I’m a few days late on posting this, but here are some excerpts from the Coastal Conservation League’s latest update on the legislation being debated in Columbia.
The who-controls-S.C.-water bill…
This week the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee sent S.428 by Senator Wes Hayes (R-York) to the full Senate for its consideration without reaching consensus on a number of key components. Senator Phil Leventis (D-Sumter) has placed a Minority Report on the bill which ensures the bill will remain on the contested calendar unless the Senate votes to move S.428 into a Special Order slot. If the bill receives this special status, it will be debated by the full Senate.
The Conservation Community opposes S.428 as approved by the Committee. Most importantly, the Committee has not agreed upon how much water should be kept in rivers and streams for the public for boating, fishing and other recreational uses and how much to allocate to future business and industry. The Committee included language offered by Senator Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley) that would have established a balanced advisory committee to study minimum instream flows and make recommendations next year. Unfortunately, the intent of the Grooms amendment was changed when further amendments were made stipulating that DHEC’s minimum flow guidelines would not apply to “regulated” rivers (which includes the Pee Dee, Catawba, Santee, Broad, Saluda and Savannah), and that Senate and House members would be added to the Advisory Committee (which would upset the balance). Ultimately, the League will oppose S.428 as written because it fails to protect the best interests of the public, our communities and the natural environment. Click here to tell your Senator you oppose S.428.
Funding the Conservation Bank …
This week the Senate Finance Committee approved its 2008-’09 State Budget and allocated an additional $1 million for the Conservation Bank, which mirrors the amount approved by the House. While we had hoped that the Committee would be able to match its $5 million appropriation for the Bank last year, we understand this year’s fiscal outlook is much bleaker than last year’s. Currently, the Board of Economic Advisors is projecting the state to be more than $200 million short of meeting its funding needs, $50 million more of a shortfall than when the House debated its budget last month. Yesterday, almost all state agencies were cut approximately 2.7%, so any additional funds for the Bank this year is remarkable.
Department of Transportation project prioritization …
This week the Senate Transportation Subcommittee and Committee considered R.3165, the SC Department of Transportation (DOT) regulation that would further implement Act 114, last year’s DOT Reform Act that requires the DOT to prioritize transportation projects. Senators Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley) and Greg Ryberg (R-Aiken) were not satisfied with R.3165 since language was not included to require the DOT Commission to fund projects as prioritized by the DOT. Senate staff and the Senators are working together to amend the regulation to require the DOT to fund projects as they appear on the prioritization list. R.3165 was sent back to the Senate Transportation Subcommittee Chaired by Senator Danny Verdin (R-Laurens).
Greening the State fleet …
S.368 by Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Greenville) would require our state fleet managers to give preference to hybrids, plug-in hybrids, biodiesel or flex fuel vehicles when purchasing new state vehicles.
