The regular meeting of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 10:00 am, September 23, 2015, in room 335 of the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Columbia, SC. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Glenn McFadden presided at the meeting. Board members present included Michael Hutchins, Norman Pulliam and Larry Yonce. Board member Cary Chastain, Randy Lowe and Elizabeth Willis' absences were excused. Director Alvin Taylor and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the meeting.

1. Call to Order
   Chairman Glenn McFadden called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Invocation
   Rev. Eric Skidmore, SC Law Enforcement Assistance Program, offered the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
   Larry Yonce led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Introduction of Guests
   Breck Carmichael, Special Assistant to the Director, introduced the following guests: Mike Gault, retired DNR officer; Mike Ruhe, Duke Energy; Katie Owen, House Ways and Means; and Austin Smallwood, SC Realtors.
5. Constituent Comments
   Mr. Carmichael reported that there were no requests for constituent comment.
6. Approval of Minutes
   Chairman McFadden asked if there were any amendments, additions, deletions or corrections to the July 16, 2015 or August 27, 2015, meeting minutes. Mike Hutchins made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the July 16, 2015 and August 27, 2015, meetings as submitted. Mr. Yonce seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
7. Presentations/Commendations
   Director Taylor commended Law Enforcement staff including Lt. Kim Leverich for coordinating six Boating Safety Public Meetings.
   Director Taylor commended Valerie Shannon for her work in coordinating the inaugural meeting of the SC Take Palmetto Pride Where You Live Commission on August 13 in the DNR Board Room.
   Director Taylor commended Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries staff for coordinating the upcoming deer management public meetings.
8. Advisory Committee Report(s)
   
   1. Heritage Trust
      Ken Rentiers, Deputy Director for Land, Water and Conservation, reported that the Heritage Trust Advisory Committee met August 6 at Table Rock State Park. The Advisory Committee received a general property update. The Advisory Committee received a botanist report on Cook's Mountain and a report on Fort Frederick. The Advisory Committee approved the FY 2017 budget.
   2. Land, Water and Conservation
      Mr. Rentiers reported that the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee met August 18 in Columbia. The Advisory Committee received updates on the division's programs and approved conservation district commissioner appointments and reappointments.
   3. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
      Mike Hutchins, Chairman, reported that the Advisory Committee met August 18 in Columbia. The Advisory Committee received a constituent comment on the declining dove population. The Advisory Committee received reports and presentations on waterfowl habitat and management, the dove population and the fishing tackle manufacturers trade show ICAST. The Advisory Committee received an update on the activities at Samworth WMA. The Advisory Committee approved the late season migratory season recommendations. Mr. Hutchins noted that the deer management public meetings have been scheduled.
   4. Governor's Cup Billfishing Advisory Committee
      Robert Boyles, Deputy Director for Marine Resources, reported that the Governor's Cup Billfishing Advisory Committee met September 3 in Charleston. The Advisory Committee received and reviewed the Tournament Committee report. The Advisory Committee approved the 2015 Series winners. Robert Garmany was nominated and approved as Vice Chairman of the Tournament Committee. There was some discussion about the addition of a tournament at Edisto for the 2016 series. The 2016 schedule was not approved and the proposed schedule was sent back to the Tournament Committee for their consideration. The 2015 Awards Ceremony will be held September 25.
   5. Marine
      Mr. Boyles reported that the Marine Advisory Committee met September 11 in Charleston. The Advisory Committee received an update on the 2015 cobia season. The Advisory Committee received a report of the potential changes to cobia management. A motion was made and passed to adopt a catch and release period of cobia in the Southern Sounds for the month of May, and change the bag limit to one cobia per person, per day, and three cobia per boat per day. The proposed law change will come with a sunset clause of six years in which DNR staff will continue to monitor the fishery. The Advisory Committee received a presentation on Landscape Scale Habitat Conservation. The Advisory Committee was informed that staff will be pursuing establishing a possession limit on mussels.
9. Items for Board Information
   Climate Update
   Hope Mizzell, State Climatologist, provided the Board with presentation on the drought status and reviewed rainfall totals, precipitation percentiles, streamflows, lake levels and ground-water monitoring wells around the state.
10. Director's Briefings
    Director Taylor reported that staff are beginning to work on the legislative agenda.
    
    Director Taylor informed the Board that staff are planning for an upcoming industry summit on fishing.
11. Legislative Report
    CPT Mike Sabaka reported that the six boating safety public meetings held statewide are complete and a final report should be available in November. CPT Sabaka informed the Board that he is working with the deputy directors on the budget and the legislative agenda for the upcoming legislative session.
12. Environmental Report
    Bob Perry, Director of Environmental Programs, highlighted the following projects, which were contained in the environmental report in the Board meeting package: Carolina Service I-20 Wastewater Treatment Plant and Post 45 Charleston Harbor. Mr. Perry also reported on the following items which were not included in the Board meeting package: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management meeting and the Duke Energy proposed Foothills Transmission Line.
13. Deputy Directors' Reports
    1. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
       Emily Cope, Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, announced the upcoming public deer management meetings. Mrs. Cope informed the Board that Billy Dukes has been selected to attend the National Conservation Leadership Institute. Mrs. Cope reported on the public dove fields opening day.
    2. Law Enforcement
       COL Chisolm Frampton, Deputy Director for Law Enforcement, reminded the Board that the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year luncheon will be held immediately after the meeting.
    3. Marine Resources
       Mr. Boyles reported on the shrimp baiting and shellfish seasons. Mr. Boyles informed the Board that the Marine Resources Division will be hosting an open house on October 24.
    4. Outreach and Support Services
       Derrick Meggie, Deputy Director for Outreach and Support Services, informed the Board that arrangements are being made to move the licensing section to the Farmer's Market.
    5. Land, Water and Conservation
       Nothing further to report
14. Items for Board Action
    
    1. Request for approval to accept the Bannister Tract in Orangeburg County - Volvo Mitigation
       Mr. Perry briefly reviewed the request for approval to accept the Bannister Tract as included in the Board meeting package. Mr. Pulliam made a motion that the DNR Board approve the acquisition of the Bannister Tract, approximately 1,667 acres, in Orangeburg County as presented and pursuant to staff working with the Applicant and Lowcountry Open Land Trust to finalize details presented in the conceptual mitigation plan. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    2. Power Line Realignment at Sassafras Mountain
       Van Whitehead, Legal Counsel, briefly reviewed the request for approval of the utility right of way and easement realignment at Sassafras Mountain as included in the Board meeting package. Mr. Yonce made a motion that the Board approve the request for power line realignment at Sassafras Mountain as proposed. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
15. Executive Session
    Mr. Hutchins made a motion for the Board to hold an Executive Session to discuss the proposed acquisition of properties, conservation district commissioner appointments/reappointments and Law Enforcement Advisory Committee reappointments. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
16. Open Session
    Mr. Pulliam made a motion that the Board return to regular session, noting that no actions were taken during Executive Session. Mr. Yonce seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    1. Property Acquisition at Cliff Pitts WMA in Laurens County
       Mr. Pulliam made a motion that the Board give final approval to acquire approximately 589 acres adjoining Cliff Pitts WMA in Laurens County. Mr. Yonce seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    2. Property Acquisition at Jocassee Gorges WMA in Pickens County
       Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board give final approval to acquire approximately 96 acres within DNR's Jocassee Gorges WMA in Pickens County. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    3. Property Acquisition at Lake Wateree in Kershaw County
       Mr. Yonce made a motion that the Board give preliminary approval to investigate a potential land acquisition adjoining Lake Wateree in Kershaw County. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    4. Conservation District Commissioner Appointments/Reappointments
       Mr. Yonce made a motion that the Board approve the conservation district commissioner appointments and reappointments as recommended by the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
       Appointments: Dennis T. Smith, Hampton and Neal R. Murdaugh, Hampton
       Reappointments: Yvonne Kling, Aiken; Troy M. Diel, Berkeley and F. Michael Seymour, Laurens
    5. Law Enforcement Advisory Committee Reappointments
       Mr. Pulliam made a motion that the Board approve the following reappointments to the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried.
       W. Terry LeCroy, Sr., Bradley and W. Burke Watson, Jr., Sumter
17. Time and Location of the Next Meetings
    The September meeting of the Board will be held Thursday, October 15 in the Jocassee Gorges area.
    The November meeting will be held Thursday, November 19 at the SC Waterfowl Association facility.
18. Adjournment
    There being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned.

The SCDNR Board Minutes for Septemer 23, 2015 (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.