Legislation to prevent counties from using zoning laws to restrict hog farms failed in the S.C. House Wednesday but could be reconsidered today.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control implemented regulations last summer that make South Carolina unattractive to large hog farm operations. The agency set rules for separation between property lines, swine houses and lagoons and imposed separation rules to protect streams and other waters.

The regulations also say hog farm operators also would have to comply with local zoning laws and regulations. Five counties --Clarendon, Arlington, Lancaster, Lee and Marlboro -- adopted tougher laws, and people in the industry fear more counties could follow suit.

Opponents of the legislation say it takes power away from local governments.

Until the early 1970s, legislators controlled nearly every aspect of county operations, but in 1972 voters approved a plan to give county governments that responsibility.

The bill failed by three votes, despite having support from powerful House leaders, including Speaker David Wiliness, R-Greenville; Majority Leader Rick Quinine, R-Richland, and several GOP committee chairmen.

Quinine said opponents of large, corporate hog farms won the fight for DHAKA regulations last year and now are turning their sights on smaller, existing hog farms. "We're just trying to maintain protection for existing farms," he said.

Committee approves guide dog protections

The S.C. Senate Medical Affairs Committee voted Wednesday to make it a crime to interfere with or injure a guide dog.

The proposed law, which now moves to the full Senate, was amended to protect an individual if they injured or killed a guide dog in self-defense.

Anyone convicted of killing a guide dog under the proposal would face up to three years in prison and a minimum fine of $2,000.

Interfering with a guide dog would carry up to 30 days in jail and a minimum fine of $500 on first offense.

The Medical Affairs Committee also sent the nomination of Willie Lee Cat as director of the Department of Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Services to the full Senate for approval.