Summey wants port terminal halted
By Allyson Bird
As the State Ports Authority announces multimillion-dollar deals to build its new container terminal at the former Navy base, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey wants federal regulators to halt the long-delayed project.
Summey is fuming over a proposal by two state lawmakers who want to use a rail line that runs through the north end of the former military property to make the new port more attractive to shippers.
The Post and Courier
North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey
The mayor said that would violate a written agreement between the SPA and the city.
In a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last week, Summey said an environmental impact study submitted to the federal agency as part of the approval process did not include any new or improved rail facilities. The study said all cargo would enter or leave the site by truck.
As a result of that omission, he said, the SPA is not in compliance with the terms of its construction permit.
The controversy heated up after a new state rail study suggested the Navy base terminal have train service nearby and proposed several sites.
Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, and
Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, want to transfer the existing rail line and right of way at the north end of the base to a state-run railway operator.
That exchange would increase the likelihood that the region's two major rail carriers, Norfolk Southern and CSX, can serve the base area, including future port customers.
But it also would increase train traffic from the north. Summey said that would be detrimental to the revitalization efforts under way in that section of the city. It also would be a breach of the SPA's deal with the city, he said.
"I just want the Army Corps to understand that we believe, according to the information about legislation being proposed, that they plan on violating the agreement," Summey said Tuesday. "We need some clarification before we move forward."
He said that means stalling construction, if necessary, and he previously has threatened to file a lawsuit.
In his letter to the Corps, Summey requested a new environmental impact study, a process that can be costly and time consuming.
Merrill said Summey's position sets him up for a legacy as "the guy who keeps the port from expanding and hurting the state economy."
"It seems like it certainly is pretty shortsighted by the mayor," Merrill said. "I think there are numerous flaws in his argument. As both he indicated and I indicated, we should all sit down and talk about that."
Grooms said he, like Summey, prefers rail not run from the north but sees no alternative that would allow access for both major railroad lines.
"Right now the only option available for our port to have dual rail access is to have that northern route out of the base," Grooms said.
SPA Public Relations Director Byron Miller said the agency "was not involved in drafting, developing, sponsoring or encouraging in any way the amendment" and that the state rail study does not extend onto the terminal.
He added that the SPA has no plans to stop further port construction.
"The ports authority has nothing to do with this," he said. "It's certainly a matter between two other parties."
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Comments
justjerry (anonymous) says...
Grooms and Merrill are idiots. Why would you destroy all of the good work that has happened around Park Circle when it would be very simple to just have all rail traffic come out of the South end of the Base? If they continue to push to have the rail line come out of the North end of the base there will be more than just law suits from the city.
They should have built the port on Daniel Island where it was originally planned. But, since the folks on DI are too important to have their neighborhood have a port and North Charleston will take it at least minimize the damage to all of the work that has happened in the Noisette project.
April 22, 2009 at 1:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
MAH.....MAH !!!!
Citizens BEWARE....!?!?! Mrs Allyson BYRD is being snookered..!?!?!
Citizens.....get on Google EARTH and take a LOOK Around..!?!
Look at what and WHO and....WHERE ..!?!?!
Do you think that COMMERCIAL Developerz give a RATz about housing next to the HESS terminal...!?!?! This is about BOTH Mayor Summey and RIley holding the TAXPAYERz of our Fine state ....HOSTAGE...!?!?! I'm sure that some NON-Tax Paying Legislators will cough up some funds for WESCOT Plantation and the "Promenade Landfill" so-called redevelopment...!?!?!
James CLYBURN.....we see you smilin'..!?!? ...and when is your DUBAI In-land PORT due to come ON-LINE...!?!?! That Letter to the Corp is going to GO ....where..!?!?! Kinder Morgan got a permit to do ...WHAT...!?!?!
"ROW, ROW....ROW your TRAIN; gently up the TRACK...Merrily, Merrily Merrily...LIFE is BUT a ...WHAT..??"
HENRY BROWN........stop DREAMIN' !?!?! (Fist POundz..!)
Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint......your not STEAMIN'..!?!
Imagine ...That..!?!
WE...ARE.....FED...UP ...!!!!
Citizens, just take a look at WHO sits on all these freakin' BOARDS..!?!?! What keeps weasels from taking ACTION...!?!?!
These RAIL LINES have been there for HOW LONG...!?!?! ANd BIG RAIL needz "Porkulus" from US ....!?!?!
MY BACKSIDE....!?!?!
What a glaring display of .....Integrated efficiency ?!?
Reminds me of the Bumper Sticker..."Stop Hydrogenating ME !!"
Charles Rowe and Mr. "POP Tart......You "Hydrogenators"..!!!
When are you going to stop "Hydrogenating" the news around here..!?! Can you report ANY fat for the readers to CHEW ON??
Warren Peper....walk down to the Canteen and get a bag of PORK RINDS for your BRASS to CHEW on...and PONDER..!?!?
April 22, 2009 at 3:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
MAYOR SUMMEY.....
HOW DARE YOU.........!?!?! This is worse than the BLANKETz that Andre' Bauer is passing OUT..!?!
Is this SQUARE Dance supposed to entertain you Cameron Terrace VOTERz...!?!?!
Bravo...(Clap, Clap, Clap.....!!) What Companies are having a field day with these taxpayer FUNDS...!?!?! We have never seen a 10K Desk but it sounds like it will have to be RAILED in....!?!?!
What time does that Boat leave out of St. Mary's....!?!?! Who will be enjoying the SMOKED Yellowfin this next WEEK END...!?!?! You need to take a stroll down the "John Bourne" Memeory LANE and get a GRIP...!?!?! Birdsof a feather stick together..!?! Right..!?! So ...stop treating North Charleston like the SCARE CROW on Hee HAW...!?!?!
Get Busy....!?!?!
April 22, 2009 at 3:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Citizens....read the MAYORS own WORDS carefully...
http://charleston.net/news/2009/apr/1...
the MAYOR is alarming US to the Broken Promises by the state...??? Why would we need POLITICIANS if promises were NOT always broken..!!!!??
My BACKSIDE...!?!?!
Looks like we have some PLAYERz taking it on the chin and the MAYOR is looking to CYA...!?!?!
MAYOR SUMMEY (and yes you too RILEY).....lets talk about broken OATHS....!?!?! You scallywags...!!!
The Oaths of office to PROTECT your citizens...!!! That's right...!!! Not just physically BUT financially and ECONOMICALLY...!!!!
MAYOR.....
....have you looked Lonnie Carter and Mr. BRYAN in the EYE about harnessing North Charleston's WIND..?!?! DO you even look at the West-VACO ...FLAG..!?!?! How many TURBINEScould be installed around West VACO..!?! .....THESE RAIL YARDS...??? .....THE FREAKIN' NAVY BRIG....!?!?!
YOU IDIOT...!?!?! Sounds like you are bending over to the TRUCKIN' LOBBY and the DIESEL BOYz...!?!?! RAIL moves CARGO on long hauls MORE cost effectively..!!! You mean you want to TRUCK the CARGO to the Dubai In-LAND port..!?!?!
HOW WIDE DO WANT TO MAKE I-26....12 LANES....16..!?!
You need to MOVE to California....MAYOR...!!!!
We wonder how South Carolina Farmers would react knowing that you are looking at increasing trucking BUT NOT looking into Algae Bio-Diesel to RUN them ON...!?!?! www.valcent.net...!?!?!
MAYOR ....you need to review your oath to your citizens and NOT to WHO..!?!?!
WE ...ARE....FED.....UP !!!!!
April 22, 2009 at 4:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steeler6pack (anonymous) says...
why not consider using north charleston terminal for a major railhead for the new navy yard terminal.they already have tracks going into that port and tracks going into the navy yard.you can keep truck traffic on virgina ave. and not all over n. charleston roads.they also can railroad from (nct) to columbus st. terminal and can keep truck traffic on spruill ave. and meeting st. which is where 85 % of local rail service is at.THIS WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RAIL CROSSING IN THE CITY AND KEEP ALL PORT BUSSINESS ON ONE SIDE OF THE CITY.
April 22, 2009 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
THe longer this project is delayed the more business Savannah will gain and the more money we will lose.
April 22, 2009 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodkarmasc (anonymous) says...
Jobs vs traffic disruption...way to prioritize Mayor Summey. But it's not about that is it? It's about getting PAID isn't it? Mayor Summey wants to hold the north access hostage until the Port pays xamount to the city of North Charleston.
Maybe if Mayor Summey spent the same zeal in ridding North Charleston of thugs, gang bangers, illegals and other crime elements as he does to eliminating JOBS via the Port, North Charleston would be a better place to live.
April 22, 2009 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnS (anonymous) says...
The Park Circle area is still as high a crime area as it was since the base closed. Maybe worse today. The rails will not cause blight and will be greener than using trucks. Bring in the port and get some people working.
April 22, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Wow, Luna, a very pithy and dead-on post. I'm glad we can agree on this issue. Another good post from goodkarmasc...which really puts Summey and his leadership of the city in their proper perspective.
Right now, especially in this economy, it is extremely important for Chas leaders to foster JOB growth, and hindering construction of the new port terminal would be detrimental to that objective. Chas has indeed suffered by the elimination of the DI terminal, and the growth of Savannah's port, as well as Jacksonville's and Norfolk's, indicates what Chas could've achieved. Maersk pulling its primary offices is another indicator of what the stupidity in Chas leadership has done to further hurt the local economy.
Here is a solution, although it will be more expensive: elevate the north rail systems that would come out of the port terminal. This would eliminate rail crossings in the Park Circle area. Another even more expensive solution is to build tunnels. Regardless, options like these need to be considered rather than stopping work on a much belated project.
April 22, 2009 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
WHAT.....???
"SPA Public Relations Director Byron Miller said the agency "was not involved in drafting, developing, sponsoring or encouraging in any way the amendment" and that the state rail study does not extend onto the terminal."
PR Dir. Miller.........well, bucko if your statement is NOT like a scene from the "3 STOOGES" ..!!!
Larry....Merrill
Mo.....YOU
Curly......MAYOR SUMMEY..!!!!
Good GOD..!?!?!
Maybe you need to be re-titled....."PRIVATE" RELATIONS Director...!?!?! You mean that you are talking to NO oNE in Columbia...!?!! We know that is a LIE...!?!?!
You mean that a STATE RAIL study would NOT take into account ALL rail easements...PUBLIC or Private...!?! LOL..!?!?! WOW.....maybe THAT is the PROBLEM...!?!?! SOMEONE in Columbia does NOT know how to use Google EARTH...????
JIM MERRILL......do you know how to USE Google EARTH...!?!?!
ROBERT FORD.... do YOU..!?!?
Andre'....I know some seniors that are Google ...Savvy..!!!!
BY GOD ....we know that SC Rep TIM SCOTT ...does..!?!?! He was briefed with numerous slides while he served on Charleston County COUNCIL....!!!!!!!!!
Citizens.....WHAT A CLUSTER...!!!!!
Would someone down in the hole of the POST and Courier watch a re-run of ABBOTT and Costello doing "WHO's on FIRST"...!!!!
Mr. Byron Miller....your no MORON !!!! We just wonder what Mama would do with you if you worked at her FORD Dealerships...!?!?! Do you think you would even cut the mustard on her USED car lot...!?!?!
You must be in the hip pocket of the new shipping line moving into the PORT after Mearsk is gone..!?! Or maybe.....WHAT ???
WE ....ARE....FED...UP !!!!!
April 22, 2009 at 2:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
The port will not be able to compete against Savannah or Long Beach California or anywhere else unless it has efficient access to rail transportation. The trucks from this terminal will absorb the entire capacity of the lanes not being added to I26 if it's fully utilized. Or it may sit empty while places who can get the boxes on the trains and inland faster and cheaper get the business.
This new port is a huge expenditure. Can anyone prove we need it before we spend a billion dollars on it?
April 22, 2009 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
portster (anonymous) says...
wjhamilton3 ....good point. Isn't that what even r. brinson said in his column a few weeks ago?
zoomru...do you think B. Miller is serious.....could he say what he said with a straight face?
April 22, 2009 at 6:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justjerry (anonymous) says...
"Posted by JohnS on April 22, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Park Circle area is still as high a crime area as it was since the base closed. Maybe worse today. The rails will not cause blight and will be greener than using trucks. Bring in the port and get some people working."
Not sure where you get your information from but it is incorrect. Although there are still bad pockets within the Park Circle area it has transformed into a vibrant community and a great place to live.
The mayor is not doing anything to try and hinder port growth. He is just trying to get it to grow in all of the big, empty, industrial land at the south end of the base rather than go through the north end where it will disrupt a revitalizing neighborhood. Similar to what the folks on Daniel Island were successful doing except they were dealing with new neighborhoods.
April 22, 2009 at 7:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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