Palmetto State News

Gov. Henry McMaster has named Robert Bolchoz as the next chairman of the South Carolina Board of Health and Environmental Control as Mark Elam has announced his retirement.

Elam said that he was proud of his tenure with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for the past four years.

"Serving as the S.C. Board of Health and Environmental Control Chairman for almost four years has been an honor and a privilege,” he said. “Every member of our Board is committed to ensuring that decisions made by DHEC are protective of our state's citizens and environment. I am proud of the work of this Board and, more importantly, DHEC's employees as those efforts have a direct, positive impact on every South Carolinian and visitor to our great state. I would like to thank Governor McMaster for his confidence in allowing me to serve DHEC and the people of South Carolina."

McMaster nominated Bolchoz on Jan. 7 and the Columbia-based attorney has experience serving the private and public in environmental law, along with serving the Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office as both an assistant and deputy solicitor for seven years, according to a news release. 

The news release reported that from 1995 to 1998 and again in 2017, Bolchoz also served as chief deputy attorney general from 1995 to 1998 and again in 2017 where he oversaw the board’s legal counsel on a number of issues. 

"I have full confidence that Mr. Bolchoz's previous experiences will allow him to make a seamless transition into the role of Chairman and continue to move South Carolina's public health and environmental missions forward," McMaster said.

Bolchoz, a Citadel graduate, received his degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and resides in West Columbia with Elam expected to serve until Bolchoz is approved by the Senate, according to the news release.