SC Department of Health and Environmental Control reached out to Maye Jepson yesterday informing her that Andy’s Angel must be removed or relocated today.
The agency’s ruling on Andy’s Angel is screen shot here.
Maye Jepson informs MyrtleBeachSC News by text, Important Update regarding Andy’s Angel: As many of you know, the deadline for removal of Andy’s Angel is today, May 15th. Yesterday, DHEC sent the attached letter of proposed alternatives for relocation of Andy’s Angel. You can quickly tell that they have made it virtually impossible for us to keep the angel at anyplace where it would be accessible to those who want to visit. Therefore, after consultation with our family, we have decided to remove the Angel from its current location. This removal will take place tomorrow, May 15th at 1:00pm.
We have loved reading your memories, and we pray you have received some peace and healing when you have visited Andy’s Angel. Andy’s spirit will forever be with those who walk among the dunes. Semper Fi.
State Representative William Bailey comments on Andy’s Angel removal
Representative Bailey posted on Facebook, I was sad to hear the news today that Andy’s angel is facing some tough decisions that ultimately may result in her removal from the dunes which it calls home. After over a month long struggle with OCRM, we found that there are several options that OCRM feel are acceptable to meet their regulatory requirements. Most of you know that I feel that their involvement with this is completely ridiculous. The federal mandates that gave OCRM their authority exist in this single statement found in their federal regulations: “Federal regulation mandates State’s only manage those activities that have a direct and significant impact on coastal waters.” Over the last month, I have witnessed OCRM address a children’s tire swing that is attached to a tree in a critical area, food and beverage being served on a deck, and of course Andy‘s angel. Although this year’s session is over, I promise you that 2025 will bring many efforts to ensure that issuing permits that are more than seven months delinquent and getting ocean management plans that protect public access to our beaches become the priority for this agency. The most memorable I heard during this process came from a former leader of the agency “ when I started sometime ago, there were so many contractors digging on the coast we had to fight hard to get the top of the equipment numbered so we could tell who was digging as we flew over. Now we’re worried about napkins that possibly could fly off of the deck.”
With so many issues facing SCDHEC, having Andy’s Angel removed should be the least of their concerns.