State Sen. Arthur Ravenel's strong rebuke of the way a recent Sea Pines dredging project was carried out is welcome, though long overdue.

The Republican from Mount Pleasant said the South Island Dredging Association's actions killed its chances of getting special legislation passed that would remove state oversight from its future dredging projects.

Ravenel is disgusted that 75 percent of the dredge spoils from Sea Pines ended up in Calibogue Sound rather than the permitted offshore dumping site. The dredging project was halted in May, and state regulators say the dredging association violated its permit 42 separate times.

Ravenel said: "Their conduct pretty well threw cold water on that legislation. At one time it looked like the (bill) might stand a chance of passing, but everyone was so disappointed and disgusted with the way they were performing on the permit they have."

The dredging association, made up of commercial and residential interests on the southern tip of Sea Pines, says it did not violate its permit. That dispute is headed to state court.

Still, the conduct that disgusted Ravenel and other senators is not the primary reason that special legislation should die. Senate Bill 296 and companion legislation in the House of Representatives is disgusting in its own right.

It would set special rules for Sea Pines, while the state constitution dictates that state law must apply from border to border.

It would remove the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control from permitting dredging projects. That is terrible public policy. It is designed to give a small special-interest group a way to thumb its nose at state regulators who are joined by federal and private agencies in stiff opposition to dumping muck into Calibogue Sound.

It would turn back the calendar to a day when the state did not yet have the wisdom, knowledge and courage to outlaw wanton violations of the public trust. Protection of invaluable natural resources, such as Calibogue Sound, demands strong state oversight. To kill that, as Senate Bill 296 would do, is equally as offensive as the recent conduct that so disgusts and disappoints the senator.

The public needs to sit up and pay attention, watching vigilantly for this sorry legislation or its ilk to return.

State Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head Island, said even if Senate Bill 296 never again sees the light of day, the dredge-spoil issue will not go away.

When the issue returns to the Senate, Richardson should lead the chorus in telling his colleagues that the sky is not falling. There is no problem, and there is no emergency. There is no need for Calibogue Sound to be compromised in any way for anyone. There is a dredge-spoil solution readily available -- one that was supposed to be in effect for the recent dredging: Take the muck offshore to a federally approved dump site.

If that costs the business interests and creekfront property owners more money, so be it. It is not the general public's problem. The public owns Calibogue Sound, and it is not to be trashed for the benefit of a few.

There has been a lot of disgusting behavior in this matter. Thank heavens Ravenel was willing to see it and tell it like it is. A lot more honesty like that is going to be needed to tell Calibogue Sound polluters: "Get out and stay out."