Wilmington Harbor Deepening
an environmentally harmful project
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to expand the Wilmington Harbor by deepening the port from 42 to 47 feet. The expansion poses significant risks to the environment, especially to our wetlands, bird islands, fish nurseries without clear economic benefit to our area. The project also risks increasing exposure to toxic sediment, including PFAS and worsens our water quality. The NC Sierra Club is partnering with multiple organizations to block this project & we need your help - learn more & take ACTION below.
Comment period for the Division of Coastal Management is now closed.
The NC Sierra Club is partnering with multiple organizations, Audubon, Cape Fear River Watch and the Southern Environmental Law Center to protect our river and surrounding environment.
Thank you all for your comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement at multiple stages of review. The comment periods are closed.
The latest review is the Division of Coastal Management within the Department of Environmental Quality - to determine whether the project is consistent with the charter of the DCM, stating “... among NC's most valuable resources are it's coastal lands and waters ... which should be preserved and protected".
Update
Recently, the US Army Corp of Engineers has asked the Division of Coastal Management within the Department of Environmental Quality to pause the consistency review. This allows them to review & hopefully address all the concerns raised about the project. We, the public & environmental experts and advocates, raised significant concerns about this project - these matter!
Division OKs Corps’ request to pause state consistency review - Coastal Review Article
While there are no open public comment periods now, this is a great time to write to or call your elected officials to make your opinion and concerns known. This is really important for the upcoming mid-term elections.