WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today applauded news that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has officially set June 25 as the date the Civil Works Review Board (CWRB) will review the final feasibility study and issue its recommendation on the Charleston Harbor Post-45 Deepening Project.

“This is great news for the Port of Charleston and for keeping the deepening project on track. In football terms—we’ve moved the ball down the field and are now in the red zone.” said Graham. “The port is invaluable to the state of South Carolina and the country as a whole. This announcement from the Corps is another crucial step forward in helping us secure funding and advance to construction.”

Upon conclusion of its review, the CWRB will issue a Chief of Engineers report which is needed to proceed to the next phase of the project – actual construction. The June 25 date is important because it ensures the final ‘Chief’s report’ is on schedule to be completed by September 2015. This will allow the Port to be eligible for Preconstruction Engineering and Design (PED) funding from the federal government in Fiscal Year 2016.

Graham is a member of both the Senate Appropriations Committee and Energy and Water Subcommittee. He was an early and ardent advocate for deepening Charleston Harbor and has fought repeatedly to secure federal authorization and funding for the project.

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