Port Problems and
Solutions
Let's look at some of the major problems facing the Port of Charleston today and also look at some potential solutions.
1. Problem -There has never been an independent evaluation of the taxpayer cost of building a terminal in Jasper County versus a terminal at the Navy Base.
Solution- Prior to constructing the Navy Base terminal, have an independent analysis done of the infrastructure needs and cost of a terminal in Jasper County versus the Navy Base terminal.
2. Problem- The Port of Charleston has refused to do air quality monitoring for diesel emissions around our port terminals and neighborhoods.
Solution- Immediately begin serious year round air quality monitoring
around Charleston's port operations . This monitoring needs to be done
by DHEC and the results made available to the public . The model for
this activity should be the two largest port operations in the U.S. -
the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach (see link http://www.portoflosangeles.org/environment_aqm.htm )
3. Problem- South Carolina is blessed with a deep-water port near the open ocean, yet we receive no income from having this huge asset.
Solution- Our state needs to abandon the old model of having a state
agency run a business that can be better served by private business.
Taxpayers should be able to see annual income result from the leasing
of our existing terminals and receive a fee into our state treasury for
every container handled at our port. This is how the largest port operations
in Long Beach and Los Angeles operate and it would work very well in
South Carolina. The best way to know if a
$1.2 billion dollar investment is a good deal for another terminal is
to see what a private company will lease an existing terminal for and
determine the guaranteed total revenues our state will receive.
4. Problem- The State Ports Authority is not held accountable to anyone and judges its performance on fictitious and meaningless measurements.
Solution- Stop using "indirect jobs" and volume as the measurement
of success.
Be transparent. All shipping contracts need to be made available to the
public.
In the past, friends of our legislators
have profited handsomely on sweetheart deals to the detriment of the
taxpayers.The best measurement of success is the total dollars our
port kicks into our state coffers each year.
Contain the Port
supports an accountable and economically viable Port |
More Information:
Charleston Port
Related Air Quality Issues
Comparing Charleston and Savannah