Minutes
Charleston, South Carolina
Friday, February 16, 2001
9:00 a.m.
The
regular meeting of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources was held at 9:00 am, on Friday, February 16, 2001, at the auditorium
of the Marine Resources Division, Charleston, South Carolina. Notice of the date, time and place of the
meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Dr. Joab Lesesne presided at the meeting. Board members present included Dr. Julius
Leary, Danny Ford, Ben Gregg, M. Russell Holliday, Jr., Malloy McEachin and Dr.
Douglas Rucker. Dr. Paul A. Sandifer
and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the
meeting, as were various guests.
Chairman Lesesne called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Chairman Lesesne asked for a
moment of silent meditation.
Chairman
Lesesne asked Cary Chamblee to introduce guests present at the meeting. Mr. Chamblee introduced Caroline Pinkney,
Research Director with the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee; Pat
Robertson; Lynne Langley, Post and Courier; Rebecca Parkes, Forest Watch.
Mr. Chamblee introduced
Bob Bailey, Executive Director of Sportsmen’s Coalition, and asked him to
address the Board. Mr. Bailey’s
comments were directed toward the definition of possession of game and nongame
animals. Mr. Bailey asked the Board to
give consideration to a basic definition of what constitutes possession. Mr. McEachin volunteered to research this issue.
Chairman Lesesne asked if there were any corrections or
additions to the minutes of the January 19, 2001, meeting. There being no corrections or additions Dr.
Leary made a motion that the minutes of the January 19, 2001, meeting be
approved as submitted. Dr. Rucker
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Sandifer introduced
Anne Hale Miglarese and asked her to make a presentation to Bob Van Dolah. Mr. Van Dolah is the recipient of the NOAA
“Hammer Award”.
Dr. Sandifer recognized Jennifer Moore for receiving
the AFS Jack Bayless Award.
Dr. Sandifer Recognized
Loren Coen for being named to the National Shellfish Association Board.
Dr. Sandifer recognized
Craig Browdy for being elected President-Elect for the World Aquaculture
Society.
Dr. Sandifer recognized
John Miglarese for being named to the Board of Directors of the Charleston
Marine Institute.
Dr. Sandifer recognized
the following DNR employees who recently completed the requirements for the
Associate Public Manager (APM) Program sponsored by OHR: Valerie Campbell, Mike Creel, Glen Connelly,
John Lucas and Linda Renshaw.
Dr. Sandifer commended
all Department staff that worked to make the DNR Legislative Reception a
success.
Dr. Sandifer commended
Mac Watson and Freshwater Fisheries personnel for their “sod laying party”
recently at the Cheraw Fish Hatchery to correct extensive erosion problems and
saving their section approximately $4,000 in labor costs.
Ms. Holliday reported that the Wildlife and
Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee met on February 1, 2001. The Committee received comments from a
constituent recommending the consideration of a buck tagging program to better
control the buck harvest. After some
discussion of this issue, the Committee decided that the public would not be
supportive of a buck tagging program and that the private landowner should be
responsible for controlling the buck harvest on their properties. The Committee had discussions on baiting of
deer in the Piedmont and the copper levels in Lake Murray and other areas. The Committee received reports on FERC
relicensing; waterfowl harvest; a new deer research proposal and road hunting.
Mr. Gregg
reported that the Marine Advisory Committee met on February 15, 2001. The Committee received updates on the
Saltwater License Initiative and sea turtles.
The Committee received reports on the impacts of cold water temperatures
on shrimp. The Committee also had a
discussion of the three-mile line and the difficulties of interpretation and enforcement. Mr. Gregg recognized Peter Dodd, a member of
the Marine Advisory Committee.
At this time, Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board hold an executive session to discuss contractual matters. Dr. Rucker seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
The Board returned to regular session and invited
staff and guests to join the meeting.
Mr. McEachin made a motion that the Board approve the
Heritage Trust Board’s recommendation to acquire the Congaree Bluffs property
in Calhoun County. Ms. Holliday
seconded the motion. Mr. Gregg recused
himself from any action due to his serving as a member of the Congaree Land
Trust Board. At this time a vote was
taken and the motion carried unanimously with Mr. Gregg abstaining.
Mr. McEachin reported that the Heritage Trust
Advisory Board met on February 1, 2001.
At this meeting they approved five new projects.
John Miglarese asked Wayne Waltz to make a
presentation to the Board summarizing the education initiative for this
issue. Mr. Waltz made his presentation
to the Board and answered questions posed by Board members. Mr. Gregg made a motion that the Board
direct DNR staff to work with constituent groups and the General Assembly to
seek an increase in the saltwater fishing license fee structure that mirrors
the freshwater fishing license fee structure.
Dr. Rucker seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
B. Amendments
to FOIA Policy #500.01
Jim Quinn reviewed the proposed amendments to FOIA
Policy #500.01 made since Board members received their packages in the
mail. After much discussion and several
questions, the Board asked staff add language in the policy to require staff to
give reasons for non-disclosure of items requested pursuant to the Act and
bring it back to the Board at their March meeting.
C. Amendments
to DNR Disciplinary Policy #701.03
Jean Cowell reviewed the proposed amendments to DNR
Disciplinary Policy #701.03. After much
discussion and questions posed by Board members, the Board asked staff to
review the policy for consistency in disciplinary actions and bring it back to
the Board at their March Meeting.
D. WMA and
Heritage Trust Property Acquisitions
These items were deferred to executive session.
XII. Director’s Briefings
A. Executive Office
Dr. Sandifer updated the Board on the Jocassee Gorges
leg of the Palmetto Trail.
Dr. Sandifer informed the Board of the annual Human
Affairs Commission report on “The Status of Equal Employment Opportunity in
South Carolina State Government” and provided DNR results.
Dr. Sandifer mentioned Pat Robertson’s article in The
State newspaper on January 28, 2001, about the end of duck season and hunting
ducks on the Santee Coastal Reserve.
Dr. Sandifer noted that Cary Chamblee represented him
at a meeting of Clemson University Advisory Committee held on January 30, 2001
at the NWTF headquarters in Edgefield.
Dr. Sandifer stated that Mr. Chamblee represented DNR
at the Environmental Awareness Award presentation held in the State House
Rotunda on February 7, 2001.
Dr. Sandifer represented DNR in a meeting of
Representative Koon’s House Ways and Means Economic Development, Environment
and Natural Resources Subcommittee regarding the DNR budget.
Dr. Sandifer and Dr. Lesesne will be attending the
NWTF annual meeting to be held in Columbus, Ohio.
Dr. Sandifer informed the Board that Senator Yancey
McGill and members of his Senate Finance Subcommittee along with staff member
Bruce Duke will be visiting DNR on Tuesday, February 20, 2001.
B. Habitat
Protection
Barry Beasley reported that on January 31, 2001, a
meeting of the SC Land Legacy Initiative was held at Archives and History. Mr. Beasley stated that at this point in
time the Land Legacy Initiative is focused on efforts around the Campsen
bill. Mr. Beasley also informed the
Board that a long-term habitat protection/land conservation strategy is being
formulated by DNR.
C. Legislative
Derrick Meggie updated the Board on the status of
bills proposed by the Department and those that are of interest to the
Department.
D. Environmental
Ed Duncan reviewed the Supreme Court Ruling on the
Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. US Army Corps of Engineers, which
involved statutory and constitutional challenges to the assertion of the Clean
water Act jurisdiction over isolated, non-navigable, intrastate waters used as
habitat by migratory birds.
XIII. Deputy
Directors’ Reports
Lt. Col. Stanley Smith asked Maj. Taylor to
distribute copies of the boating accident report to the Board. Lt. Col. Smith informed the Board that
waterfowl cases are up this year compared to last year.
Carole Collins informed the Board that the judging
has been held for the 2001 Jr. Duck Stamp Competition and distributed copies of
the Best of Show.
Dr. Miglarese introduced Elizabeth Von Kolnitz,
Office of Public Affairs. Mrs. Von
Kolnitz updated the Board on the efforts of the Department in using grant money
from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation to help teach students in
Colleton County using “hands on” marine science environmental education
activities.
David Cupka gave a report on the cold kill of shrimp.
Freddy Vang distributed to the Board a copy of the
Aquatic Plant Management Plan. Mr. Vang
also distributed copies of a correspondence received from FEMA.
No further report.
Billy McTeer reported that at this time it does not
appear that the USFWS will be approving an extension in the waterfowl season.
XIV. Executive
Session
At this time Dr. Leary
made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to discuss legal,
contractual and personnel matters. Dr.
Rucker seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XV. Return
to Regular Session
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board reappoint Knox
Haynsworth to the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee. Mr. Gregg seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board reappoint
Pinkney Skinner to the Conservation Education and Communications Advisory
Committee. Mr. Gregg seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board allow Heritage
Trust to proceed with the procurement of the Georgetown Lighthouse. Mr. Gregg seconded the motion and the motion
carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve the
purchase of a tract of land in Union County of 199 acres. Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the
motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board award three
Meritorious Service Awards to be given at a later date. Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the
motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that it be noted in the
minutes that the Board has reviewed Dr. Sandifer’s mid-year agency head
evaluation. Ms. Holliday seconded the
motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XVI.
Time and Location of
the Next Meeting
Chairman Lesesne stated that the next meeting of the
DNR Board will be held on Friday, March 23, 2001, at Rosewood’s at the State
Fairground, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
XVII. Adjournment
There being no further business to be brought before
the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned.