A powerful state lawmaker said he plans to file a bill next week designed to end the legal skirmish that has erupted over competing plans to develop a shipping terminal in Jasper County.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said his legislation also would establish a timeline for building a huge container port on the Savannah River.

The bill, if passed, would effectively end Jasper County's bid to acquire and develop the 1,800-acre site and put the State Ports Authority in charge of the project, he said. The legislation also would end Jasper's efforts to condemn the land, which is owned by the state of Georgia.

'It is absolutely vital our state have a port in Jasper County,' Harrell said. 'Charleston's port will soon be at full capacity and not expanding will hurt our state. This new port will serve the entire state of South Carolina, not just Jasper County, and should be headed up by the State Ports Authority.'

Harrell's proposal, which had 77 co-sponsors as of Friday, is the latest move in the legal spat between the SPA and Jasper.

Aside from trying to resolve the myriad legal issues, Harrell's bill puts the Jasper port project on a timetable.

For example, the SPA would be required to complete the land acquisition with 180 days after the legal issues are ironed out. The agency would then have to apply for state and federal permits. Detailed engineering and design work would have to be completed within 180 days of receiving permits.

Bill Stern, the SPA's chairman, said he welcomes a legislative solution to the dispute.

'It's unfortunate we're spending dollars to fight a county in the state,' Stern said. 'As a businessman, that's tough for me to swallow.'

Jasper County Administrator Andrew P. Fulghum said Friday that he has not seen a copy of Harrell's bill and was unable to comment on it.

Jasper was the first to announce plans to develop a large container terminal on the property. The SPA submitted a competing proposal in early 2005.

The county was dealt a blow last year, when the state Supreme Court ruled that the SPA had greater powers than a local government to condemn land for public purposes.

Jasper and its financial partner, Seattle-based SSA Marine, then sued the SPA to halt its effort to seize the property.

The case took a significant turn last month when a judge ruled that the county cannot intervene in the ports authority's condemnation.

The order opened the door for South Carolina to deal one-on-one with Georgia in the condemnation case.

Reach Peter Hull at 937-5594 or phull@postandcourier.com.