The S.C. legislature has plenty of work waiting to be discussed when lawmakers return to Columbia in six months, which means they didn't accomplish much this year.

Among the areas that didn't receive the attention they deserve are ideas contained in a final report from the Council on Coastal Futures.

The Council on Coastal Futures is an 18-member panel organized in 2002 to make recommendations to the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The panel's final report was presented two months ago, which gave lawmakers ample time to formulate a plan.

While the 18 recommendations don't address all important coastal issues, according to the Associated Press, such as whether to allow bigger seaside buildings after beach nourishment projects, the panel made some points that deserved attention. Among the priority recommendations reported by the AP are:

A mandatory mediation process for appeals of coastal permits;

Better coordination of coastal regulation within DHEC;

Helping the Department of Health and Environmental Control's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management become a center of expertise to help local governments on coastal resource issues;

Managing and protecting freshwater wetlands;

Improving local and state stormwater management; and

Dedicating funding for beach nourishment and public access.

The good news is that legislators didn't leave the public any worse off on the wetlands front. Attempts to weaken freshwater wetlands rules failed, as did attempts to wipe out local controls over giant hog farms.

Among the things lawmakers should have approved was a statewide grand jury to investigate complex environmental crimes.

Growth will have a tremendous impact on South Carolina. The panel's recommendations point to the things that should be accomplished. Accomplishing these goals, though, will take the cooperation of all South Carolinians, including legislators.