NC Ports Seek Pause in Wilmington Harbor Expansion

The North Carolina State Ports Authority has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to pause consideration of the Wilmington Harbor deepening project and its pending record of decision, citing the need for further study of environmental risks, particularly possible PFAS contamination. The roughly $1.3 billion proposal would deepen about 28 miles of the harbor from 42 to 47 feet to accommodate larger ships, and port officials say it could bring lasting economic benefits. The request follows a decade of study and comes amid uncertainty over whether sediment to be dredged is contaminated; the Corps’ final report acknowledged that the question remains unresolved. The Ports Authority says future steps should be guided by scientific research, while the Army Corps has said decisions on the request will be made by the Army’s civil works office and Congress.