The federal agency seeking to deepen the Savannah harbor says it sent letters promoting the $652 million project to Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker John Boehner and leaders of key congressional committees.
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SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) -- The federal agency seeking to deepen the Savannah harbor says it sent letters promoting the $652 million project to Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker John Boehner and leaders of key congressional committees.
Ten letters to House and Senate leaders were disclosed Thursday by the Army Corps of Engineers in a filing in U.S. District Court in South Carolina, where environmentalists are suing over the project.
The letters by Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant Army secretary for civil works, claim an exemption that would allow dredging to begin without state permits from Georgia and South Carolina. The letter says Congress would consent to the exemption by funding construction.
The Port of Savannah wants deeper water to accommodate supersized cargo ships. But permitting efforts in South Carolina are tied up in court.
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