S 927 Session 112 (1997-1998)
S 0927 Concurrent Resolution, By Drummond, Alexander, Cork, Giese, Hayes,
Holland, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Martin, McConnell, Moore, Ravenel, Saleeby,
Waldrep and Wilson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND THANK THE RICHARD KING MELLON
FOUNDATION, THE CONSERVATION FUND, DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION, THE STATE BUDGET
AND CONTROL BOARD, AND THE BOARD AND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THEIR
ROLES IN THE STATE'S PURCHASE OF THE JOCASSEE GORGES PROPERTY AND TO REQUEST
THE BOARD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO NAME THIS PRISTINE
WILDERNESS AREA THE "JIM TIMMERMAN NATURAL AREA AT JOCASSEE GORGES" IN HONOR
OF DR. JAMES A. TIMMERMAN, JR., RETIRED DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ONE OF
THIS STATE'S MOST RESPECTED CONSERVATIONISTS.
01/15/98 Senate Introduced SJ-3
01/15/98 Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-3
03/19/98 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Fish,
Game and Forestry SJ-11
03/24/98 Senate Amended SJ-30
03/24/98 Senate Adopted, sent to House SJ-30
03/25/98 House Introduced HJ-21
03/25/98 House Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
Resolutions HJ-22
AMENDED AND ADOPTED
March 24, 1998
S. 927
Introduced by Senators Drummond, Martin, Alexander, Waldrep,
Giese, Wilson, Saleeby, Hayes, Leatherman, Ravenel, McConnell,
Land, Leventis, Moore, Holland and Cork
S. Printed 3/24/98--S.
Read the first time January 15, 1998.
A CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
TO COMMEND AND THANK THE RICHARD KING MELLON
FOUNDATION, THE CONSERVATION FUND, DUKE
ENERGY/CRESCENT RESOURCES, INCORPORATED, THE
STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, AND THE BOARD
AND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THEIR
ROLES IN THE STATE'S PURCHASE OF THE JOCASSEE
GORGES PROPERTY AND TO REQUEST THE BOARD OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO DEDICATE
THIS AREA AS THE "JIM TIMMERMAN NATURAL
RESOURCES AREA AT JOCASSEE GORGES" IN HONOR
OF DR. JAMES A. TIMMERMAN, JR., DIRECTOR EMERITUS
OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ONE OF THIS STATE'S MOST
RESPECTED CONSERVATIONISTS.
Whereas, the State of South Carolina is acquiring 32,000 acres of
mountain property known as Jocassee Gorges from Duke Energy/
Crescent Resources, Incorporated. The General Assembly provided
ten million dollars toward the purchase price of this property, the
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources provided one
million dollars, and ten million dollars was generously donated by the
Richard King Mellon Foundation through the work of the
Conservation Fund. Duke Energy/Crescent Resources, Incorporated
also will generously donate a portion of this property's value to the
State to complete the transaction. The State will receive 24,000 acres
of the purchase in May and the remainder in 1999; and
Whereas, the state's agreement with Duke Energy/Crescent
Resources, Incorporated will preserve a highland area larger than
many national parks in an upstate region of our State that has
spectacular mountain beauty. The Jocassee Gorges land stretches
from the Sumter National Forest in Oconee County to the Table Rock
State Park in Pickens County; and
Whereas, this project has within its boundaries the area historically
known as "the Horsepasture", an area of enormous
historical significance to the State and long renowned as an area
where people from throughout the State come to enjoy hunting,
fishing, hiking, and general outdoor recreation; and
Whereas, this project also is located within the Franklin L. Gravely
Wildlife Management Area, named for Conservation Officer Franklin
L. Gravely for his long and distinguished career serving the public
and the state's natural resources in the upper part of South Carolina;
and
Whereas, it is the intention of the General Assembly that only those
lands bought from Duke Energy/Crescent Resources, Incorporated
are to be so dedicated and that the name of the Horsepasture and the
Franklin L. Gravely Wildlife Management Area shall not be changed
in any way; and
Whereas, this preservation agreement will protect the Jocassee
Gorges property from development, but the public will continue to
have access to this magnificent site which contains at least sixty-four
threatened or endangered species; hundreds of mosses unusual to the
State; the state's largest population of black bears; Sassafras
Mountain, the state's highest peak; and crystal clear waterfalls, rivers,
and creeks; and
Whereas, this acquisition fulfills a life-long dream of longtime
Department of Natural Resources Director, James A. Timmerman,
Jr., who retired last summer. Dr. Timmerman, since the middle
1970's, had envisioned the state's acquiring this land but never
dreamed it would occur in his lifetime; and
Whereas, Dr. Timmerman was born in Pelzer, South Carolina, on
April 6, 1935; received a B.S. degree in zoology from Clemson
University in 1957, a M.S. degree in zoology from Clemson
University in 1959, and a Ph.D. degree in zoology from Auburn
University in 1963; and
Whereas, Dr. Timmerman served the State of South Carolina with
distinction in many varied capacities during his exemplary career of
public service. From 1974 until 1994, he served as Executive
Director of the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources
Department, and after governmental restructuring, the South Carolina
Department of Natural Resources Board voted unanimously to name
Dr. Timmerman Director of the Department of Natural Resources on
July 15, 1994, and he served as agency director until his retirement
on June 30, 1997. Upon his retirement, the South Carolina
Department of Natural Resources Board named him Director
Emeritus, and Dr. Timmerman continues to assist the board and the
department in the cause of preserving and protecting our natural
resources and helping our youth understand and appreciate the
natural world; and
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly believe that it would
be a fitting tribute to one of South Carolina's most beloved and
respected conservationists if this magnificent acquisition were
dedicated as the "Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area at
Jocassee Gorges" in honor of Dr. Timmerman. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives
concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution,
commend and thank the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the
Conservation Fund, Duke Energy/Crescent Resources, Incorporated,
the State Budget and Control Board, and the Board and Department
of Natural Resources for their roles in the state's purchase of the
Jocassee Gorges property and request the Board of the Department
of Natural Resources to dedicate this area as the "Jim
Timmerman Natural Resources Area at Jocassee Gorges" in
honor of Dr. James A. Timmerman, Jr., Director Emeritus of the
department and one of this state's most respected conservationists.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to
the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Conservation Fund, Duke
Energy/Crescent Resources, Incorporated, the State Budget and
Control Board, and the Board and Department of Natural Resources,
and Dr. James A. Timmerman.
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