Minutes
Rembert C. Dennis Building, Room 335
Columbia, SC
Friday, June 21, 2002
9:30 a.m.
The regular meeting of the Board
of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 9:30 am, on
Friday, June 21, 2002, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Columbia, 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 9:30 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the
meeting.
Chairman Lesesne asked for a moment of silent
meditation.
Cary Chamblee introduced Patten Watson, SC Wildlife
Federation and Nancy Stone-Collum, Coastal Conservation League.
There were no requests for comment.
Dr. Sandifer commended Corporal Gene Morris upon his
receipt of the Medal of Valor from the SC Law Enforcement Association.
Dr. Sandifer commended Capt. John Watford on his
selection to attend the 210th session of the FBI Academy.
Dr. Sandifer congratulated Buford Mabry upon his receipt
of a Joint Resolution presented to him on the House Floor in honor of his
appointment as Brigadier General in the Army National Guard.
Col. Alvin Wright congratulated Joey Rentiers- and the
Hunter Education Program for being recognized at the IAFWA for having one of
the best hunter education videos in the southeast and also for the work on the
Hunter Ed CD.
Dr. Sandifer read a letter from the Greenwood Sheriff’s
Department thanking the Department for the law enforcement assistance on the
recent bomb threat of the Wilson Creek Bridge.
Dr. Sandifer congratulated Marine Division employee Billy
McCord on his recognition by Charleston’s Post and Courier newspaper as an
“Unsung Hero” in recognition of his volunteer work on nights and weekends
tagging and sharing information on butterflies.
Dr. Sandifer congratulated Mary Crockett of Land, Water
and Conservation on her graduation from the Governor’s EXCEL Leadership
Institute.
Tom Kohlsaat informed the Board that the Heritage Trust
Program received the Robert N. S. and Patti Foos Whitelaw Founders Award in
recognition of their role in the protection of Childsbury.
Mr. Kohlsaat also reported that the Port Royal Adventure
Trail has been designated as a National Recreation Trail.
Dr. Sandifer introduced Mr. Gary Martel, Chief of
Fisheries with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Mr. Martel presented the 2001 Aquatic
Education Outstanding Sport Fish Restoration Project of the Year to SC Reel
Kids Program on behalf of the American Fisheries Society’s Fisheries
Administrator’s Section.
VII. Advisory
Committee Reports
Dr.
Miglarese reported that the Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Advisory Committee
recommends, along with division staff, that the $5 enhancement to the saltwater
fishing license will be used in the following three projects: 1) red drum stock enhancement, 2) oyster reef
restoration, and 3) inshore artificial reefs.
B. Land,
Water and Conservation
Dr. Rucker
reported that the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee met May 29,
in Columbia. The Advisory Committee received
a presentation on non point source pollution concerns in the Greenwood
Conservation District. The Advisory
Committee received updates on the drought and DHEC’s development of TMDLs. Mike Janis gave an overview of the new
Southeast Regional Climate Center website.
C. Wildlife
and Freshwater Fisheries
Ms.
Holliday reported that the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee
met June 6. The Advisory Committee
received an informational handout and a DNR news release concerning Chronic Wasting
disease. Derrell Shipes provided the
Advisory Committee with an explanation of the history of the public draw hunt
program and proposed a $25 non-refundable application fee for hunts. This fee would lower staff workload and
generate about $40,000 of revenue annually.
Ms. Holliday stated that the Advisory Committee expressed numerous
concerns about this fee. The Advisory
approved the duck stamp budget and the antlerless deer tag budget. The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Advisory Committee and the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee will have a joint
meeting on July 24, to discuss proposed legislation for fox running enclosures.
D. Marine
Mr. Gregg
reported that the Marine Advisory Committee met on June 14. The Advisory Committee discussed the
derelict and abandoned vessels. Mr.
Gregg stated that the Advisory Committee received status reports on blue crab,
red drum and sea trout.
A. Update on
Wildlife Diseases
Derrell
Shipes brought two other diseases to the attention of the Board. The first disease being AVM, which occurs
primarily in birds. Mr. Shipes noted
that at this time there have been 19 eagle mortalities in South Carolina and
noted other birds affected. Mr. Shipes
stated that there is a national team working on this disease and when
information is developed it will be shared with the Board.
Mr. Shipes
also discussed West Nile Virus, an encephalitis virus. Mr. Shipes stated that the virus was
introduced into New York City in 1999, and is now documented from Maine to
Florida, with the exception of West Virginia and South Carolina, and as far
west as Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa.
B. Savannah
River Basin Study
Dr. Bud
Badr reviewed the Savannah River Basin Study and highlighted issues within the
basin. Dr. Badr stated that this study
will enhance the ability to use science to strike a fair deal between South
Carolina and the State of Georgia. Dr.
Badr shared some of the issues of concern in the Savannah River Basin. The basin is more than 10,000 square miles
and has five major lakes. The purpose
of the study is to set and develop a comprehensive tool that will enable South
Carolina and the State of Georgia to fairly distribute and allocate the water
between the two states and all the users.
The only way this can be done is to establish and develop this tool
together.
C. Shellfish
Restoration Program
Dr.
Miglarese introduced Bob Van Dolah, Interim Director of the Marine Resource Research
Institute. Dr. Bob Van Dolah noted that
the shellfish restoration program is one of two programs involving
shellfish. The second program is a
monitoring program. Dr. Van Dolah
introduced Loren Coen and asked that he make the presentation to the Board.
Dr. Coen
described the types of oysters and the benefits of oysters, such as filtering
and fish habitat. This program was
developed to involve the public in a community assisted restoration program. A Department Shell Recycling Program has
also been developed. The idea is to
restore and enhance shellfish on a priority basis. The idea of the community restoration program is to develop an
awareness in the public, in terms of the value of oysters, not just as a
resource but as a habitat, in the recycling of shell and putting the shell out,
to use these small pilot reefs as research platforms and to involve
children. Dr. Coen then described the
Shell Recycling Program. This program
allows a recycling center to be set up so that people can bring in 5-25 bushels
of shells or they can be picked up. Dr.
Coen then described “planting” of shells.
Dr. Coen stated that by using the information from these programs and
past research to improve and expand to a larger restoration effort. It is also hoped to be able to develop and
evaluate more effective ways to manage oyster beds.
A. Approval
of Duck Stamp Budget
Derrell
Shipes reviewed the proposed Duck Stamp Budget as submitted to the Board in the
meeting package. Ms. Holliday made a
motion that the Board approve the version of the Duck Stamp Budget as included
in the Board meeting package. Dr.
Rucker seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
B. Comp Time
Policy
Jean
Cowell briefly reviewed the changes in the Comp Time Policy. Mr. Ford made a motion that the Board
approve the Comp Time Policy as presented.
Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
C. Heritage
Trust Property Donations
This item
will be discussed in executive session.
D. Oconee
County Confirmation of Right-of-Way
Paul
League reviewed the request from Oconee County for a right-of-way to pave a
county road. The area in question forms
part of the boundary of the Brasstown Creek Heritage Preserve in Oconee County. After discussion, Mr. McEachin made a motion
that the Board approve the request for right-of-way from Oconee County as
presented. Mr. Ford seconded the motion
and the motion carried unanimously.
At this
time Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to
discuss legal, contractual and personnel matters.
The Board returned to regular
session and invited staff and guests to join the meeting.
Dr. Leary
made a motion that the Board approve the appointment of William Dean Moss, Jr.,
to the Land, Water and Conservation Division Advisory Committee to fill Tom
Dunaway’s term that expires October 21, 2002.
Dr. Rucker seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary
made a motion that the Board approve the acquisitions of the Stewart tract, as
an addition to the Henderson Heritage Preserve, and the Cothran tract as a new
Heritage Preserve. Dr. Rucker seconded
the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XII. Director’s
Briefings
Dr.
Sandifer informed the Board that Representative David Wilkins has appointed
Tommy Miller to the Conservation Bank Board and that Senator Glenn McConnell
has appointed Tom Deloach and Chip Campsen.
Dr.
Sandifer reported to the board that Cary Chamblee represented him at the
Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Spring Meeting. Dr. Sandifer’s term as President of the
organization ended in May.
Dr.
Sandifer participated in a meeting on May 20 of the governor’s Homeland
Security Council.
Dr.
Sandifer received the final report submitted to the Governor’s Office by the SC
Law Enforcement Officer Safety Review Task Force and thanked Maj. McCarty and
his team of officers for their assistance in this matter.
Dr.
Sandifer attended the dedication and tour of the North Inlet-Winyah Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve headquarters building on May 30, at USC’s
Baruch Marine Field Laboratory in Georgetown.
A. Habitat
Protection Activities
John
Frampton reported that the House and Senate are in the process of making some
appointments to the Land Bank.
B. Legislative
Report
Derrick
Meggie reviewed several items legislators have requested information on during
the off season. Mr. Meggie also noted
that several bills passed one house and not the other last year and these bills
need to be reviewed for next year.
XIII.
Deputy Directors’ Reports
No further
report.
Breck
Carmichael reported that he is serving on an intergovernmental committee to
provide input into the State Trails Plan.
Col.
Wright reported that efforts at Bike Week were successful. Col. Wright noted that there is interest
from SLED to utilize the Department’s aircraft and vice versa and to move the
aviation headquarters to SLED. Col.
Wright stated that there is opposition to that because the Department has a
unique mission and the aircraft is valuable to the agency. Col. Wright noted that there was an
agreement, between DNR and SLED, to be on pilot rotation for Search and
Rescue. Col. Wright reported that there
have been 37 boating accidents with nine fatalities thus far this year.
E. CEC
and Administrative Services
Carole
Collins reported that the direct mail license form went out and in the first
four days 3,700 combination purchases were received and 1,882 single license
purchases were received.
XIV. Time and Location of the Next Meeting
Chairman
Lesesne stated that the next meeting of the DNR Board will be held on Friday,
July 19, 2002, at the Dennis Building in Columbia, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The August
meeting will be held Friday, August 16, 2002, in Columbia.
The
November meeting will be held in conjunction with the dedication of the new
NERR facility at Bennett’s Point.
XV. Adjournment
There
being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the
meeting was adjourned.