Fw: 24 Hours To Go! Please Submit 526 Army Corps/DHEC Permit Comments TODAY!
Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition
1. Destruction of wetlands and other important waterways
The proposed 526 Extension would cut through marine ecosystems and freshwater wetlands that are integral to water quality in the already-impaired Stono River. The proposed route would destroy over 38 acres of wetlands and other waters of the United States, including freshwater, wetlands, ponds, and tidal salt marshes.
Wetlands provide important ecosystem services to nearby communities through flood storage and wave buffering; that role has become increasingly valuable in light of the region’s recent exposure to storm hazards, which is only projected to worsen due to climate change. Wetlands also provide wildlife habitat, fish nurseries, water purification, erosion control, food supply, and carbon storage.
(We must add that the 38 acres of wetlands does not include the additional acres that will be impacted due to shading from the bridges. According to National Marine Fisheries, it would be closer to 70 acres impacted directly or through shading. (Post and Courier, September 2010)
2. It won’t shorten your commute
Charleston County’s claims that the 526 Extension will reduce congestion and enhance mobility are based on faulty traffic predictions and ignore cheaper, more effective alternatives to reduce congestion and increase mobility. (Please mention how other less damaging and cheaper alternatives were thrown out prematurely.)
3. Susceptibility to future flooding
The proposed 526 Extension crosses a low-lying coastal ecosystem. Portions of the project close to sea-level could be exposed to several feet of water with even a low-level hurricane. Within the next decade, we could also see effects from tidal flooding in certain areas.
4. Restriction of access to existing natural and recreational spaces
The proposed 526 Extension will destroy 32 acres of James Island County Park, which includes a climbing wall, bouldering wall, challenge and ropes course, park headquarters building, public access to a creek, over three acres of park wetlands, habitat for plants and wildlife, and parts of the disc golf course, campground and associated cottages.
5. Extending brings more development pressures
The Mark Clark Extension will induce additional suburban development in rural areas of Johns Island which will make traffic congestion worse and lead to additional impacts to wetlands and other critical natural resources. We saw this happen dramatically in Mount Pleasant when 526 was extended across the Cooper River in 1992.
6. Displacement and disturbance of community health and well-being
The 526 Extension will disproportionately impact environmental justice communities. The proposed route bisects or borders seven census blocks with disproportionately low-wealth or minority residents. Residents along the route will either be forced out of their homes or subjected to significant and harmful air, water, and noise pollution.
7. Potential for an unfinished mess (This permit specifically mentions splitting the project into two phases.)
Breaking the 526 Extension into two distinct phases introduces news risks that only portions of the project would be completed. This would have significant impacts on the overall purpose and need of the entire project and could have wide-ranging negative impacts that have not been thoroughly evaluated.
8. Request a Public Hearing: Make sure to include a specific request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to host public hearings in communities directly impacted by the 526 Extension.
Reasons for public hearings include:
- Hosting an in-person public hearing is more equitable, since not everyone has reliable access to the resources necessary to submit comments independently.
- This is a massive infrastructure project that will impact multiple communities, including West Ashley, Johns Island, and James Island. For a project of this size and scope, it is imperative that the public is adequately informed and has ample opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns.
- 38.5 acres of wetland impacts is very large and impactful, much larger than average permit applications–even for other road/infrastructure projects. For example, the Main Road Flyover (Main Road Segment A) at the intersection of Main Road and Savannah Highway would impact less than 10 acres of wetlands.