Bill 1269

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    1269
Type of Legislation:            Senate Resolution SR
Introducing Body:               Senate
Introduced Date:                19980527
Primary Sponsor:                Alexander
All Sponsors:                   Alexander, Drummond, Martin,
                                Waldrep, Giese, Wilson, Saleeby, Hayes,
                                Leatherman, Ravenel, McConnell, Land,
                                Leventis, Moore, Holland and Cork
                                
Drafted Document Number:        s-res\alexander\res1700.tca
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980527
Subject:                        Dr. James A. Timmerman, Jr.;
                                Jocassee Gorges property named for;
                                Natural Resources, Oconee, Pickens,
                                Resolutions

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

Senate  19980527  Introduced, adopted

A SENATE 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 THE 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 SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 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 South Carolina Senate 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 of Natural Resources 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 South Carolina Senate 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:

That the members of the Senate of the State of South Carolina, 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 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 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; the Board and Department of Natural Resources; and Dr. James A. Timmerman.