SCDNR Board Meeting Minutes

Chairman Norman Pulliam called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Chaplain Eric Skidmore, SC Law Enforcement Assistance Program (SC LEAP), offered the invocation.

Mr. Hutchins led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chairman Pulliam welcomed and thanked Board members for being present and for contacting legislators during budget discussions.

COL Chisolm Frampton, Deputy Director for Law Enforcement, introduced Scott Whitaker, Coastal Conservation Association.

COL Frampton noted that there were no requests for constituent comment.

Chairman Pulliam asked if there were any additions, deletions or corrections to the May 20, 2021 meeting minutes. Dr. Hartley made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the May 20, 2021 meeting and April 22, 2021 workshop be approved as presented. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

1. Director Boyles and Chairman Pulliam presented the Meritorious Service Award to Susan Davis of the Office of Environmental Programs.
   
   
2. Director Boyles commended Tanner Arrington of Land, Water and Conservation Division, our SCDNR graduate of the Department of Administration’s Certified Public Manager (CPM) program which is a nationally accredited management development program for public managers.
   
   
3. Director Boyles commended Achi Treptow and Felicia Sanders of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division for their fantastic work on the PBS special at the Santee Coastal Reserve that was done on conserving bird populations.
   
   
4. Director Boyles commended Matt Perkinson and Kris Reynolds of Marine Resources Division and the members of the Murrells Inlet Rotary for their efforts during the Murrells Inlet Rotary Flounder Tournament on June 5 at the Crazy Sister Marina. This year, the tournament moved to an all-release format, and Matt and Kris were able to weigh, measure, fin clip, and tag around 60 southern flounder.
   
   
5. Director Boyles commended Bill Marshall of Land, Water and Conservation Division for his work in coordinating the 2020 S.C. Environmental Awareness Award selection process and ceremony honoring the recipient Jane Hiller, education director with Sonoco Recycling in Columbia, held on June 16 and presented by Governor Henry McMaster.
   
   
6. Director Boyles commended Felicia Sanders of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and Erin Weeks of Marine Resources Division for their hard work and effort involved in the “Discovery at Deveaux” presentation at the Charleston Museum on June 15 about the discovery of 20,000 whimbrel confirmed roosting at night at the Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary during their annual journey north.
   
   
7. Director Boyles commended Greg Mixon of the Office of Environmental Programs for his professionalism and expertise in a high profile Commerce Project with comments received from Richard Darden of the US Army Corps of Engineers thanking him for his “timely and technically detailed” comments and his “obvious knowledge of the mitigation rule and the art of evaluating credit-generating stream/wetland mitigation design,” and that “it seems clear to me that Greg is an expert in this field.”
   
   

1. Climate Update
   Hope Mizzell, Land, Water and Conservation Division, informed the Board that six counties are in incipient drought. Dr. Mizzell provided rainfall totals, precipitation percentiles, streamflow, lake levels, groundwater monitoring wells around the state, precipitation forecast and temperature forecast.
   
   
2. Update of Geological Survey Activities
   Scott Howard, Land, Water and Conservation Division, reviewed several activities of the SC Geological Survey section. Dr. Howard highlighted STATEMAP, Data Preservation, Earth MRI, Geologic Map Schema, GIS work, BOEM, Surface Elevation Tables, Regional Sand Management Working Group, Pockoy Island Studies, Environmental Reviews, Broad River Sediment Project, Historic Sea-Level Study and Outreach Programs.
   
   

Director Boyles reviewed the status of the budget.

Director Boyles met with Jason Johnson of The Conservation Fund to discuss partnership opportunities.

Kevin Ryan, Director of Government Affairs, distributed and reviewed the final summary of flounder legislation (Act 91). Mr. Ryan also spoke of the budget and the proposed legislation before the conference committee.

Lorianne Riggin, Director, Office of Environmental Programs, gave the Board an update on Crab Bank restorationand Horry County Rezoning (Lewis Ocean Bay).

1. Marine Resources
   Phil Maier, Deputy Director for Marine Resources, recognized Mr. Ed Holder for service to DNR most recently as a Marine Advisory Committee member. Mr. Maier mentioned new partnerships with the Navy and Tom Mullikin.
   
   
2. Administration
   No further report.
   
   
3. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
   No further report.
   
   
4. Law Enforcement
   COL Frampton distributed and briefly reviewed the Law Enforcement activities over Memorial Day. COL Frampton gave a brief update on the new class of officers. COL Frampton distributed Georgia’s Deer Dog Hunting Law and a listing of Dog-Deer Hunting in Other Southern States as provided by the Coalition for Ethical Deer Hunting. COL Frampton noted that the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee did not come to a consensus for a recommendation to the Board.
   
   

1. Contribution to Ducks Unlimited Canada
   Emily Cope, Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, reviewed the proposed contribution to Ducks Unlimited Canada, as included in the meeting packet. Dr. Hartley made a motion that the DNR Board approve the $19,376.00 requested contribution to Ducks Unlimited Canada as required by S.C. Code Section 50-9-920(B). Mr. Lee seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   
   

Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the DNR Board go into executive session pursuant to SC Code Section 30-4-70(A)(1) and (A)(2) to discuss personnel issues related to Item XII. Director’s Briefings, and appointments related to Item(s) for Board Action (B and D) and to discuss contractual matters and legal advice related to Item(s) for Board Action (C). Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the DNR Board return to open session, noting that no action was taken during executive session. Dr. Hartley seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

2. Conservation District Commissioner Appointments/Reappointments
   Mr. Swygert made a motion that upon the approval and recommendation of the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee, I move that the DNR Board approve the following Conservation District Commissioner appointments:
   
   
Sam Gilpam, Abbeville – 1/31/21 – 1/31/25
John Rhett Covington, Marlboro – 1/31/21 – 1/31/25

Dr. Hartley seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Swygert made a motion that upon the approval and recommendation of the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee, I move that the DNR Board approve the following Conservation District Commissioner reappointments:

Jefferson Wilson, Chester – 7/1/21 – 7/1/25
Cleveland Hiott III, Colleton – 4/23/21 – 4/23/25
Malcolm J. O’Neal, Edgefield – 7/31/20 – 7/31/24
Kerry H. Matthews, Fairfield – 1/31/21 – 1/31/25
Patrick T. Rogers, Marlboro – 2/11/21 – 2/11/25
Rowland Alston, Sumter – 1/3/21 – 1/3/25

Mr. Lee seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Swygert made a motion that upon the approval and recommendation of the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee, I move that the DNR Board approve the following Conservation District Commissioner Emeritus appointments:

Stan Keaton, Abbeville
Wayne Satterwhite, Newberry
Francis Hinson, III, Marlboro

Dr. Hartley seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.


3. Property Acquisition in Charleston County
   Dr. Hartley made a motion that upon the recommendation of staff and subject to standard due diligence and approval of state appropriated funds, I move the DNR Board grant final approval to purchase approximately 23 acres adjoining SC DNR's Marine Resources Complex on Fort Johnson Road in Charleston County. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   
   
4. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee Appointments
   Mr. Hutchins made a motion that upon the recommendation of staff, the DNR Board reappoint Mr. Stan Halliday of Spartanburg, SC to serve a third consecutive four-year term, as requested by the Advisory Committee Chair, on the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee. His term shall expire June 30, 2025. Mr. Rasor seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-1 with Mr. Swygert voting against.
   
   Mr. Hutchins made a motion that upon the recommendation of staff, the DNR Board reappoint Dr. Cleveland Smith of Columbia, SC to serve a third consecutive four-year term, as requested by the Advisory Committee Chair, on the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee. His term shall expire June 30, 2025. Mr. Rasor seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-1 with Mr. Swygert voting against.
   
   Mr. Hutchins made a motion that upon the recommendation of staff, the DNR Board appoint Mr. Sam Hiott of Charleston, SC to serve a four-year term on the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee. His term shall expire June 30, 2025. Mr. Rasor seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   
   

The Board will be having a workshop on July 15, 2021 in Charleston.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for August 19, 2021 in Columbia.

Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.