Conservation groups fight deepening of Savannah River shipping channel
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June 20, 2012
Charleston, South Carolina: Conservation groups from South Carolina and Georgia have sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who are about to begin a $650 million project to deepen the Savannah River shipping channel. This would allow for larger ships to pass through Georgia ports.
The issue is whether or not a South Carolina pollution permit is needed. The conservation groups explained in their lawsuit that the project will result in river silt containing toxic cadmium to be dumped on the South Carolina side of the river.
The Army Corps. have asked U.S. District Judge Richard Mark Gergel, of the District of South Carolina, to dismiss the suit since no harm has been caused yet. The plaintiffs, however, replied on June 19 that the judge must take action now, before it's too late. Attorney Blan Holman stated, "Plaintiffs need not wait for environmental injury to be consummated before exercising their rights to prevent it."[1] Holman represents the Southern Environmental Law Center, who filed the suit on behalf of the Savannah Riverkeeper, South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and South Carolina Wildlife Federation.[1]
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