Minutes
Rembert C. Dennis Building, Room 335
Columbia, South Carolina
Friday, April 20, 2001
10:00 a.m.
The regular meeting of the Board
of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 10:00 am, on
Friday, April 20, 2001, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Room 335, Columbia,
South Carolina. Notice of the date,
time and place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Dr. Joab Lesesne presided at the
meeting. Board members present included
Dr. Julius Leary, Ben Gregg, M. Russell Holliday, Jr., and Malloy
McEachin. Absent from the meeting were
Danny Ford and Dr. Douglas Rucker. Dr.
Paul A. Sandifer and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were
present at the meeting, as were various guests.
Chairman
Lesesne called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the
meeting.
Chairman Lesesne asked for a moment of silent
meditation.
Chairman Lesesne
asked Cary Chamblee to introduce guests present at the meeting. Mr. Chamblee introduced Joey Holleman, The
State newspaper; and Rebecca Parke, Forest Watch.
Mr. Chamblee introduced Mr. Jim Methe and asked him to
address the Board. Mr. Methe’s comments
were directed toward a predator depredation permit. Mr. Methe, who is a trapper, would like for the Department to
support a wider range of trapping and take methods for predators, especially
coyotes. After discussion Mr. Methe was
asked to work with Billy McTeer and his staff on this issue.
Mr. Chamblee introduced Jeff Glitzenstein, SC Native
Plant Society, and asked him to address the Board. Mr. Glitzenstein’s advocate the use of native plant materials for
soil stabilization at Jocassee Gorges.
Mr. McTeer offered to meet with Mr. Glitzenstein at his convenience to
discuss use of native plants at Jocassee Gorges.
At this
time Mr. Gregg asked if the Board could be provided with a list of members of
the individual Jocassee Committees, meetings held and dates of upcoming
meetings.
Larry Nates offered an overview of the South Carolina
Association of Conservation Districts and its partnerships with state and
federal agencies. Mr. Nates introduced
members of the Association’s Executive Committee and Linda Tandsill, Executive
Director. Mr. Nates spoke of the
Department’s proposed budget cuts and of their concerns regarding the cuts to
conservation districts funding.
Dr. Sandifer commended Jim Goller, Mary Pugh and
volunteers from across the agency for their outstanding job in planning and
carrying out the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic.
Dr. Sandifer also thanked the Harry Hampton Fund for their support.
Dr. Sandifer commended Heritage Trust staff for their
hard work on many recent projects having such short time frame for completion.
Dr. Sandifer commended Charles Farmer for his work with
the Donnelley Foundation at the ACE Basin.
Dr. Sandifer commended Charles Barans and Amy Ringwood
for receiving $53,422 in a grant award from the National Science Foundation for
their project “Research Experiences for Minorities in Marine and Environmental
Science”.
VII. Advisory
Committee Reports
Ms.
Holliday reported that the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee
met on April 12. The Committee received
an update on the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA). The Committee had discussion on feeding
wildlife as it pertains to hunting deer over bait. The Committee received updates on the budget, legislation and the
Walhalla Hatchery Discharge. Billy
Dukes provided information on the results of a survey conducted of hunters
utilizing public fields in South Carolina.
Freddy Vang
reported that the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee met on April
5. Mr. Vang reminded the Board that the
drought regulations will come before the them for public hearing. Mr. Vang noted the release of the “Reedy
River Report: Managing a
Watershed”. Mr. Vang distributed copies
of the 2001 SC Aquatic Plant Management Plan.
Mr. Vang reported that Larry Turner with DHEC’s Water Quality Monitoring
Section, discussed the development of TMDL’s - or Total Maximum Daily Loads -
that are being developed for the Ashley and Cooper Rivers.
A. Amendments
to FOIA Policy #500.01
B. SC
Conservation Incentives Act – Conservation Grant Fund
Buford
Mabry informed the Board that the legislature has enacted the Conservation
Incentives Act and a part of that Act is the Conservation Grant Fund. Under the Conservation Grant Fund, the DNR
Board serves ex officio as the Conservation Grant Fund Board and must
administer the funds. The Board must
also establish procedures and criteria for awarding grants under the fund. After a brief discussion Mr. Gregg made a
motion that the Board direct staff to begin developing criteria for the
Conservation Incentives Act – Conservation Grant Fund. Dr. Leary seconded the motion and the motion
carried unanimously.
A. Executive
Office
Dr.
Sandifer referred to copies of three articles from The State regarding
FEMA/Burroughs & Chapin. Dr.
Sandifer mentioned the upcoming meeting scheduled by FEMA for Friday, April 27,
at the State Museum.
Dr.
Sandifer welcomed attendees to the Eastern Black Bear Workshop held at the
Madren Center at Clemson on Marcy 26.
Dr.
Sandifer, Jean Cowell, Bill Pace and Cary Chamblee met with the Civil Rights
and Affirmative Action subcommittee of the Legislative Black Caucus, at their
request, on March 29, to discuss diversity at DNR in employment and procurement.
Cary
Chamblee represented Dr. Sandifer on March 30, at activities marking the Fourth
Anniversary of the Sandy Island Mitigation Bank including a tour of Sandy
Island and a briefing by DOT on the project.
Dr.
Sandifer attended the Bundrick Island dedication of the Joseph Drew Smith Lake
Murray Marine Patrol Station held on March 30.
At the
request of Boykin Rose, Dr. Sandifer spoke at the Department of Public Safety’s
graduation of DPS’s basic class held on April 6.
Cary
Chamblee and Ed Duncan attended a Federal Highway Administration and DOT
partnering workshop held at Hickory Knob State Park on April 11 and 12.
Dr.
Sandifer attended the Land Legacy Executive Committee and Steering Committee
held on April 18.
Dr.
Sandifer attended the House Ways and Means Committee meeting regarding the
Conservation Bank Bill held the afternoon of April 18.
B. Habitat
Protection Activities
Barry
Beasley reported that the Land Legacy Initiative Committee had met primarily to
work on the Conservation Bank Bill with the General Assembly. Mr. Beasley also stated that the internal
committee is continuing to develop its strategy and should have it finalized by
mid-summer.
C. Legislative
Report
Derrick
Meggie updated the Board on the status of bills proposed by the Department and
those that are of interest to the Department.
X. Deputy
Directors’ Reports
John Miglarese reviewed the results of the
Mercury Symposium held in Charleston. He
will be sending on a letter of recommendation to Dr. Sandifer indicating a need
for more in-depth analysis of mercury contamination in SC. Dr. Miglarese also reported that plans are
finalized for the 2001 Series Tournaments.
The Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series Advisory Board’s annual report was
approved. The nominations committee
presented their slate of nominees for the GCBS board and these nominations will
be passed on to the DNR Board for action.
Benny
Reeves stated that the Board should have each received a copy of the
Department’s Audit Report.
Derrell
Shipes distributed copies of the 2000 Public Dove Survey, the 2000 Small Game
Technical Assistance Program Landowner Survey and the SC DNR Hunter Harvest
Survey 1999-2000 as conducted by Responsive Management.
Alvin
Wright reported on the cases made by the Law Enforcement Division and reminded
the Board that the current class for Law Enforcement Officers will graduate on
May 2.
Carole
Collins informed the Board of the upcoming Coastal BOW. Ms. Collins also distributed a copy of an
entry in the Department of Revenue Art Contest which used DNR’s logo.
No
further report.
At this
time Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to
discuss legal, contractual and personnel matters.
The Board returned to regular
session and invited staff and guests to join the meeting.
Dr. Leary
made a motion that the Board reject the counter offer by Beaufort-Jasper Water
and Sewer Authority and direct legal staff to use any and all remedies.
Dr. Leary
made a motion that the Board approve the appointments and reappointments of
conservation district commissioners as presented. (copy attached to original
minutes) Ms. Holliday seconded the
motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XIII. Time
and Location of the Next Meeting
Chairman
Lesesne stated that the next meeting of the DNR Board will be held on Friday,
May 18, 2001, at USC-Lancaster, in the Hubbard Hall Gallery, beginning at 9:30
a.m.
XVI. Adjournment
There
being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the
meeting was adjourned.