International Drive court testimony focuses on the needs of bears versus humans
COLUMBIA
If a bear crosses the road, what path will it take?
That was one of numerous questions put before the state Administrative Law Court on Tuesday during hearings that will decide whether construction of International Drive can proceed.
The dispute was brought against Horry County and the state by environmentalists who say the road should not be built at all, but contend that if construction goes forward if should include three bear tunnels along the proposed four-lane highway between Carolina Forest and S.C. 90.
The 5-mile road would be constructed alongside the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve, where both sides agreed that the bear population had dwindled because of environmental factors such as wildfires or drought.
Where they differ is whether the tunnels are still needed after a 2009 wildfire drove the population from the area, or whether bears would use the tunnels to cross the road.
Stan Barnett, attorney for Horry County Public Works, told the court that five bear tunnels were constructed underneath S.C. 22, yet nearly 30 bears have been struck by cars in just over a decade.
If the county bowed to the demands of environmentalists and built the tunnels agreed to five years ago, Barnett questioned whether the $3 million cost would be a waste of taxpayer dollars if bears ignore those tunnels as they do along S.C. 22.
“I don’t want to be a smart aleck, but how does a bear know which tunnel to use?” asked Ralph Anderson, the Administrative Law Court Chief Judge.
Steve Gilbert, a biologist with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, one of the organizations asking the court to block permits needed to build the road, occupied the witness stand for most of Tuesday’s hearing.
Gilbert testified that bears have to be “educated” about new migration paths and directed towards tunnels using fencing and other methods such as baiting.
That was one of numerous questions put before the state Administrative Law Court on Tuesday during hearings that will decide whether construction of International Drive can proceed.
The dispute was brought against Horry County and the state by environmentalists who say the road should not be built at all, but contend that if construction goes forward if should include three bear tunnels along the proposed four-lane highway between Carolina Forest and S.C. 90.
The 5-mile road would be constructed alongside the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve, where both sides agreed that the bear population had dwindled because of environmental factors such as wildfires or drought.
Where they differ is whether the tunnels are still needed after a 2009 wildfire drove the population from the area, or whether bears would use the tunnels to cross the road.
Stan Barnett, attorney for Horry County Public Works, told the court that five bear tunnels were constructed underneath S.C. 22, yet nearly 30 bears have been struck by cars in just over a decade.
If the county bowed to the demands of environmentalists and built the tunnels agreed to five years ago, Barnett questioned whether the $3 million cost would be a waste of taxpayer dollars if bears ignore those tunnels as they do along S.C. 22.
“I don’t want to be a smart aleck, but how does a bear know which tunnel to use?” asked Ralph Anderson, the Administrative Law Court Chief Judge.
Steve Gilbert, a biologist with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, one of the organizations asking the court to block permits needed to build the road, occupied the witness stand for most of Tuesday’s hearing.
Gilbert testified that bears have to be “educated” about new migration paths and directed towards tunnels using fencing and other methods such as baiting.
I don’t want to be a smart al
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