Committee approves forestry updates, DNR land change and drone permit for hog control

The South Carolina House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee approved three bills affecting state forestry authority, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) land language and the use of unmanned aircraft to manage feral hogs and coyotes during a committee meeting.

The committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 3945 to remove the word “relocate” from the bill’s list of wildlife management activities and approved the measure, after DNR staff said the department does not intend the required permit to carry a fee. The committee also approved House Bill 3629, which updates provisions related to the Forestry Commission and allows the agency to acquire timberland as well as submarginal agricultural lands; and House Bill 3872, which removes the phrase “leased land” from a DNR-owned-lands measure because leases can be terminated within 30 days.

The drone bill: permit, flight logs and “relocate” removed

Representative Farris introduced the drone bill (House Bill 3945) as a framework authorizing unmanned aircraft to manage wild hogs and coyotes on private property with the landowner’s permission. The bill requires a DNR permit and a daily flight log that DNR may inspect.

Duncan Croitwell, director of government affairs for the…