Minutes
Rembert C. Dennis Building, Room 335
Columbia, SC
Friday, July 18, 2003
9:30 a.m.
The regular meeting of the Board
of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 9:30 am, on
Friday, July 18, 2003, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Columbia, South
Carolina. Notice of the date, time and
place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Board Member D. Malloy McEachin, Jr.,
presided at the meeting. Board members
present included Michael Campbell, Stephen Davis and Dr. Douglas Rucker. Board Members absent were Danny Ford,
Chairman Joab Lesesne, Jr., and Smith Ragsdale. Mr. John Frampton and staff members of the Department of Natural
Resources were present at the meeting, as were various guests.
Mr. McEachin called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and
welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Mr.
McEachin asked for a moment of silent meditation.
Mr. McEachin introduced and welcomed newly appointed Board
Members Michael Campbell and Stephen Davis.
Mr. McEachin noted that Smith Ragsdale is not in attendance because of a
prior commitment.
Mr. Chamblee introduced Marge Davenport, USGS; Michael
McShane, from Charleston; Bob Bailey, Director, Sporting Protection League;
Dennis Chastain, President, Sporting Protection League, Jane Chastain and Jim
Davenport, Associated Press.
IV. Constituent Comment
Mr. Chamblee stated that Mr. Dennis Chastain had requested to
speak to the Board about a forest problem.
Mr. Chastain’s comments concerned the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, which is
now in South Carolina. Mr. Chastain
encouraged the Board to speak with staff and have this situation assessed.
VI. Advisory
Committee Reports
A. Law Enforcement
Col.
Wright reported that the Advisory Committee received a briefing from Mr.
Frampton regarding the consolidation efforts of the Department. Col. Wright shared specifics on the office
closures. Major McCarty gave a briefing
on the DLEO program as it pertains to certification process. The Advisory Committee received a report from
Licensing regarding the renewal mailer.
Major Alvin Taylor gave a report on boating activities and Lt. Steve
Walters gave a legislative update.
B. Land,
Water and Conservation
Dr. Rucker
reported that the Advisory Committee approved the revision to the Broad Scenic
River Management Plan and will forward it to the Board for their approval. The Advisory Committee received a report
from Karen Waters on Ground Water Levels in South Carolina. Hope Mizzell provided a tropical storm
update. Conservation Districts Section
staff reviewed how they will accommodate budget cuts. A subcommittee was appointed to address the issues of what
services to provide and the most efficient way to provide them. Dean Moss, chair of the Water Plan
subcommittee, gave an update of the Water Plan. Mr. Vang reported that Governor Sanford followed the DNR Board’s
recommendation and established, by executive order, a Governor’s Water Law
Review Committee.
Update on Climate Office/Hurricane
Season
Hope Mizzell gave the Board a brief update
on the Southeastern Climate Office and its relation with the Emergency
Management Program and also reviewed the hurricane predictions for the upcoming
season.
VIII. Items for Board Action
A. Lease
Agreement with Lancaster County Water District
Mac Watson
reviewed the proposed lease between Lancaster County Water and Sewer District
and the Department providing for the lease of Bear Creek Reservoir to the
Department to be used for public fishing.
Mr. Watson stated that there is one modification to the proposal since
being sent to the Board, the lease is for a period of 7 years not 20
years. Dr. Rucker made a motion that
the Board approve this lease as modified.
Mr. Davis seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
B. 2003
Early Migratory Bird Season
Derrell Shipes reviewed the proposed
2003-2004 Migratory Bird Hunting Early Season Recommendations as provided to
the Board in their meeting package. Mr.
Shipes then reviewed the history of the September teal season with the Board
and informed them that it will not be offered to South Carolina this year due
to non-compliance. Mr. Shipes reviewed
the comments sent to Steve Williams, Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service
requesting that the 3-year experimental data be pooled for the Atlantic Flyway
just as it has been in other Flyways and also requesting that the September
teal season be offered to South Carolina and that this season become
operational this fall. Dr. Rucker
made a motion that the Board approve the proposed 2003-2004 Migratory Bird
Hunting Early Season as proposed. Mr.
Campbell seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Dr. Rucker made a motion that the Board
instruct staff to pursue efforts in persuading USFWS to offer the early teal
season in South Carolina. Mr. Davis
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
C. Mitigation
Trust Fund Project: “Water Quality Model for Lake Greenwood”
Ross Self informed the Board that
staff recommend the proposal which would be paid from the Mitigation Trust Fund
from an account established for fisheries and water body management by Duke
Energy to mitigate damages caused by the Buzzard Roost facility. This proposal is for the development of a
water quality model for Lake Greenwood.
Mr. Davis made a motion that the Board approve this request as presented. Dr. Rucker seconded the motion and the
motion carried unanimously.
IX. Director’s Briefings
Mr.
Frampton stated that a copy of Executive Order Number 2003-16, Governor’s Water
Law Review Committee, has been distributed to each Board Member. Mr. Frampton then asked Freddy Vang to
provide the history and reason for this Committee.
Mr.
Frampton represented DNR at the Public Safety Directors’ meeting held on June
23. This was DNR’s first opportunity to
sit with this group. DNR will host the
meeting in August.
Mr.
Frampton met with Fred Carter, Governor’s Office, and Chief Stewart on June 23
to discuss aircraft issues.
Mr.
Frampton participated in the Legislative Relations Task Force meeting on June
25 followed by a meeting with the Deputy Directors on budget issues.
Mr.
Frampton met with staff of Law Enforcement Districts 4 and 5 at Fort Johnson on
June 27 to discuss budget issues. Mr.
Frampton has now met will staff in all divisions across the agency on the
budget.
Mr.
Frampton traveled to Washington on July 5 and met with The Conservation Fund
and International Paper representatives on July 7-8 in Maryland and Washington
on land protection issues. Mr. Frampton
met with congressional staff in Washington on July 8-9.
Mr.
Frampton attended the Law Enforcement Captains meeting in Columbia on July 10.
Mr.
Frampton met, on July 14, with Brian Hyder and Bill Poole of the NRA along with
Captain Glenn Ward and Sgt. Lynwood Kearse on the Take One Make One Program.
Mr.
Frampton and DNR staff took a field trip to Great Falls on July 15 with Chad
Prosser, Director of PRT; Ruth Shaw, new President of Duke; and Lindsay Pettus,
Katawba Valley Land Trust, for an overview of the Catawba River Planning
efforts.
Mr.
Frampton will travel to Port Angeles, WA, to participate in the USFWS Refuge
Policy Task Force Meeting on July 21-23.
From there, Mr. Frampton will travel to Allenberry PA, on July 24-25 to
represent DNR at the Atlantic Flyway Council Meeting.
Mr.
Frampton will travel on the evening of July 30 to meet with representatives of
MeadWestvaco and The Conservation Fund in Stanford, Connecticut, on land
protection issues.
Legislative
Report
Derrick
Meggie distributed copies of the 2003 legislative review to newly appointed
Board Members.
Habitat
Task Force
Barry Beasley informed the Board
that the Habitat Task Force has completed the comprehensive listing of
properties. The Task Force has also
drafted a Conservation Easement Policy and will present it to the Board at a
later date.
X. Deputy
Directors’ Reports
1. CEC
and Administrative Services
Ms.
Collins distributed copies of the latest edition of the South Carolina
Wildlife magazine to the newly appointed Board Members. Ms. Collins reported that the printing of
the Rules and Regulations is on schedule and everything is going well. Ms. Collins noted that the cost for the
Rules and Regulations this year is approximately $22,000 and the cost will
decline yearly.
2. Marine
Resources
John
Miglarese reported that cooperative projects with MUSC on Marine genomics and
proteomics were awarded $4 million from the SC Lottery. Dr. Miglarese also stated that the
Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series is completed and also noted that seven
billfish were satellite tagged. Dr.
Miglarese informed the Board that the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series and the
Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Banquet will be held in Charleston on August
16.
3. Wildlife
and Freshwater Fisheries
Billy
McTeer introduced Derrell Shipes, Tim Ivey, Val Nash and Ross Self.
4. Land,
Water and Conservation
No further
report
5. Law
Enforcement
Col.
Wright announced the winners of this year’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
– District 1, Amy Staton; District 2, Eric Vaughn; District 3, Greg Pinckney;
District 4, Keven Manning; District 5, Eric Richardson; District 6, Billy
Downer; District 7, William Poole; District 8, Rick Stevens; District 9, Tracey
Woodruff; and District 10, Karen Swink.
The State Officer of the Year is William Poole of District 7. Col. Alvin Wright reviewed the Law
Enforcement Division’s activities for the month of June.
At this
time, Mr. Frampton showed the Board the first draft of the budget presentation
for the Governor, on July 30, and asked for suggestions or comments.
XI. Executive
Session
At this
time Dr. Rucker made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to
discuss contractual, legal and personnel matters.
XII. Return
to Regular Session
Mr. Campbell made a motion that the Department of
Natural Resources’ Meritorious Service Award be awarded to an employee of the
Marine Resources Division. Dr. Rucker
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XIII. Time
and Location of the Next Meeting
The next
meeting of the DNR Board will be held on Friday, August 15, 2003, at the
Rembert C. Dennis Building in Columbia, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
XIV. Adjournment
There
being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the
meeting was adjourned.