Corp delays key release in harbor deepening

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has delayed issuing a key document needed for Savannah's harbor deepening to move forward. A U.S. Army Corp of Engineers spokesman says, the delay stems from the agency's desire to be as thorough as possible in studying the economic, environmental and engineering effects of deepening the harbor. The project is widely seen as vital to the region's economy.

The spokesman declined to give a timeline as to when the project's Environmental Impact Statement would be released. The Savannah Morning News, however, has reported that the delay stems from disagreement within the Corp related to the economic benefits of harbor deepening and that an additional six months of review could be needed. The newspaper cited minutes from a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers meeting.