Winter 2009 ■ Volume 20 No.4 ConservationCoastal League Celebrating 20 Making Our Voice Heard Years photograph by Sam Holland From the Director All Politics is Local. Almost Winter 2009 Vol. 20 No. 4 he Conservation League is founded effort to turn the on the belief that the most bill around in ____________________STAFF important conservation work to the Senate and Director Dana Beach be done on the coast is local. We subsequently ________________REGIONAL OFFICES_____ organized twenty years ago to to pass the counter the explosion of sprawl nation’s strongest SOUTH COAST that was consuming our rural and hog factory Office Director Garrett Budds T Project Manager Reed Armstrong natural landscapes. Our earliest efforts standards. This Project Manager Andrea Malloy focused on improving county and city land law effectively NORTH COAST Office Director Nancy Cave use plans and zoning codes. We fought shut the hog Program Director Grace Gasper region-changing developments on places industry out of COLUMBIA like Sandy Island, blocked sprawl-inducing the state. Office Director Patrick Moore Director of Govt. Relations Dennis Glaves sewer and water lines and new highways, In 2002, Christie McGregor took over Govt. Relations Coordinator Merrill McGregor and prevented the contamination of coastal as the Conservation League’s Legislative rivers and streams from sources like factory Director. Christie had worked jointly _______P______ROGRAMS_______ Dir. of Conservation Programs Megan Desrosiers hog operations. Local is where the action for The Nature Conservancy and the Program Directors Nancy Vinson Josh Martin was, and there it remains today. Conservation League to pass the S.C. Hamilton Davis So what business have we in the Conservation Bank Act in the 2001 Project Managers Katie Zimmerman Kate Parks Legislature? In spite of the lack of a state legislative session. Patty Pierce and Communications Manager Gretta Kruesi planning structure, legislative decisions Heather Spires joined the lobby team have an enormous impact on the potential in 2007 and 2008, and coordinated our ____________________DEVELOPMENT for good or bad local outcomes. One of efforts to reform the Department of Director Courtenay Speir Development Associate Dana Moorer the first battles we fought in Columbia Transportation, to maintain and increase was over “Takings” bills. Under the guise funding for the Conservation Bank, to ______________ADMINISTRATION______ of protecting property rights, these laws defeat Takings legislation, to maintain Director of Administration Cathy Forrester would have eliminated the ability of towns, the integrity of the permitting process, to HR and Admin. Tonnia Switzer Director of Finance Ashley Waters cities and counties to plan for future improve state energy efficiency standards, Data Manager Nora Kravec Administrative Assistant Angela Chvarak growth by requiring them to pay property and to stop the flow of out-of-state garbage Development/Finance Assistant Amanda Watson owners when new zoning codes were into South Carolina. Assistant to the Director Eugenia Payne enacted or existing codes were changed. Patrick Moore joined the Columbia Board of Directors Virtually every year between 1995 and staff in 2009, working on annexation Laura Gates, Chair 2002, we opposed Takings bills sponsored reform and assisting Heather in William Cogswell Fred Lincoln Andrea Ziff Cooper Cartter Lupton by development lobbyists. And every year overcoming vigorous industry opposition Berry Edwards Roy Richards Dorothea Benton Frank Jeffrey Schutz we won. Nancy Vinson served as our to protecting water flows in the state’s rivers Richard T. Hale Harriet Smartt lobbyist until 2000, commuting between and streams. Hank Holliday Libby Smith Holly Hook Victoria C. Verity Charleston and Columbia. When the It almost goes without saying that workload became too great, we opened sustained work in Columbia is essential to Advisors and Committee Members Paul Kimball a Columbia office with Nancy Stone- maintaining a healthy coast, particularly Hugh Lane Collum as our first full-time legislative in a state with one of the most dominant Jay Mills representative. legislatures in the nation. But deciding Newsletter Editor Virginia Beach Also in 1995, hog industry lobbyists what legislative battles we take on demands Designer Julie Frye persuaded a majority of the South Carolina that we always measure the potential House to remove local control over benefits where it matters most – in the P.O. Box 1765 ■ Charleston, SC 29402 factory hog operations. The same type communities and the natural landscapes of Phone: (843) 723-8035 ■ FAX: (843) 723-8308 Email: [email protected] of law passed in North Carolina in the the South Carolina coast. Web site: www.CoastalConservationLeague.org early 1990s and precipitated the flood of P.O. Box 1861 ■ Beaufort, SC 29901 hogs and waste that devastated rivers and Phone: (843) 522-1800 streams when lagoons overflowed during 935 Main Street, No. 1 ■ Columbia, SC 29201 Hurricane Floyd. Nancy Vinson led the Phone: (803) 771-7102 P.O. Box 603 ■ Georgetown, SC 29442 Phone: (843) 545-0403 All contents herein are copyright of the Coastal Conservation League. Reprinting is strictly prohibited without written consent. Cover photo by Sam Holland Conservation Agenda The 118th South Carolina General Assembly A Challenging Session Ahead This year marks the Coastal Conservation League’s 20th anniversary and another successful year of advocacy at the State House. However, the 2009 Legislative Session was unlike any we have seen in recent history – a shortened session marked by furloughs and overriding concerns about the state’s budget shortfall. espite this challenging environment, the Highlights of the Conservation League’s Conservation League’s legislative team 2010 Legislative Agenda successfully advanced several items on our n Energy Efficiency and Renewables Legislation conservation agenda, including improved 1) S.547 creates an energy efficiency resource standard that requires energy standards for residential building that energy efficiency goals be met by a certain time. codes, restoration of some funding to 2) H.3628 reinstates the state Renewable Energy Infrastructure Fund. D the state Conservation Bank, improved solid waste regulations that reduce the potential for n Taxpayer Protection through Annexation Reform – H.3253 mega-landfills in the state, and progress towards 1) Redefines statutory standing so that citizens negatively affected by consensus on a Fair Share water bill. annexation proposals are empowered to challenge them. We anticipate another 2) Improves public notice requirements. shortened session in 2010, 3) Requires annexing municipalities to publish a “Plan of Services” once again dominated by prior to approval of all annexation proposals. budget concerns, overlapping 4) Ensures all annexations are consistent with local land use plans. subcommittee meetings, 5) Limits inappropriate “shoestring” annexations of remote properties. and few opportunities for public hearings. But with n Fair Share Water Bill – S.452 your help, we can maintain a 1) Establishes a water withdrawal permitting program for S.C. strong voice for conservation. 2) Sets a minimum water flow standard based on seasonal variations We will continue to that mimic natural river flows. work to advance those bills carried over from last year that addressed annexation reform, water n Sustain the Conservation Bank withdrawal, energy efficiency and clean energy. The S.C. Conservation Bank has protected more than 152,000 Interestingly, as we move through the economic acres of South Carolina’s most valuable natural resources. Protecting crisis, there has been a fundamental shift in how ecologically significant lands and historic sites since 2004, the growth and sustainability are viewed. A national Conservation Bank is one of the most productive state agencies, focus on the things that define our communities providing more than six dollars of taxpayer value for every one dollar – energy use, water stewardship, and public health of public monies spent. The Conservation League will continue to protection – has emerged. South Carolina is no advocate for fair funding of the Conservation Bank. different and the 2010 session offers a chance for members to get involved in these critical issues of our time. CO A ST al C O N SER va TIO N L E A GUE Legislative Advocacy When Conservation Becomes A Public Purpose Tenacious advocacy on the part of the Conservation League, combined with persistent citizen involvement and scrutiny, elevate environmental agenda ince its founding 20 years Thank Heavens for the Coastal Conservation League. Nancy, Jane, ago, the Coastal Conservation League has grown to be and Dana, along with many other professionals and volunteers, S a major political player have made a difference in South Carolina. I can't imagine how the in South Carolina. It was not until 2000 that the Conservation League Legislature would be able to help look after our state's precious opened a permanent legislative office in coastal resources without them. Knowledgeable, insightful, Columbia. Yet, even in that first decade of commuting between Charleston and resourceful with boundless energy, it is a pleasure to work with the the State House – when staffers Nancy Conservation League. Happy Birthday CCL and thank you, Dana, for Vinson and Jane Lareau were fighting the factory hog industry – the young your vision. – Senator Phil Leventis (D-Sumter) environmental group was gaining the ear of the