“DNR got grant for premium sunglasses”

Posted: 20 Nov 2010 09:21 PM PST

Costa Del Mar sunglasses are slammin' -- patented lenses that cut right through glare and deepen colors and contrast. They are sought out by saltwater anglers and snowboarders alike. They come with warranties. They retail on average for about $150 per pair.

Mike McShane, the S.C. Natural Resources board chairman, sports a pair. So do the department's wildlife officers. That angered a caller to The Post and Courier's Watchdog, who wanted to know if premium sunglasses were bought and distributed to board members and staff at a time when the DNR is supposed to be short of funds and making cuts.

Well, yes and no.

The DNR purchased 200 pairs of the glasses for wildlife officers who work out on the water, after ophthalmologists had concerns about damage done by prolonged exposure to sun and glare, because officers were equipped with $10, dark plastic sunglasses, said Director John Frampton.

The Costa Del Mars were purchased for about $75 each, with a federal grant and through a federal bulk-purchasing program that made for the discount, he said. "They didn't go to any other division, and didn't go to the board," said Frampton, who added that he doesn't have a pair.

McShane does, but he paid for his own, not through the program, he said. He has made a point of not accepting reimbursements for his time on the board, and has paid for travel, including airline travel, out of his own pocket, he said.

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