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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

S. 849

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Senators Lourie, Courson and Leventis
Document Path: l:\council\bills\rm\1185bh11.docx

Introduced in the Senate on April 26, 2011
Introduced in the House on April 26, 2011
Adopted by the General Assembly on April 26, 2011

Summary: Attorney Benjamin A. Johnson

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4/26/2011  Senate  Introduced, adopted, sent to House 
                        (Senate Journal-page 7)
   4/26/2011  House   Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence 
                        (House Journal-page 73)

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

4/26/2011

TO THANK ATTORNEY BENJAMIN A. JOHNSON OF YORK COUNTY FOR HIS TWELVE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS SOUTH CAROLINA'S COMMISSIONER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ATLANTIC LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE COMPACT COMMISSION, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH FULFILLMENT AND SUCCESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, it is with great pleasure that the South Carolina General Assembly honors those individuals who give tirelessly of themselves to the welfare of this great state's citizenry; and

Whereas, South Carolina native Benjamin A. Johnson, commissioner and chairman of the Atlantic Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission, stands among their number as an outstanding public benefactor, one much admired in his role as both attorney and administrator; and

Whereas, in preparation for his life's work, Ben Johnson earned his bachelor's degree at Winthrop University in 1977, graduating cum laude, and completed his law degree at the University of South Carolina in 1980; and

Whereas, Mr. Johnson, whose law practice covers construction; corporate, partnership, and shareholder rights litigation; economic development; employment and labor; and litigation, was appointed in 1999 to serve on the Governor's Nuclear Waste Task Force. In 2000, he was named commissioner and chairman of the Atlantic Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission, which oversees interstate shipments of low-level radioactive waste to the landfill near Barnwell; and

Whereas, as chairman, he was instrumental in promoting a compact that would limit the amount of low-level nuclear waste entering the State. Later, he played a key role in persuading the South Carolina Legislature to uphold the terms of that compact despite intense lobbying to reopen the State to more waste shipments; and

Whereas, more specifically, several years ago South Carolina signed a compact with partner states Connecticut and New Jersey that allowed only these three states to use the Barnwell landfill. The agreement also reserved approximately two hundred thousand cubic feet of landfill space for South Carolina's use; and

Whereas, for these milestone accomplishments as chairman of the Atlantic Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission, Ben Johnson, long committed to protecting the state's environment, was honored with an award from the South Carolina Wildlife Federation; and

Whereas, South Carolina, as a result of Mr. Johnson's labors, ended its role as the nation's low-level nuclear-waste landfill in 2008, while at the same time preserving Barnwell's remaining disposal capacity for the next generation of South Carolinians and the decommissioning of the state's own nuclear plants; and

Whereas, his leadership in ensuring that Barnwell remains a viable low-volume regional disposal facility has been appreciated not only by the Palmetto State's nuclear utilities but also those of partners Connecticut and New Jersey. Under his foresighted direction, the Atlantic Compact successfully executed the policy prescribed by the South Carolina General Assembly; and

Whereas, having set the bar of achievement extraordinarily high, Ben Johnson will step down from his post as commissioner and chairman of the Atlantic Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission on June 30, 2011. He will be remembered with affection and gratitude by colleagues and legislative friends for years to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, thank attorney Benjamin A. Johnson of York County for his twelve years of dedicated service as South Carolina's commissioner and chairman of the Atlantic Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission, and wish him much fulfillment and success in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Benjamin A. Johnson.

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