SC Ports hires consultant for hazardous site assessment

The South Carolina State Ports Authority (SPA) has begun plans to transform the site of a former paper mill into a container terminal. This project aims to double the size of the Port of Charleston. On March 18, the SPA board hired Terracon Consultants to conduct a survey for hazardous materials at the WestRock property in North Charleston. The contract is worth $844,445. Terracon's role will include identifying pollution and other dangerous substances that need to be removed before demolition starts. The 280-acre site is located near the current North Charleston Terminal on the Cooper River. The firm will also assess a former grain silo and breakbulk area at the terminal. The survey is expected to finish by June. Meanwhile, the SPA is looking for contractors experienced in demolishing structures on the paper mill site. They aim to narrow down candidates by mid-April and will review bids in September. The site includes several warehouses and fuel tanks, along with an area used for production of crude tall oil, which is a chemical byproduct. Ingevity Corp., a specialty chemicals company, will continue to operate near the paper mill site. Last year, the SPA purchased the WestRock site for $105 million after the mill closed in August 2023. This expansion will increase the capacity at the North Charleston Terminal to handle 5 million shipping containers per year, more than double the capacity of the current largest terminal. Overall, the combined expansions at the North Charleston and Leatherman Terminals will allow Charleston’s port to manage 10 million containers annually. Additionally, the S.C. Department of Transportation has plans to replace the Don Holt Bridge on Interstate 526 to accommodate larger cargo ships in the future.