North Carolina’s plan to deepen Wilmington Harbor is paused while state port officials take a closer look at environmental questions, including whether work in the Cape Fear River could disturb PFAS, the “forever chemicals.”
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State port officials have asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to halt the proposed Wilmington Harbor deepening effort, WWAY reported. If completed, the project would have deepened about 26 miles of the Cape Fear River, increasing the channel from 42 feet to 47 feet so bigger container ships could access the Port of Wilmington.
Brian Clark, the executive director of the North Carolina State Ports Authority, told the Corps in a letter that the project still appears economically valuable, but its possible environmental effects need more study.
“While we are certain the economic benefits from such a project could have lasting positive impact on the entire state, what has become clear during this process is a need to pause and give adequate study and reflection to the potential environmental impacts of a project of this magnitude,” Clark wrote, per WWAY…