Savannah Port case headed to court
The Savannah River Maritime Commission, a board created by the Legislature four years ago to deal with port issues, said Monday the state Department of Health and Environmental Control doesn’t have the sole authority to grant a water-quality permit for a proposed new Savannah port, which that agency issued last week.
The maritime commission’s unanimous vote Monday sets up a legal battle that could delay the Georgia port. Its action came just a few days after the DHEC board seemed to have paved the way for the port by granting the permit. The political fallout could be interesting, too.Gov. Nikki Haley appointed the entire DHEC board, but she has control over only four of the maritime commission’s 12 members. Several Maritime Commission members were absent Monday and voted by proxy.DHEC board chairman Allen Amsler, who has a spot on the commission, wasn’t at Monday’s meeting and didn’t vote by proxy.
