The regular meeting of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 7, 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 members Michael Campbell and Frank Murray participated via videoconference. 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 Bill Youngblood, Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, to offer the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
   Vice Chairman Michael Campbell led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Introduction of Guests
   Don Winslow, Chief of Staff, introduced Sam Hiott, Chairman of the Waterfowl Advisory Committee and member of the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund and Governor’s Cup Billfishing Advisory Board; Scott Whitaker, Executive Director, CCA; Jeff Dennis, outdoor writer; and Douglas Ford, Research Director, Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee.
5. Approval of Minutes
   Chairman McShane noted that the minutes of the June 23, 2010, meeting would be considered at the August 12, 2010, meeting.
6. Advisory Committee Reports
   Waterfowl
   Sam Hiott, Chairman, Waterfowl Advisory Committee, distributed and reviewed the summary of the public listening sessions held by the advisory committee. Mr. Hiott asked Board members to provide recommendations for additional advisory committee members from the Upstate.
7. Presentations
   Mr. Frampton and Chairman McShane presented Mr. Hiott with the SCDNR’s Honorary Game Warden Award in recognition of his efforts with the Waterfowl Advisory Committee, the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series Advisory Board and the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund.
8. Items for Board Information
   1. Climate Update
      Hope Mizzell reviewed rainfall totals, precipitation percentiles, streamflows, lake levels and ground-water monitoring wells around the state.
   2. Spotted Seatrout Update
      Steve Arnott gave the Board a brief update on the Spotted Seatrout population in South Carolina. Dr. Arnott discussed estuarine areas and his concern for the population following the winter low temperatures.
9. Items for Board Action
   1. 2010-2011 Waterfowl Stamp Fund Budget
      Mr. Carmichael reviewed the proposed 2010-2011 Waterfowl Stamp Fund Budget as included in the Board meeting package. Because DNR is partnering with The Nemours Wildlife Foundation and Ducks Unlimited on one of the projects, Chairman McShane noted for the record that he serves as a trustee of the Nemours Wildlife Foundation and is a former Board member of DU. Mr. Davis made a motion that the Board approve the 2010-2011 Waterfowl Stamp Fund Budget as presented. Mrs. Rhodes seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   2. 2010-2011 Early Season Migratory Bird Hunting Recommendations
      Mr. Carmichael reviewed the proposed 2010-2011 Early Season Migratory Bird Hunting Recommendations as included in the Board meeting package. Mr. Evans made a motion that the Board approve the 2010-2011 Early Season Migratory Bird Hunting Recommendations as presented. Mr. Davis seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   3. Proposed 2010-2011 WMA Regulations
      Mr. Carmichael reviewed the WMA Emergency Regulations as included in the Board meeting package and noted three changes due to the House and Senate override of the Governor’s veto of H 3541 (Bear Bill). 1) Two weeks of archery hunting for deer are added in October in Game Zone 1, 2) The limit for the Game Zone 1 dog-party bear hunt is increased from three per party per season to five per party per season, and 3) Regulation 123-53 pertaining to bear hunting is deleted because the bear legislation puts these provisions into statute. Mr. Pulliam made a motion that the Board approve the Proposed 2010-2011 WMA Regulations as presented and also offered the following amendment: the word “any” be placed before the word “game” where regulations state “feral hogs and coyotes may be taken during the open season for game.” Mrs. Rhodes seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   4. Proposed WMA Emergency Regulations
      Mr. Carmichael reviewed the Proposed WMA Emergency Regulations as included in the Board meeting package. Mr. Davis made a motion that the Board approve the Proposed WMA Emergency Regulations as presented. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   5. Proposed Croft State Natural Area Emergency Regulations
      Mr. Carmichael reviewed the Proposed Croft State Natural Area Emergency Regulations as included in the Board meeting package. Mr. Pulliam made a motion that the Board approve the Proposed Croft State Natural Area Emergency Regulations as presented. Mr. Campbell seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
10. Director’s Briefings
    Mr. Frampton informed the Board that the Belfast dedication will be held Tuesday, November 16, 2010, beginning at noon.
11. Legislative Report
    Derrick Meggie, Director of Legislative Services, reported that all bills that passed have been assigned act numbers. The turkey and road hunting bills did not pass.
12. Environmental Report
    Bob Perry, Director of Environmental Programs, gave the Board a brief update on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and noted that the DNR’s response is posted on the website. Mr. Perry also discussed two letters to the Army Corps of Engineers, one regarding the proposed construction of additional landfills at the Cross Generating Station and the other regarding comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Units 2 and 3.
13. Deputy Directors’ Reports
    1. Marine Resources
       Nothing further to report.
    2. Land, Water and Conservation
       Nothing further to report.
    3. Law Enforcement
       Nothing further to report.
    4. Outreach and Support Services
       Carole Collins, Deputy Director for Outreach and Support Services, informed the Board that four customer service employees retired, having a combined total of 100 years of experience.
    5. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
       Breck Carmichael distributed and briefly discussed the preliminary results of the Deer Hunter Survey by Responsive Management.
14. Executive Session
    At this time, Mrs. Rhodes 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. Davis 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.
16. Time and Location of the Next Meetings
    The August Board meeting will be held Thursday, August 12, 2010, in Florence.
    
    The September Board meeting will be held Thursday, September 16, 2010, in Columbia.
    
17. Adjournment
    There being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned.