SCDNR Board Meeting Minutes
SCDNR Law Enforcement Training Classroom - 2765 Wildlife Lane West Columbia, SC 29172
The regular meeting of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 10:00 a.m., September 12, 2024 in the SCDNR Law Enforcement Training Classroom, West Columbia, SC. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Norman Pulliam presided at the meeting. Board members present included Dr. Mark Hartley, Mike Hutchins, Jerry Lee, Carlisle Oxner, Jake Rasor, Jr. and Duane Swygert. Director Boyles and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the meeting.
Chairman Norman Pulliam called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Kevin Thompson, SC Law Enforcement Assistance Program, offered the invocation.
Vice Chairman Hutchins led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Shannon Bobertz, Chief of Staff, introduced Mr. Bobby McDonald; Rick Counts, SC Hunters for the Hungry; and Sara Green, SC Wildlife Federation.
Mrs. Bobertz stated that Mr. McDonald has requested to make comments to the Board. Mr. McDonald’s comments were regarding deer depredation.
Mrs. Bobertz stated that Ms. Green has requested to make comments to the Board. Ms. Green thanked the Department and the Board for their longstanding partnership.
Chairman Pulliam asked if there were any additions, deletions or corrections to the minutes of the August 8, 2024 Board meeting. Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the minutes of the August 8, 2024 Board meeting be approved as submitted. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Director Boyles presented the Meritorious Service Award to Sam Chappelear.
Commendations
Director Boyles shared a press release by the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind and SC School for the Deaf and the Blind Foundation highlighting Chairman Pulliam’s service of 40 years.
Director Boyles commended Law Enforcement Officers who helped during the Beaufort Water Festival. Beaufort City Police Department Chief of Police Stephenie Price sent a letter to the Director thanking him and his team for their assistance. She said, “Your assistance during the festival highlighted the strength of our collaboration and reinforced our ability to serve and protect the community.”
Director Boyles commended Law Enforcement Officers who provided support during Memorial Day Weekend 2024 and were commended in a letter to the Director from City of Myrtle Beach Chief of Police Amy Prock. Chief Prock said, “Your officers were definitely an asset to our efforts and exceptional representatives of your department.”
Director Boyles commended Law Enforcement Officers who provided support during Memorial Day Weekend 2024 and were commended in a letter to the Director from City of Myrtle Beach Chief of Police Amy Prock. Chief Prock said, “Your officers were definitely an asset to our efforts and exceptional representatives of your department.”
Director Boyles commended Region 3 Law Enforcement PFC Morgan Dowd and PFC Sydney Grant who were commended in an email from a defense attorney who practices all over the state and in various courts. He commended these officers with the following note, “Let me just tell you how polite, prompt, and professional your agents are…man it is refreshing.”
Director Boyles commended Flood Mitigation staff Maria Cox Lamm, Jessica Artz, Laura Whittle, Heather Brown, and Matt Puckhaber for their efforts in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby and their assistance with flood damage assessments. Deputy Director Emily Cope and Colonel Chisolm Frampton both expressed their appreciation for their reports and assessments which were invaluable to staff during and after Tropical Storm Debby. We also received an email from SCEMD that said the SCDNR Flood Mitigation Team were the “heroes of the event” by giving counties the ability to issue local evacuations, set up shelters, and do public messaging way more in advance than in previous events.
Director Boyles commended Assistant Office of Environmental Programs Director Elizabeth Miller of the Office of Environmental Programs for her leadership during the ongoing FERC relicensing discussions with Duke Energy.
Director Boyles commended General Counsel Susan Porter on her selection to serve a three-year term on the State Employee Grievance Committee.
Charles Ruth, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, gave the Board a briefing on the deer depredation program.
Emily Cope, Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, reported on opening day of dove season on WMA’s.
- Climate Update
Hope Mizzell, Land, Water and Conservation Division, gave the Board a brief report on the impacts of Hurricane Debby. Dr. Mizzell provided drought status, rainfall totals, precipitation percentiles, streamflow, lake levels, groundwater monitoring wells around the state, precipitation forecast and temperature forecast. - WMA Trapping Survey Results
Mrs. Cope gave the Board a detailed report of the WMA Trapping Survey Results. - Director Search
This item was deferred until executive session.
- Waterfowl
Mrs. Cope reported the Waterfowl Advisory Committee met August 20, 2024 at Dennis Wildlife Center. The Advisory Committee received updates on the impacts of Tropical Storm Debby, WMA repairs and maintenance, Category 1 WMA’s Habit Conditions and Waterfowl Management Program. The Advisory Committee completed the annual Procedures and Rules of conduct for DNR Board and Committees training. - Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series
Mr. Oxner reported the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series Advisory Board met August 30, 2024 in Charleston. The Advisory Board ratified the 2024 Billfishing Series Winners and the 2025 Series tournament schedule and sponsorship packet. - Heritage Trust
Mr. Rentiers reported that the Heritage Trust Advisory Board held a teleconference meeting on September 3, 2024. The Advisory Board approved the property dedication that is on today’s agenda for Board consideration. - Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Mr. Hutchins reported that the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee met September 5, 2024 in West Columbia. The Advisory Committee received updates on Black Bass, Santee Cooper Blue Catfish and the Impacts of Hurricane Helene.
- Proposed Changes to 123-56: Deer Processors and Donated Deer Processing Fee Recovery
Mr. Ruth reviewed the proposed changes to 123-56: Deer Processors and Donated Deer Processing Fee Recovery, as included in the meeting packet. Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the SCDNR Board accept the recommendation of SCDNR staff and the Director and approve Regulation 123-56: Deer Processors and Donated Deer Processing Fee Recovery as proposed. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. - Proposed Changes to 123-57: Electronic Harvest Reporting for Big Game - SC Game Check
Mr. Ruth reviewed proposed changes to 123-57: Electronic Harvest Reporting for Big Game - SC Game Check, as included in the meeting packet. Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the SCDNR Board accept the recommendation of SCDNR staff and the Director and approve Regulation 123-57: Electronic Harvest Reporting for Big Game as proposed. Mr. Lee seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. - Proposed Changes to 123-204: Additional Regulations Applicable to Specific Properties
Will Dillman, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, reviewed the proposed changes to 123-204: Additional Regulations Applicable to Specific Properties, as included in the meeting packet. Dr. Hartley made a motion that the SCDNR Board accept the recommendation of SCDNR staff and the Director and approve changes to Regulation 123-204: Additional Regulations Applicable to Specific Properties as proposed. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. - Proposed Changes to WMA Regulations, Turkey Regulations, Bear Regulations
Mr. Dillman reviewed the proposed changes to WMA Regulations, Turkey Regulations and Bear Regulations, as included in the meeting packet. Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the SCDNR Board accept the recommendation of SCDNR staff and the Director and approve the modifications to Regulations 123-40 (Wildlife Management Area Regulations), 123-51 (Turkey Hunting Rules and Seasons), and 123-53 (Bear Hunting Rules and Seasons) as proposed. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. - Approval of Expenditure from Buzzard’s Roost Mitigation Trust Fund
Ross Self, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, reviewed the proposed Expenditure from Buzzard’s Roost Mitigation Trust Fund, as included in the meeting packet. Mr. Oxner made a motion that the SCDNR Board accept the recommendation of SCDNR Staff and the Director and approve the expenditure of $279,000 from the Buzzard’s Roost Mitigation Trust Fund to support the Lake Greenwood Habitat Enhancement Project. Mr. Rasor seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. - Request for Dedication and Placement into the Corpus of the Heritage Trust for Properties in Lancaster County
Lorianne Riggin, Director, Office of Environmental Programs, reviewed the request for Dedication and Placement into the Corpus of the Heritage Trust for Properties in Lancaster County, as included in the meeting packet. Mr. Rasor made a motion that the SCDNR Board, upon recommendation of SCDNR staff, the Director, and the Heritage Trust Advisory Board, approve the dedication and placement into the Corpus of the Heritage Trust Program as a part of Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve the 139.11-acre Haile Gold Mine Mitigation Tract 2 properties and the 57- acre Sediment Tract in Lancaster County. Mr. Swygert seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Hartley made a motion that the SCDNR Board go into executive session pursuant to SC Code Section 30-4-70(A)(1) to discuss personnel matters related to Item(s) for Board Information C and Item(s) for Board Action G. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
- Marine Advisory Committee Appointment
Mr. Swygert made a motion that the SCDNR Board, upon the recommendation of the SCDNR Staff and the Director, appoint David Fladd to the Marine Advisory Committee for an initial term beginning on July 1st, 2024 through June 30, 2028. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
The Board will hold a workshop on October 17, 2024.
Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Lee seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
The SCDNR Board Minutes for September 12, 2024 (PDF) have been provided in the Adobe PDF file format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open the above file and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.
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