The regular meeting of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 10:30 a.m., October 16, 2012, at Belfast Wildlife Management Area, Kinards, SC. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman John Evans presided at the meeting. Board members present included Cary Chastain, Michael Hutchins, Norman Pulliam, Caroline Rhodes and Larry Yonce. Board member Randy Lowe’s absence was excused. Director Alvin Taylor and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the meeting.

1. Call to Order
   Chairman John Evans called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Invocation
   Chaplain Eric Skidmore, SC Law Enforcement Assistance Program, offered the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
   Vice Chairman Cary Chastain led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Introduction of Guests
   Robert Boyles, Deputy Director for Marine Resources, introduced Joel Deason, Senate Fish, Game and Forestry. Mr. Boyles also introduced Gary Stevens and Adam Rex, wildlife technicians at Belfast.
   
5. Constituent Comments
   Mr. Boyles stated that there were no requests for constituent comment.
6. Approval of Minutes
   Chairman Evans asked if there were any amendments, additions, deletions or corrections to the September 21, 2012, meeting minutes. Norman Pulliam made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the September 21, 2012, meeting as submitted. Caroline Rhodes seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
7. Presentations/Commendations
   Director Taylor commended the LE Officers of the Year: PFC Brian M. Welch of Gray Court, representing Region 1 - the 2012 Statewide Officer of the Year. Other regional recipients include: Region 2 - Officer Ezra Arnold, Region 3 – SGT Rhett Bickley, Region 4 & NASBLA – SGT Steven C. Pop, Law Enforcement Investigations & Education – Investigator Ray Lewis.
   
   Director Taylor commended Emily Cope and Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries staff for their efforts in coordination of the Cliff Pitts Wildlife Management Area (WMA) opening ceremony in western Laurens County.
8. Advisory Committee Reports
   1. Migratory Waterfowl
      Mike Hutchins reported that the Migratory Waterfowl Advisory Committee met, by conference call, on September 27, 2012. The purpose of the meeting was to change the duck on the 2013-2014 stamp from the mallard to the black duck.
   2. Marine
      Mr. Chastain reported that the Marine Advisory Committee met September 28, 2012 in Charleston. The Advisory Committee received a constituent comment about the recreational tarpon fishery. The Advisory Committee received a Region IV Law Enforcement update. The Advisory Committee received a presentation on the process used in managing the commercial shrimp trawl fishery. The Advisory Committee received an update on legislative proposals that will be recommended for the 2013 legislative session.
   3. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
      Mr. Hutchins reported that the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee met October 9, 2012 at the Webb Center. The Advisory Committee received a presentation on the history of the Webb Center. The Advisory Committee received updates on public draw hunts, alligator season and the Lower Saluda Trout Project.
9. Item for Board Information
   1. Briefing on Deer Season
      Charles Ruth, Deer project Supervisor, gave the Board a brief history of deer season for both the Coastal Plain and Piedmont areas, which included biological data, opening dates, closing dates and other rules and regulations.
10. Items for Board Action
    1. FY 2014 Heritage Trust Budget
       Ken Rentiers, Deputy Director for Land, Water and Conservation, briefly reviewed the proposed FY 2014 Heritage Trust Budget, as included in the Board meeting package. Mrs. Rhodes made a motion that the Board approve the FY 2014 Heritage Trust Budget as presented. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    2. Expenditures from the Lake Hartwell PCB Settlement
       Ross Self, Chief of Fisheries, gave the Board a brief history of the Lake Hartwell PCB event and settlement. Mr. Ross reviewed the proposed expenditures as included the in the Board meeting package. Mrs. Rhodes made a motion that the Board approve the proposed expenditures from the Lake Hartwell PCB Settlement as presented. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
       
11. Director’s Briefings
    Director Taylor and Col. Frampton met with Lt. Colonel Tom Woodie and staff of the Savannah District Corps of Engineers in Savannah on Sept. 24 to discuss boating safety and future partnership opportunities.
    
    Director Taylor and Emily Cope, Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, met Dr. Patricia Layton and Dr. Greg Yarrow of the Clemson School of Agriculture, Forestry & Environmental Science for an update on the Wildlife & Fisheries Program at Clemson and to discuss current and future partnership opportunities.
    
    Director Taylor and Mrs. Cope met with professors from Wofford to discuss future partnership opportunities.
12. Legislative Report
    Derrick Meggie, Director of Legislative Services, reported that he will be meeting with the chair of both committees, after the election, for prefile dates.
13. Environmental Report
    Bob Perry, Director, Office of Environmental Programs, highlighted the following proposed projects, as contained in the environmental report in the Board meeting package: the draft Savannah River Drought Contingency Plan; SCDOT Interstate 73; Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission; and South Island Dredging Association.
14. Deputy Directors’ Reports
    1. Land, Water and Conservation
       Nothing further to report.
    2. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
       Mrs. Cope gave the Board an update on the Lower Saluda Troup Project.
    3. Law Enforcement
       Director Taylor, in Col. Frampton’s absence, gave the Board an update on dove season and officer hiring.
    4. Marine Resources
       Mr. Boyles gave the Board a brief report on the fishery-dependent sampling efforts for the recently completed red snapper mini seasons. Mr. Boyles also reported on the restarting of the tagging program for marine game fish.
    5. Outreach and Support Services
       Nothing further to report.
15. Executive Session
    Mrs. Rhodes made a motion for the Board to hold an Executive Session to discuss contractual and personnel matters. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
16. Open Session
    Mr. Chastain made a motion that the Board approve the sale of approximately 4.65 acres of DNR land at Marsh WMA in Marion County to CSX Transportation and for the grant of an access easement to CSX Transportation along a gated dirt road within Marsh WMA to reach the subject property. Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    
    Mr. Pulliam made a motion to approve staff investigating a proposed property donation of 754 acres within the DNR’s Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve/WMA in Horry County. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    
17. Time and Location of the Next Meeting
    The November Board meeting will be held Thursday, November 15, 2012.
    
    The December Board meeting will be held Thursday, December 13, 2012.
    
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 October 16, 2012 (file size 112KB), have been provided in the Adobe PDF file format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open the above files and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.