Public and Political Support Versus Opposition
Support: The Army Corps of Engineers, the Int'l Longshoremen's Assoc. and current (outgoing) North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue had led the list of supporters. In September 2011, the Brunswick County Commissioners passed a resolution endorsing a USACE feasibility study of the proposed port. The resolution was presented by Yes Port NC, also a supporter of the port proposal.
Opposition: All six communities in the affected lower Cape Fear region had expressed their opposition to the proposed port, including Southport, Caswell Beach, Bald Head Island, Saint James, Boiling Spring Lakes and Oak Island. On June 29, 2010, US Congressman Mike McIntyre, who represents the affected 7th Congressional District and is the Vice-Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, announced his opposition to the proposed terminal. Rep. McIntyre cited most of the negative issues listed below as the basis for his opposition. The US Fish and Wildlife Commission had also expressed its opposition.
On July 19, 2012, both the Democratic and Republican candidates vying for North Carolina governor in the November 2012 elections (with incumbent Gov. Perdue choosing not to seek reelection) declared their opposition to the megaport proposal. Walter Dalton (Dem) cited lack of support by federal and state lawmakers, and Governor-elect Pat McCrory (Rep) stated that “Questions of feasibility should have been asked before we wasted millions to buy the land and conduct studies” and further stated that he has long believed that the marketplace doesn’t support a new port.
Read more about this topic: North Carolina International Port
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