S.C. Code § 58-31-50
The Public Service Authority may acquire by purchase, gift, condemnation, or in any other manner, any lands, waters, water rights, riparian rights, flowage rights, easements, licenses, franchises, engineering data, construction plans, or estimates prepared for the development of the Cooper River and Santee River or any other real or personal property necessary or useful in carrying out any of its purposes or exercising any of its powers; but before the board of directors may acquire and pay for, without condemnation any plans, specifications, franchises, or any kind of property, belonging to or to belong to any private corporation previously chartered by this State or any other state for the purpose of developing the Santee-Cooper project, a full report of the proposed purchase must be submitted in writing to the advisory board, which shall order a public hearing on the proposed purchase and due notice of the hearing must be given by advertisement to be published in at least three daily papers published in the State twice each week for two consecutive weeks. The advisory board shall carefully investigate the proposed purchase, and shall file its report in writing with the Secretary of State and the board of directors of the Public Service Authority. If the report recommends a price for the proposed purchase, the board of directors may enter into a contract for the purchase; if the report disapproves the proposed purchase, the board of directors may submit any amended proposed agreement, which must be heard by the advisory board in the same manner, or shall proceed with condemnation; the price to be paid to any private corporation for any of its property is subject to the approval of the original purchaser of the first notes, bonds, or other evidence of indebtedness issued under this chapter. The Public Service Authority shall have the right of eminent domain to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
S.C. Code § 58-31-50