Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Opponents Strike at Tidelands Bill Critics of environmentalists are not hard to find. They seem to pop up out of nowhere every time an environmentalist says something that makes sense. The oil industry referred to those environmentalists who urged caution in building the trans-Alaskan pipeline as "ecology freaks". And Richard Nixon has called the ecology movement the "ecology hit". But only in South Carolina can you find en vironmentalists being called "facists" by supposedly sane men. It all started on the floor of the S. C. Senate when Senators James Stevens (D-Horry) an' James Waddell (D-Beaufort) collaborated to deny the Environmei. .Coalition'scharges that the senators interests were preventing senate passage of the Tidelands Protection Bill. The bill is currently tied-up in the Senate Judiciary Committee which Stevens heads. Stevens is also a partner in thedevelopment company which has reportedly dredged and filled more than 200 acres of marsh which would be protected by the tidelands legislation . And Waddell, who is chairman of the Coastal Zone Management Practices Council, voted to block recall of the bill from Steven's committee. In defending their position on the bill Waddell and Stevens defined the Environmental Coalitions support of the bill as "a form of facism." Fascism, they said, which would deny the common man the right to own coastal property. However, neither of the men took the time to define "fascism" or "common man". The Environmental Coalition has said that defeat of the Tidelands Bill will lead to a further destruction of South Carolina's marsh areas which supply food and breeding grounds for fish and game. The same areas which, when abused by development will yeild high profits to the developers and eliminate accessability to the "common man". Waddell sponsored a substitute tidelands bill. However, the En vironmental Coalition believes that bill is not strong enough. It doesn't adequately define the tidelands area nor does it require dredging permits or enforcement of its provisions. It was apparently submitted to quiet the demands made by environmentalists for strong tidelands legislation. South Carolina is progressing economically, but, progress is often at the expense of the environment. Apartments, highways, industrial complexes and shopping centers have priority over clean air, clean water and sound conservation practices. And thereby, the natural beauty of the state is raped at an ever-increasing rate. The Sanders Tidelands Bill would reverse the current trend toward destruction of the South Carolina marshes, and would, instead preserve this area of unequalled beauty. But this bill will certainly defeat on the battleground of the Senate floor in the hands of two selfish politicians. And with its defeat, New Jersey will creep into Beaufort County. Staff Carl Baab, Editor Carl Naylor, Assoc. Ed. Scott Kearns, Assoc. Ed. Bobby Aiken, Ad Manager WRITERS Phyllis Purcell Kathy Edwards Hank Gilman Lynn Perry Chuck Cromer Terry Dugas John VanDalen PHOTO....... Scott Kearns ARTWORK......Gene Hodd CIRCULATION . Kieth Gressman Although the GAMECOCK is a publication of the students of the University of South Ca rolina, it is not an official publication of the University. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the University, the student boy or all the staff members of the GAMECOCK. I Plea Dear Editor, L etterIn reference to your article on Bell Camp, I would like to say I have found the camp a nearly to tIi.eperfect retreat from the problems ofday to day student life. A darn good place to take either your ~family, a girl friend or just your buddies for a day of fun and Editorlounging around. ~The lake is clean and cool and the lodge provides facilities for any kind of party. To quote a popular FAITH FUL GVA STEVENS AND Swamp Preserve Vit Baru Analysis by John Van Dalen The Wateree River is polluted from both sewage and quantities of chemical phosphates drained into it from the heavily agricultural regions of upper South Carolina and the Catawba River basin. But a unique phenomenon occurs as the river waters pass through the Santee Swamp and then into Lake Marion after merging with the Congaree River. Wiley Kitchens, an aquatic biologist engaged in research with the Belle Baruch Institute at USC, along with two associates, J. M. Dean and L. H. Stevenson, discovered that as much as 50 per The GM THE GAMECOCK is pubi and on Thursday during th< once a week during the s university holidays and ext Change of address forms, mail should be sent to THE Columbia, S. C. 29208. Sub: and $2 for the summer. $35,133.00 from the student of the G AMECOCK are roon House on the university can are 777-8178, 777-4249, news postage paid at Columbia,i expression of the day, "Let's use it, or we'll lose it!" If there is any shortcoming at the camp, it is money; we must provide more funding for this facility. H. Frank Shealy Student Senator Ed.-We heartily concur with your observations. We only hope thai other students will heed and act on your timely warning. After all, what's so hard about spending- a relaxing afternoon on a lake? 1' -1 1 INMI RDIANS OF THE TIDELAN .c. IJADDELL, MAIN TAIN THE.I ch Researc cent of the phosphates are actually assimilated by vegetation within the swamp and thus removed, or else become deposited as sediment on the swamp floor. These findings were based on extensive studies conducted by Kitchens and associates between January and April, 1973 and recently submitted to a joint legislative study committee in vestigating the feasibility of allowing future timber cutting in the 9,500 acre swamp domain. "We tried to show the functional role of a swamp acting on the quality of water passing through it," Kitchens said. "There is a marked decrease in such factors as suspended particles and phosphate pollutants as water passes through the swamp." This could be a crucial factor in efforts by conservationists to IECOCK ished twicee weekly on Monday fall and spring semesters and ummer, with the exception of m periods. subscription requests and other GAMECOCK, Drawer A, USC, scription rate is $3 per semester THE GAMECOCK received activity fund for 1974-75. Offices a s 317, 318 and 319 in the Russell pus, 1400 Green St. Telephones and advertising. Second class Letters Although the GAMECC letters received, prefere typed and under 200 a anonymous letters, althoa for valid reasons. Whil4 letters will be printed, letters will be nrinted. L GI5L.ATORS JL GI L h Cited either permanently block timber cutting which would alter and possibly destroy the delicate swamp eco-system, or else 'wint acceptance of Santee Swamp's inclusion in a vast 70,000 acre preserve that would also include 40,000 acres of the huge Congaree Swamp just below Columbia. Phosphates are what cause algal blooms and subsequently the proliferation of oxygen-consuming bacteria in lakes. Lake Marion can ill afford to become phosphate polluted because it is the state's number two recreation area and supports a huge recreation in dustry. Curiously enough, the Public Service Authority (PSA) has jurisdiction over the entire Santee Cooper system, including Santee Swamp and has authorized timber cutting contracts in the swamp. Public outcry resulted in a moratorium on the cutting, and it is still in effect. Timber harvest in the swamp would create a network of sluices, paths, and cleared areas which would alter the flow of water through the swamp. According to Kitchens, anything which in creases flow rate would decrease the quantity of nutrients or suspended matter that could be assimilated out of more slowly flowing water. Kitchens and his associates have thus compiled the first such swamp water quality research of this nature. Their conclusions may have a direct impact on the future protection of this swamp as a Iwilderness preserve. Policy CKwill attempt to run alA nce will be given to those words. We will not run agh we can withhold names we try to guarantee that we do not garaentee when