The regular meeting of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, in the Marine Resources Research Institute Classroom, Charleston, SC. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Mike McShane presided at the meeting. Board members present included Stephen Davis, John Evans, Norman Pulliam and Caroline Rhodes. Board member Michael Campbell participated via videoconference. Board member Frank Murray’s absence was excused. Director John Frampton and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the meeting.

1. Call to Order
   Chairman Mike McShane called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Invocation
   Chairman McShane asked Chaplain Rob Dewey, Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, to offer the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
   Lt. Col. Kirk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Introduction of Guests
   Don Winslow, Chief of Staff, introduced Representative Anne Hutto; Representative Annette Young; Lt. Col Jason Kirk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Jennifer Koches, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Jay Herrington, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Bill Simpson, Charleston Conservation District; and Douglas Ford, Research Director, Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee.
5. Approval of Minutes
   Chairman McShane asked if there were any amendments, additions, deletions or corrections to the May 12, 2010, meeting minutes. Mr. Pulliam made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the May 12, 2010, meeting as submitted. Mr. Davis seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
6. Presentations
   Chairman McShane and Mr. Frampton presented Richard W. (Dick) Christie with the Board’s Certificate of Meritorious Service.
7. Advisory Committee Reports
   Marine
   David Whitaker, Assistant Deputy Director for Marine Resources, said the MAC met in Beaufort on June 9 and received presentations on Reef Restoration, the public fish tagging program and efforts to develop public policy in support of the development of wind farms offshore of South Carolina.
8. Items for Board Information
   1. Climate Update
      Hope Mizzell, State Climatologist, reviewed rainfall totals, precipitation percentiles, streamflows, lake levels and ground-water monitoring wells around the state.
   2. Coastal Habitat Quality
      Bob Van Dolah, Director, Marine Resources Research Institute, briefly described the South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program which is designed to evaluate the state’s estuaries and coastal habitat. Dr. Van Dolah reviewed the coastal region’s water and sediment quality, biological integrity and overall condition.
   3. Oil Spill Response
      Bob Perry, Director of Environmental Programs, distributed and reviewed a summary on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Mr. Perry briefly reviewed the draft Oil and Hazardous Materials Spill Guidance as included in the Board meeting package. The Board has asked that a press release be prepared and that the information provided to the Board be placed on the website.
   4. Depredation Permits
      Breck Carmichael, Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, described the purpose of the program. Mr. Carmichael distributed and reviewed information on Depredation Permits issued during 2009 and the statutes authorizing them. Col. Alvin Taylor, Deputy Director for Law Enforcement, noted that the permits are issued for each specific parcel of property and the landowner must supply the names of individuals designated to take and the hours in which they may take.
9. Items for Board Action
   1. Proposed FY 2011 Saltwater Recreational Fisheries License Fund Projects
      Mr. Evans made a motion that the Board approve the proposed FY 2011 Saltwater Recreational Fisheries License Fund Projects as recommended by the Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Advisory Committee and included in the Board meeting package, with the following amendment, which has been discussed with the Chairman of the Advisory Committee: to change Program VI: Marine Division Recreational Fisheries Support from $350,000 to $375,000, $25,000 increase, to make up for the veto which took place on the Marine Division unclassified salary position that was sustained by the House. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   2. Proposed FY 2011 Heritage Trust Budget
      Ken Rentiers, Deputy Director for Land, Water and Conservation, distributed and reviewed a balance sheet and a revenue receipts sheet for Heritage Trust funds. Mr. Rentiers then reviewed the Proposed FY 2011 Heritage Trust Budget, as included in the Board meeting package. Mr. Evans made a motion that the Board approve the FY 2011 Heritage Trust Budget as proposed. Mrs. Rhodes seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
10. Director’s Briefings
    Mr. Frampton briefed the Board on the current budget situation.
    
    Mr. Frampton, Don Winslow, Col. Taylor, Sgt. Dye and Hope Mizzell participated in the Governor’s Annual Hurricane Preparedness roundtable on May 24 and discussed preparations for the pending hurricane season and potential impacts of the oil spill on South Carolina.
11. Legislative Report
    Derrick Meggie, Director of Legislative Services, distributed and reviewed the June 22, 2010, Legislative Update. Mr. Meggie noted that 23 bills that directly impact DNR were passed this year and 12 of the 15 bills that were in the Department’s legislative package were passed. The three that did not pass were the allowance for and definition of baiting for turkey hunting, the road hunting bill and the Botany Bay access fee bill.
12. Environmental Report
    Bob Perry, Director of Environmental Programs, distributed a copy of comments provided to the Corps of Engineers on the proposed Clydesdale Mitigation Bank Baseline Monitoring and Functional Assessment Report. In addition to this action, staff have been preparing for the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Units 2 and 3.
13. Deputy Directors’ Reports
    1. Land, Water and Conservation
       Mr. Rentiers gave the Board a brief update on the Savannah River Basin Advisory Council and the State Water Plan.
    2. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
       Nothing further to report.
    3. Law Enforcement
       Nothing further to report.
    4. Outreach and Support Services
       Nothing further to report.
    5. Marine Resources
       Nothing further to report.
14. Executive Session
    At this time, Mr. Davis made a motion for the Board to hold an Executive Session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Mr. Evans seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
15. Return to Regular Session
    Mr. Evans made a motion that the Board return to regular session and noted that no actions were taken in Executive Session. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    
    Mr. Davis made a motion to let the minutes reflect the Board’s acknowledgement of the wetland violation at the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve and the Board recognizes that responsibility has been accepted by the Director and the staff of SCDNR. Additionally, corrective measures have been undertaken and the situation is being resolved. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
16. Time and Location of the Next Meetings
    The July Board meeting will be held Wednesday, July 7, 2010, in Charleston.
    
    The August Board meeting will be held Thursday, August 12, 2010, in Florence.
    
17. Adjournment
    There being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned.