Beyond Ft. Hood

As reported by New York University’s Centre on Law and Security, since the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, 693 terror suspects have been prosecuted. About a third were actually charged with terrorism. And about a third were U.S. citizens. According to the Heritage Foundation, also since 9/11/01, at least 23 publicly known terrorist plots in the U.S. have been foiled.

Savannah River dredging

Savannah–based Army Corps project manager Alan Garrett announced recently his office plans to run a new series of detailed surveys to determine what’s necessary in dredging the Savannah River to accommodate the larger ships expected once the expanded Panama Canal is complete in about five years. Previously identified as 48 feet, the required depth now appears to be 50 feet. The International Marine Organization recommends 120 percent of the target ship draft, which brings the total depth to 60. The ship channel along the Savannah River is currently about 42 feet deep.

Nuclear update

SCANA/SCE&G reports its new two–unit nuclear power plant in Jenkinsville is expected to operate the first unit by April 2016, and the second by Jan. 2019. State-owned Santee Cooper is a partner in the $9.8 billion project. SCANA Corp. reported its third quarter earnings at $103 million, a rise of 9.6 percent from last year’s third quarter earnings. SCANA benefitted from a $15 million tax refund.

Saluda River

According to American Rivers and its “Most Endangered Rivers” listing, the Saluda River is choking with phosphorous pollution from wastewater treatment plants. As a result, SCDHEC appears to be prepared to impose meaningful phosphorous limits on the wastewater plants in the Saluda watershed.

Heavy trucks

The SCDOT has begun a pilot program in increased weight load limits on trucks with five or more axles carrying 40–foot refrigerated intermodal containers. The new weight load limits will increase from 90,000 pounds to 100,000 pounds. The lower weight limits have sent export poultry business to ports in North Carolina and Georgia. The new limits are expected to help grow the Port of Charleton’s refrigerated container business. The S. C. State Ports Authority recently invested $31 million in new refrigerated container yard capacity.

Passenger rails

Amtrak serves more than 500 destinations in 46 states. For 2008, 41 of Amtrak’s 44 routes lost money. U.S. taxpayers subsidized Amtrak by about $32 per passenger. The Sunset Limited, connecting San Antonio and Los Angeles, lost $462 per passenger. The Northeast corridor, the country’s busiest passenger rail system, lost less than $5 per passenger.

Charleston law

Graduates of the Charleston School of Law improved their pass rate in the state’s July bar exam. For 2009, it was 76 percent. For 2008, it was 72 percent; and for 2007, 70 percent. The 2007 exam was the first to see Charleston graduates. For 2009, the pass rate for USC Law graduates was 85 percent. The pass rate for test takers who graduated from non–S.C. schools was 66 percent.

Business law

The S.C. Supreme Court in 2007 created the S. C. Business Court to speed up the court process for business litigation. The option to litigate complex business, corporate and commercial matters within the state’s courts will continue for another two years. The need is all too apparent.

Daniel Island

The S.C. State Ports Authority has received proposals from five commercial real estate firms to sell the 495–acre property on Daniel Island that was once set to become a container terminal. The five firms are CB Richard Ellis/Carmody of Charleston; Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic International of North Charleston; Colliers Keenan, Charleston; Grubb & Ellis, The Furman Co. of Greenville; and NAI Avant in Columbia.

Remaining: $1.7 million

S.C. Governor Mark Sanford has $1.7 million remaining in his campaign funds. The funds can be used to cover legal fees connected to his ethics investigation.