+ Why does the JOT project need to happen?

Long-term economic forecasts prepared by the Joint Venture predict that steady population growth in the Southeastern U.S., along with continuing growth in containerized cargo due to the growing global economy, will result in the GPA’s and SCPA’s existing and planned marine container terminals and their supporting freight transportation infrastructure encountering capacity limitations. The JOT project was developed by the states of Georgia and South Carolina as a way to accommodate a portion of this forecasted increase in containerized cargo.

+ How will the JOT project benefit the region?

Port facilities are major economic engines and can foster the development of a diverse and resilient industrial base within their market area that provides increased tax revenue for the community and generates substantial employment opportunities for the region’s population.

According to 2011 economic data developed by the University of Georgia, Wilbur Smith & Associates, and Moffatt & Nichol, the JOT at full capacity could potentially generate $9 billion in tax revenue for South Carolina and Georgia while creating approximately one million jobs.

Expanding the fast-growing region’s ability to accommodate future demand at its ports will ensure that the two states remain at the forefront of the global trade industry for decades to come.

+ Why is the JOT project being developed by a joint venture?

The JOT project is an opportunity to meet the mutual needs of both states and is accompanied by a variety of unique circumstances that challenge the capacity of a single entity such as a county or state to overcome.

• The project and a substantial portion of the supporting transportation and utility infrastructure would be physically located in a rural county of South Carolina
• The project would be within a market area competitively served by both Georgia and South Carolina ports
• The project would be a massive undertaking requiring considerable financial resources

Both South Carolina and Georgia therefore have recognized that a cooperative effort is the most promising way forward to bring the project and its accompanying benefits to fruition.

+ How was the site chosen?

A Siting Alternatives Analysis was performed by the Joint Venture to review potential development sites for a new container terminal within the region between Charleston, SC to Brunswick, GA. Eight potential sites were identified and subsequently evaluated for their potential in terms of availability of upland area, site geometry, number of berths, access to the open ocean, rail access, road access, and environmental sensitivity (feasibility of permitting). Out of the eight sites initially identified, two sites were identified as meeting the minimum requirements for the development of the terminal, subject to further analysis. Both sites were located within Jasper County and are currently used as Dredged Material Containment Areas (DMCAs).

Of the two sites (DMCA 12 and DMCA 14), DMCA 14 was subsequently recommended for continued concept development as it provided a more optimal site overall for terminal development. The development of the Environmental Impact Statement by the USACE, however, will reevaluate the selection of the proposed site and/or may identify other alternatives.

+ Who is responsible for permitting the project?

The JOT project must ultimately be evaluated by the USACE through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process after evaluating the proposed project’s environmental effects against other feasible alternatives that could fulfill the project’s purpose and need. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is currently under development by the USACE Charleston District to document this evaluation. The EIS will consist of additional studies that expand upon the original baseline studies prepared by the Joint Venture and incorporate public and other agency input. The final EIS and draft Record of Decision will be further reviewed by USACE Headquarters in Washington DC and undergo an Independent External Peer Review (IEPR) after which a final Record of Decision will be released.

The proposed terminal also affects several federal projects in the area, including the Savannah Harbor Navigation Channel, the associated operation of the dredged material containment areas that store dredge material generated by the construction and maintenance of the channel, and the adjacent Savannah River National Wildlife Refuge. These effects must be quantified and the federal government appropriately compensated to allow the project to proceed.

State and local permits will also be needed for various elements of the project as it approaches construction.

+ How do I communicate with the JOT project?

For questions or comments relating to the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement, interested parties are encouraged to contact the USACE Charleston District through the project website.

+ How do I learn more about the JOT project?

The Joint Venture is working closely with the USACE to support their review of the project. As studies and concepts are sufficiently developed to invite public review and comment, they will be posted on the USACE-maintained project page.

Throughout the project, workshops and other meetings will be scheduled to further inform the public about the proposed project. Dates, times, and locations of these meetings will be advertised on the USACE website as they are scheduled.

+ What kind of jobs will JOT create?

First and foremost, construction of the terminal will be a significant undertaking involving construction of roads, rail, buildings, underground and overhead utilities, pavement, dredging, and marine structures. The terminal will further need to be furnished with the equipment and technology needed to handle containers and integrate its activities to the logistics networks.

Upon activation, a team of longshoremen, stevedores, equipment operators, clerks, and supervisors will be needed to move the containers efficiently through the port. They’ll need to be supported by a team of skilled mechanics, craftsmen, engineers, and IT professionals to maintain and repair the equipment and data systems. Administrative and accounting specialties will be needed to oversee the thousands of daily financial transactions the port activity reflects. A sales force will also be needed to communicate the advantages of the Jasper Ocean Terminal to potential customers.

The port is a connection between the ocean liners and inland transportation networks. Cargo conveyed through the port will need to be carried between the port and its customers by trucking companies and railroads that in turn will have their own diverse and skilled workforces supporting them.

Efficient access to global trade via a modern port is an attractive element to industries seeking to relocate or expand their distribution and manufacturing facilities that likewise need to be supported by workers.

Global trade and goods movement is one of world’s — and the region’s — most vital industries in terms of job creation and economic activity. Employment in this industry is a dynamic and increasingly technology-based sector that requires a diverse and skilled workforce, from logistic professionals and crane operators to mechanical engineers and truck drivers.

Moving 7 million TEUs of containerized cargo through the JOT will require not only people to work at the terminal, but will also increase the number of positions available throughout the shipping, transportation, and distribution industries. Importing and exporting goods to people around the world requires the support of a staggering number of people if you consider what it takes to get a single product manufactured or grown, packaged, transported across the ocean, taken off the ship, processed, transported to its destination, sorted, distributed and sold.