THE EDITORIAL BOARD’S OPINION Savannah port’s a river to prosperity

Efforts to secure approval and funding for deepening of the port and the Savannah River are vital to the nation’s fourth-busiest container port and our state’s participation in the global economy.

Rivers are deceptive in that their unyielding flow masks the power and urgency moving just beneath the surface.

That’s certainly true of the 30-odd miles of river connecting the mighty Port of Savannah with the Atlantic Ocean. The river and its ports are a vital conduit, connecting Georgia and much of the rest of the U.S. with global trade flows. It’s among the shiniest of tools in the state’s economy.

We must keep refining and improving this asset. Thus, it’s encouraging that efforts continue unabated to push for a $650 million project to dredge the port and river.

That should be remembered this week when the expected resumption of labor talks pushes the port back into the news.

It’s also important to keep in mind that rivers run slowly, but surely. Sort of like progress on the deepening proposal. Earlier this summer, President Barack Obama ordered federal agencies to put the gas to their review of the project. Observers see that as a positive sign of White House support.

Given that Washington’s known more for plodding slowly through convoluted paperwork, the decision to hasten the review process, part of a campaign known as “We Can’t Wait,” is noteworthy.

The Army Corps of Engineers, which must sign off on the deepening work, is expected to deliver its opinion on the deepening plan by year’s end. That would be a good thing. As U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss remarked in July, “It is time that the planning phase come to an end, and we move to construction.” tailers receive holiday goods. Earlier this month, the president of the ILA’s local in Savannah reported “significant progress.” We hope that progressive tone continues when talks resume this week. We can’t afford the disruption of a strike that would block such a critical gateway to the world for much of the U.S.

Another challenge to the Savannah expansion work comes from a federal lawsuit brought by environmental groups in two states challenging the dredging work. Two South Carolina state agencies have also asked to join the suit, which alleges that the project would dump toxic cadmium from river silt onto the Palmetto State’s shores.

Broadly, the environmental concerns are understandable. And, yes, the construction work should be done in such a way as to mitigate damage to river ecosystems.

But as far as South Carolina’s concerned, though, the lawsuit clearly plays another role — one rooted solely in economics, not environmentalism. South Carolina is employing a convenient tactic to delay, if not outright stop, progress on the Savannah deepening.

Hindering the Savannah work would create a valuable competitive advantage for Charleston’s port 100 miles away. Yes, hustling for business is healthy, even among government agencies seeking to better their state’s economic environment.

That point noted, the mediator assigned to the federal lawsuit should keep true intentions of all litigants in mind.

While lawyers argue and corps planners weigh the benefits of both Charleston’s and Savannah’s deepening plans, our ports continue to bring prosperity inland to Georgia and beyond. None of us should forget that important role. It’s worth Georgia’s continued fight.

AJC FILE PHOTO The deepening of the Port of Savannah is still a sound idea for Georgia.