CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - TheSouth Carolina Supreme Court ruled that residents have the legal right to challenge the proposed construction of a new cruise ship terminal in Charleston.
The ruling Wednesday sends the case back to administrative law court, news outlets reported. The State Ports Authority has been working to build a $35 million terminal for cruise ships near Charleston’s City market.
Environmental, neighborhood and historic preservation groups were previously denied the ability to pursue legal action against the permit for the terminal because lower courts said they failed to show how they would be specifically impacted.
The groups have expressed fears that the terminal would bring more traffic congestion and pollution.
Wednesday’s ruling comes at the same time the State Ports Authority was negotiating to keep its contract with Carnival Cruise Lines in Charleston for another 20 years, The Post and Courier reported.
“We are proceeding with plans to finalize a long-term deal with Carnival Cruise Lines and build a new passenger terminal on Union Pier Terminal,” CEO Jim Newsome said in a statement to WCIV-TV.
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