COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH, AP) -- The South Carolina House has approved legislation that would supersede the state environmental agency's authority on dredging decisions, in an effort to help undo a permit it awarded allowing Georgia to expand the Savannah port.

The House voted 111-0 Wednesday to declare the Department of Health and Environmental Control's ability to make dredging decisions suspended as of 2007. That's when legislators created the Savannah River Maritime Commission and gave it authority to represent South Carolina on navigability issues in the river shared with Georgia.

But it wasn't consulted before DHEC awarded the permit in November, two months after denying it due to environmental concerns. The board's vote reversed that earlier decision to deny dredging 36 miles of the Savannah River to a depth of 48 feet. 

Legislators say it was a horrible economic and environmental decision.

“Not only has this placed Charleston’s port at a competitive disadvantage and jeopardized the very existence of a future port in Jasper, it may have also put our state’s taxpayers on the hook for paying a significant portion of Georgia’s port dredging," said House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston. "South Carolina is a state that thrives on free markets and fair competition.  Put our ports on a level playing field with other states, and you’ll see our businesses and workers compete toe-to-toe with industry leaders around the globe.

Gov. Nikki Haley and her staff came under fire for asking the DHEC board to hear an appeal on the issue late last year. Critics Haley pressured the board to reverse its decision to pay back political favors to suppporters in Georgia.

A series of Senate hearings were held on the matter in December, during which four Haley staffers testified they did not pressure DHEC. Lawmakers cleared them of any wrongdoing.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)