CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- More than 100 people turned out to provide the first public comment on a $300 million project to deepen the Charleston Harbor so the city can serve larger ships that will be calling when the Panama Canal is widened.
State Ports Authority president and CEO Jim Newsome told the gathering Tuesday in Charleston the project is the authority's top strategic priority.
Newsome added that the state finds itself in competition with other ports for limited federal funds for such projects.
"Everyone wants their harbor deepened by not everyone will get their harbor deepened," he said.
Newsome said during an earlier news conference with business leaders and Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. that Charleston provides the most economical chance for the nation to create a Southeastern port that will handle the next generation of larger container ships already calling as the Panama Canal is widened.
He noted that Charleston's project is half the price of a $600 million plan by Georgia to deepen the Savannah River shipping channel to serve the port in Savannah, which is in intense competition with Charleston.
Some South Carolina lawmakers are upset the state's environmental agency approved a water quality permit for the Savannah River deepening and several groups are appealing the permit through the state's administrative law court.
Last month, during an appearance in Charleston, Gov. Nikki Haley told local maritime interests there is no chance South Carolina will get money to deepen the Charleston Harbor shipping channel without the help of Georgia's federal lawmakers.
"If you think we are going to get the permit for Charleston and keep Savannah from getting their funding, when they have two senators fighting as hard as ours, you're not being realistic," she told the group.
"That remains to be seen," Newsome said Tuesday, adding, "We need to keep our project on track and that's what we're focused on."
He added that Charleston Harbor was deepened to 45 feet back in 2004.
"People say we're behind on harbor deepening. We got the project in 2004 that others are seeking today," he said, adding more depth is needed because the larger ships were not envisioned a decade ago.
Corps spokeswoman Glenn Jefferies said while Tuesday's meeting was the first chance the public has to comment on the Charleston project, although the agency has been taking comment from state and federal agencies for several months.
"We are at the very beginning of the feasibility process," said Lt. Col. Ed Chamberlayne, the Charleston district engineer for the corps. He said the entire project could likely be finished about 2024, He noted the corps has been maintaining navigation in the harbor since 1851.
The comment period ends Feb. 10, after which the corps will do a feasibility study and a draft environmental impact statement.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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