NEWS - Ports & Transportation

SBJ Staff Report

Dec 12, 2011 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District will host its first public meeting on Tuesday night for its project to deepen Charleston Harbor beyond 45 feet known as the ‘Post 45’ project.  The meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Mark Clark Hall, at The Citadel school, Charleston.

The engineers from the Corps’ Charleston District will discuss the engineering, economic and environmental concerns of the public surrounding the harbor-deepening project. The public can provide written and electronic comments or dictate their comments to a court reporter. Oral comments will not be accepted.  The Corps’ presentation on the project is scheduled for 6 p.m.

On June 28, the S.C. State Ports Authority and Army Corps of Engineers signed an agreement on the projected costs of the project would be funded, with a portion of the project to be paid by South Carolina and the balance by the federal government.  Just as with the Georgia project under review to deepen the Savannah River, the financial agreement was an important step that has allowed the project to move forward. South Carolina, as well as Florida, are all seeking Federal funds for their projects which compete in the eyes of many.

The Post 45 project has moved into the ‘feasibility study phase.’  In this phase, engineers will study the impacts of deepening Charleston Harbor beyond its current depth of 45 feet.

(See Related Story "South Carolina Leaders Sue to Reverse Negotiated Deal with Georgia Ports and Army Corps of Engineers")