S.C., Ga. to join forces

The governors of South Carolina and Georgia officially announced that the two states will join together to develop a massive marine cargo terminal in Jasper County, S.C., under the stewardship of a newly created bi-state agency.

Called the Jasper Ocean Terminal Joint Project Office, the group will be steered by a six-member board. Four members will come from the states' existing port authorities, appointed by the respective chairman, plus one member each appointed by the governors. The chief executives of both states' port authorities also will be members.

The port is not expected to open for at least 10 years.

South Carolina State Ports Authority Chairman Bill Stern said Friday that he has not decided who from the SPA will serve on the new board. Under the agreement, Stern could be one of South Carolina's two representatives, Stern said.

The key to the pact is twofold, he said: It ends any legal tussles between the states and puts development of the site firmly in the hands of the two port authorities.

"It gives us the ability to own the land 50/50," Stern said. Without this agreement the chances of the two states going it alone in Jasper were "zero," he said.

Under the agreement, the Georgia Department of Transportation, which owns the 1,800-acre site on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River, would sell the site to the states' port authorities as equal co-tenants.

Formation of the JPO starts what eventually will result in a development proposal for consideration by both states. It will include how the port would be financed and operated, and would require approval by each state's General Assembly and the U.S. Congress.

Gov. Mark Sanford said the two states working together ultimately will benefit the entire region.

"(Georgia) Gov. (Sonny) Perdue and I both believe that continuing down this path represents both states' best chance for increasing our port capacity to the level needed to compete in an increasingly globalized economy," Sanford said in a statement.

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