EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 96-06

WHEREAS, the Southern Pine Beetle is having a tremendous impact, causing significant damage in twenty-two counties; and

WHEREAS, as a result of this destructive insect outbreak, approximately 2.8 million acres of pine host type which is 19 percent of the State's 12.4 million acres of forest land received some degree of damage, causing a great loss to South Carolina's privately owned timberlands and the State's forest products industry; and

WHEREAS, the forest products industry is the third largest manufacturing industry in South Carolina, valued at $6.9 billion annually, providing employment for 50,000 people; and

WHEREAS, volume damage is estimated to total 325 million board feet and 450 thousand cords of pine timber valued at $126 million; and

WHEREAS, as a result of this situation, an emergency exists, making it necessary to salvage and use as much of the damaged timber as possible in the shortest length of time so as to minimize waste and protect the remaining resource; and

WHEREAS, it is essential for the State to take action to promote the general welfare of this important sector of its economy.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of South Carolina and pursuant to the Constitution and Laws of this State, I hereby reconstitute the Governor's Forest Disaster Salvage Council consisting of twenty-two (22) members selected by the Governor representing all sectors of the forest products industry and associated State and Federal agencies; in particular, one member from each of the following: The U. S. Forest Service; South Carolina Forestry Association, South Carolina Forestry Commission; Association of Consulting Foresters; Farm Service Agency, and the Forester's Council. Additional members shall include the Governor or his designee; the Commissioner of Agriculture or his designee; two members of the South Carolina State Senate and Two members of the South Carolina House of Representatives; a representative of the Clemson University Extension Service; and nine members representing major timber producers and consuming corporations located in South Carolina. The Chairman shall be appointed by the Governor. The Council is charged with the following duties:

This Council shall continue to operate until the outbreak has been declared over. It shall be the duty of every department, agency, office and institution of the State of South Carolina and the Officers thereof, to cooperate with and assist the Council in every reasonable way to insure the success of their efforts to salvage the damaged timber in this State.

The Council shall be constituted as follows:

1. Chairman: Mr. Ken Hill, Willamette Industries
2. Governor's Office: Beth Partlow, Esquire
3. S. C. Senate: Honorable John Drummond
Honorable Larry A. Martin
4. S.C. House Of Representatives: Honorable Ronald P. Townsend
Honorable Lanny F. Littlejohn
5. S. C. Department of Agriculture: Commissioner D. Leslie Tindal
6. Farm Service Agency: Mr. Laurie Lawson
7. S. C. Forestry Commission: Mr. J. Hugh Ryan
8. S. C. Forestry Association: Mr. Robert R. Scott
9. U.S. Forest Service: Mr. David W. Wilson
10. Clemson Cooperative Ext. Svc. Mr. Donald L. Ham
11. Assn. of Consulting Foresters: Mr. Bob Calhoun
12. Forest Industry:
a: Collum's Lumber Mill Mr. Mitchell S. Scott
b: Champion International Mr. Eric Watson
c: Bowater, Inc. Mr. George W. Flanders
d: Federal Paper Board Company Mr. Lee Murph
e: Union Camp Corporation Mr. Ronald M. Johnson
f: Canal Wood Corporation Mr. W. Virgil Wall, Jr.
g: Georgia Pacific Corporation Mr. Donald A. Brown
h: Westvaco Mr. Eugene Parker
i: Stone Container Corporation Mr. Dan M. Cox

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 7TH DAY OF MARCH, 1996

_____________________________________
DAVID M. BEASLEY
Governor

ATTEST:

___________________________________
JAMES M. MILES
Secretary of State

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:17 A.M.