MULLINS — In 1982, Congress passed an appropriation bill that set into motion the thinking behind Interstate 73. The project was to connect the southern route of Interstate 95 to the Grand Strand.

Now, nearly 25 years later, the hard work of many individuals is about to come to fruition.

But not everyone is completely satisfied. The preferred alternative route for the southern part of the project was announced in May. The route chosen by officials runs from  I-95, just west of Latta in Dillon County, through Marion County to S.C. 22 in Horry County.

Part of that project will cross through the Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve, a 9,000-acre tract that is home to trees, lakes, animals and part of the Little Pee Dee River. Construction of the interstate will affect about 33 acres.

“Well, the impact of pollution on the water, just taking some of the land (is cause for concern),”  said Julia Krebs, chairwoman of the Heritage Trust Advisory Board. “You heard that it’s going to take 33 acres, and that’s just the minimal impact, that’s just where the highway is going to go and the roads are going to go.”

Members of the board met Wednesday with officials from the state Department of Natural Resources at Wildlife Action’s Fork Retch Center in Marion County to talk about some of the issues associated with I-73’s construction. The issues included the impact construction could have on the natural habitat of wild animals, the environment and the management of the property itself.

Officials said areas such as the Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve require regular burning to maintain some of the ecosystems there.

But if the interstate runs along the preferred route, management officials said they would be forced to find other ways to take care of the land, either by purchasing machines or by using chemical treatments. Both are more expensive than burning.

“Many of the ecosystems in the Pee Dee require regular burning in order to maintain the system, and smoke on an interstate is a very dangerous thing,” Krebs said, “so it would impact the management of the preserve.”

Heritage Trust Board members and DNR officials decided Wednesday they would take plenty of time to study the impact I-73 could have on the area before they make any final decisions about the land.

They also said they have to worry about the example they set for the future.

“As the board said, it’s precedent-setting, so we’re going to take our responsibility of studying this potential impact very, very seriously,” said Barry Beasley, DNR’s director of habitat protection programs. “... if the route continues as proposed, it would be one of the most significant impacts that has occurred on the Heritage Preserve.”

Board members said they hope to discuss their concerns and possible solutions with I-73 officials at a meeting later.

For information on the proposed route for I-73 in the Palmetto State, visit www. I73inSC.com.