COLUMBIA - The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley resurfaced at the Statehouse on the last day of the session when a group of 10 lawmakers publicly called for a state audit of the project.

The sub's leading advocate called the request a witch hunt sparked by bad press, while supporters said an audit could clear the air of any controversy.

"I'm certainly not anti-Hunley and there are two sides to every story," said state Rep. Nathan Ballentine, R-Irmo, whose name appeared first on the request letter. "But shedding some light on it, I don't see how there could be anybody against that."

The letter, dated Thursday, was addressed to the state Legislative Audit Council. It requests an audit covering the state Hunley Commission from its inception to determine whether public funds "regardless of source" were legally and properly disbursed in accordance with state law and proper accounting procedures.

It also asks for a determination of whether all contracts involved with the project were properly awarded. State Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-Clinton, who also signed the letter, said the audit is needed in the interest of taxpayers.

"I think we need a clearer picture of money flowing through the commission," Duncan said.

The letter came from members of the House of Representatives. No Lowcountry lawmakers, or any senators, signed on.

The project to conserve and restore the world's first attack sub has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks as media outlets have reported different tabulations of the restoration and display costs. The State newspaper of Columbia put the cost at $97 million; a Post and Courier analysis of state and federal documents, and the Hunley project books, found that about $13.8 million has been spent in state, federal and local government dollars. Private donations have paid the rest of the $17 million project.

Another $15.5 million has been committed to the project, most of that from North Charleston to fund a Hunley museum there.

Hunley advocates said an audit isn't needed. The commission chairman, Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, said all the money has been legally disbursed. He called the request "a knee-jerk reaction" to inaccurate newspaper reports of inflated numbers.

An audit would provide "greater proof of the inaccuracies of The State newspaper and will further verify that everything was done out in the open and above board," he said.

McConnell and a fellow commission member, state Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, said the audit would be a waste of state assets. "Most of the state money was spent years ago," McConnell said.

There is no guarantee that a state audit will be launched, even though the 10 lawmakers requested it. The Legislative Audit Council is made up of nine laymen and lawmakers either elected or appointed by the Legislature who would vote on whether an audit is warranted. The council isn't scheduled to meet again until late July or early August.

Other hurdles may come in the form of staffing shortages and other audits already under way, said audit council Director George Schroeder. The audit also could be time-consuming and expensive. Schroeder said it could take three months to a year and cost $100,000 to $500,000.

The Hunley Commission was formed in 1996 after the lost rebel sub was discovered by a dive team funded by author Clive Cussler off the Charleston coast in 1995.

Contact Schuyler Kropf at skropf@postandcourier.com or 937-5551.