CONGRESS APPROVES $8.9 MILLION TO CONTINUE CHARLESTON DEEPENING

CONGRESS APPROVES $8.9 MILLION TO CONTINUE CHARLESTON DEEPENING    U.S. Congress has approved $8.9 million to continue the port of Charleston’s harbor deepening and widening project.
   Charleston is one of seven deep draft navigation projects to receive funding in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2002. The legislation now moves to president Bush for final approval.
   Most of the project is either completed or underway, the port said. Over the past two years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded and seen to completion nearly $100 million in projects to deepen Charleston’s entrance channel to minus 47 feet at mean low water and the inner harbor to minus 45 feet.
   Certain berths have also been deepened to minus 45 feet.
   The entire project, including deepening, widening and relocation of fill, will cost approximately $150 million.
   The Charleston work was originally authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 and funds were appropriated to begin construction in 1999.