CHARLESTON, S.C. - The battle between Jasper
County and the State Ports Authority over a $500 million steamship
terminal on the Savannah River goes before the South Carolina
Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The county wants to develop a privately financed terminal on the
South Carolina side of the river just downstream from Savannah, Ga.
But the State Ports Authority argues it has the exclusive right to
develop ports in the state.
The justices have set aside 35 minutes for arguments.
In court papers, the State Ports Authority maintains it has the
exclusive power to "promote, develop, construct, equip, maintain and
operate a harbor or harbors within the state."
By planning its own terminal, the county is encroaching on the
authority's jurisdiction, the agency maintains.
But the county contends planning an 1,800-acre terminal "is a
legitimate governmental exercise" allowed under the state's home
rule law.
The State Ports Authority sued last January after the county
reached a development deal with SSA Marine, a private company, to
develop the terminal.
County officials have been working since the early 1990s to
develop a terminal and bring in better paying jobs.
In court papers, the county said it began working to develop its
own terminal after the State Ports Authority rejected building one
at the site.
The state maintained such a terminal was "a bad idea" because it
would compete with the Port of Charleston and was not economically
feasible, the county filings said.
The State Ports Authority, which is running short on space in
Charleston, has now announced plans to build an 11-berth steamship
terminal on the site.
Gov. Mark Sanford and six former governors wrote a letter last
April saying the state should control terminal development.
"While Jasper County should be praised for its vision, we are
convinced that its citizenry, as well as citizens in every part of
the state, will be best served by maintaining public seaport
facilities under the guidance of the South Carolina State Ports
Authority," it said.
But the county maintains private port facilities are not new to
the state and the proposed terminal is "very similar to those owned
by other public and private entities," including the U.S. Navy,
Nucor Steel, BP Amoco and MeadWestvaco.
