SCDNR Board Meeting Minutes

Call to Order

Chairman Cary Chastain called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Invocation

Rev. Ron Kenyon, SC Law Enforcement Assistance Program, offered the invocation.

Pledge of Allegiance

Mike Hutchins led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Introduction of Guests

CPT Robert McCullough introduced Geoff Gleaton, Charlene Gleaton, Jonathan Spitz, Bill Simpson, Chairman of the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee; and Brad Collier.

Constituent Comments

CPT McCullough reported that Mr. Simpson requested to address the Board.

Mr. Simpson welcomed the Board to Charleston and thanked them and the Department for their support for conservation districts.

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Chastain asked if there were any amendments, additions, deletions or corrections to the January 19, 2017, meeting minutes. Elizabeth Willis made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the January 19, 2017 meeting as submitted. Glenn McFadden seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Presentations/Commendations

Robert Boyles, Deputy Director for Marine Resources, informed the Board that Director Taylor is attending a conference in Tennessee.

Mr. Boyles commended Breck Carmichael, CPT Robert McCullough, Sandy Rucker and many staff across the agency for their work on the recently held Natural Resources Legislative Reception.

Advisory Committee Reports

1. Heritage Trust
   Ken Rentiers, Deputy Director for Land, Water and Conservation reported that the Heritage Trust Advisory Committee met February 2 in Beaufort. The Advisory Committee received an update on the Cultural Resource Program. The Advisory Committee approved land acquisitions and management plans.
2. Land, Water and Conservation
   Mr. Rentiers reported that the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee met February 7 in West Columbia. The Advisory Committee received division updates and approved Conservation District Commissioner appointments/reappointments.
3. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series
   Mr. Boyles reported that the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series Advisory Committee met February 9 in Charleston. The Advisory Committee discussed the upcoming season and approved the 2017 budget. The Advisory Committee received a presentation on 10 years of satellite tagging data and discussed Phase II of the Memorial Reef.
4. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
   Mr. Hutchins reported that the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee met February 9 in West Columbia. The Advisory Committee received presentations on the recent Pinnacle Mountain Wildfire, recovery efforts for the Carolina heelsplitter, and turkey research study currently underway on Webb, Palachucola and Hamilton Ridge WMAs. The Advisory Committee received an update on coyote tagging.

Item(s) for Board Information

1. Climate Update
   Hope Mizzell, State Climatologist, gave the Board a brief report on drought status. Dr. Mizzell reported on rainfall totals, precipitation percentiles, streamflows, lake levels and ground-water monitoring wells around the state. Dr. Mizzell then showed the Board a preview of the Interactive Journal of Hurricane Matthew.
2. Update on License Increase Proposal
   CPT Mike Sabaka informed the Board that a copy of the proposal is at each members’ place. CPT Sabaka noted that there have been few changes since this was prepared in 2012. CPT Sabaka reported that this information has been provided to the General Assembly and the Department is awaiting feedback.
3. Water Planning Update
   Mr. Rentiers provided the Board with a brief presentation on the Development of Basinwide Surface-Water Quantity Models in South Carolina. Mr. Rentiers informed the board that the project will develop surface water quantity models for each of the State’s eight major watersheds. These models will be used for regional water planning and for updating the State Water Plan. Mr. Rentiers identified the partners, the river basins, the members of the Technical Advisory Committee, the schedule for development and the steps in model development.

Director's Briefings

Mr. Boyles reminded the Board that the Statement of Economic Interests reports are due by March 30.

Mr. Boyles reported that Director Taylor attended the swearing-in of new Governor Henry McMaster on the evening of January 24.

Director Taylor met with BG David C. Turner, Commander South Atlantic Division, USACE; LTC Matthew W. Luzzatto, District Engineer and Commander Charleston District; USACE staff Lisa Metheney, Deputy Director Engineer Charleston District; Travis Hughes, Chief of Regulatory Charleston District; Elizabeth Williams, Assistant Chief of Regulatory Charleston District; and Glenn Jefferies, Chief of Corporate Communications Charleston District, on Jan. 25 and discussed current projects and partnership.

Director Taylor and staff have been attending numerous legislative meetings.

Director Taylor participated in the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee meeting on February 15 and gave an overview of DNR for the committee members at their request.

Legislative Report

CPT Mike Sabaka reported on the following legislative activitiy: bill introduced to modify Game Zone 4 bear hunting in Coastal Plains; flounder bill to increase size from 14” to 15”; freshwater striper; night hunting of hog, coyote and armadillo and deer hunting with dogs. CPT Sabaka informed the Board that the Department is working through the regulation process on WMA regulations and firing range regulations.

Environmental Report

Bob Perry, Director of Environmental Programs, briefly reviewed the I-73 project, Horry County Public Works (International Drive); and William States Lee Nuclear Project.

Deputy Directors' Reports

1. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
   Nothing further to report.
2. Law Enforcement
   Nothing further to report.
3. Marine Resources
   Nothing further to report.
4. Outreach and Support Services
   Nothing further to report.
5. Land, Water and Conservation
   Nothing further to report.

Item(s) for Board Action

1. Vallentine Tract – Donation of Remainder Interest
   Mr. Rentiers and Sean Taylor, State Archeologist, gave the Board a brief overview of the Vallentine Tract in Orangeburg County. Van Whitehead, Assistant Chief Counsel, explained how the property will be acquired. Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the SCDNR Board accept the remainder interest in the Jasper Harry Vallentine estate and approve the acquisition of 910 acres in Orangeburg County and that the property be dedicated as a heritage preserve upon possession. Mrs. Willis seconded the motion. Mr. Hutchins made a motion to amend the original motion to include naming the property High Hill Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area. Mrs. Willis seconded the motion to amend and the motion carried unanimously. The amended motion is now the SCDNR Board accept the remainder interest in the Jasper Harry Vallentine estate and approve the acquisition of 910 acres in Orangeburg County and that the property be dedicated as a heritage preserve upon possession and named High Hill Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area. The motion carried unanimously.

Executive Session

Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board go into executive session pursuant to S.C. Code Section 30-4-70(A) to discuss: (1) negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements and proposed acquisition of real property related to agenda items 12 (B), (C), and (D); and (2) appointment of a person to a public body related to agenda item 12(E). Mrs. Willis seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Open Session

Mr. McFadden made a motion that the Board return to regular session, noting that no actions were taken during Executive Session. Mr. Hinson seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Item(s) for Board Action

2. Property Acquisition at Donnelley WMA in Colleton County
   Mr. McFadden made a motion that the DNR Board grant preliminary approval to investigate a potential land acquisition beside Donnelley Wildlife Management Area in Colleton County. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
3. Property Acquisition at Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve/WMA in Greenville County
   Mrs. Willis made a motion that the Board grant final approval for the acquisition of approximately 48 acres in Greenville County to be dedicated as a heritage preserve and placed into the corpus of the South Carolina Heritage Trust as part of the adjoining Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
4. Property Acquisition at Palachucola WMA in Hampton County
   Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board grant final approval for the acquisition of approximately 32 acres in Hampton County as part of Palachucola Wildlife Management Area. Mrs. Willis seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
5. Conservation District Commissioner Appointments/Reappointments
   Mr. Hinson made a motion that the Board approve the following Conservation District Commissioner appointments and reappointments as recommended by the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee. Appointments: Jack M. Whetstone, Georgetown; Brett Tankersley, Greenville; Stanley E. Wells, Jasper; Barbara Padget, Lexington; and Michael Nance, York Reappointments: Freddy C. Major, Anderson; Bates R. Houck, Calhoun; Milton F. Floyd, Charleston; Cleveland C. Hiott, Colleton; Ray Crapse, Hampton; George Ulmer, Orangeburg; J. Kenneth Mullis, Richland; Mark Johnson, Georgetown; Thomas G. Stanley, Jasper; Francis M. Hinson, Marlboro; and Rowland P. Alston, Sumter
   Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Time and Location of the Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board will be March 24 at Seawell’s in Columbia.

Adjournment

There being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned.