust property; exception.
Section 51-17-90. South Carolina Heritage Trust created.
Section 51-17-100. Registering of Heritage Sites.
Section 51-17-110. Funding; appropriations; user fees; income.
Section 51-17-115. Establishment and administration of Heritage Land Trust Fund.
Section 51-17-120. Effect on certain other lands.
Section 51-17-130. Enforcement; penalties.
Section 51-17-140. Heritage Trust properties; prior approval by county delegation.