South Carolina's Coastal Crisis: Time to Update Old Rules

South Carolina's coast is changing fast. Islands are disappearing. Roads and homes are underwater more often. This is not news to people who live there. Yet, the rules that protect these places are stuck in the past. They do not consider rising sea levels or the unique importance of areas like Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Recently, meetings were held about new developments near this refuge. The refuge is one of the most pristine places on Earth. It is a Class One Wilderness Area. There are only a few of these on the East Coast. They are rare and special. The meetings were about stormwater runoff from these new developments. The runoff will flow into Sewee Bay, which is part of the refuge. But the agency in charge said they will treat this development like any other. They do not consider sea level rise in their plans. This is a problem. The rules have not been updated in decades. They are outdated. During one meeting, a state senator spoke up. He said he added Bulls Bay to his district because he knew he would need to protect it one day. "Today is that day, " he said. "We will not be known for what we build. We will be known for what we refuse to destroy. " But developers are building fast. They are taking advantage of the old rules. They are creating problems that others have to fix. As sea levels rise, these problems will get worse. The cost will fall on taxpayers. The environment and wildlife will suffer. It is time for South Carolina to update its rules. The current ones are more than 30 years old. They do not protect the coast or the unique places like Cape Romain.