South Carolina Environmental Groups Say Seawalls Harming Turtles

South Carolina’s environmental protection agency is taking steps to ban experimental plastic seawalls once touted as a way to protect oceanfront property without erosion.

The State newspaper reports that the Department of Health and Environmental Control on Thursday agreed to seek public comment on whether to end the experience.

DHEC is being sued by environmental groups who say the walls keep loggerhead sea turtles from being able to safely get to their nesting areas and should be removed. Agency staff say in a report that sea turtles “bumped into” the walls and returned to the ocean without laying eggs.

After a 60-day comment period and public hearing, the board will make a decision on the matter.