About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 2018)
Page 4, November 12, 2018, The Islander Sustainable Coast files legal complaint against Corps for Sea Island Permit On November 2, the Center for a Sustainable Coast filed an official com plaint in Federal Court, challenging a permit issued by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Savannah District) for beach restoration and related activi ties on Sea Island. Environmental at torney Kasey Sturm is representing the Center. The lawsuit charges that the Corps’ permitting action violated several fed eral laws, including the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Of special concern to the Center, consistent with past positions documented in letters and official comments by Center representatives, is the organization’s well-justified ob jections to the development of a sub division on the Sea Island “Spit” - an area ravaged by recent hurricanes and demonstrably unsuitable for hu man habitation. Conspicuously absent in the Corps permit are details prescribing the use of enormous volumes of fill material to be deposited on the Spit. This raises vital questions about critical distinc tions between restoring beaches in contrast with creating new shorefront topography that didn’t previously ex ist. Without effective control over these activities, the permit fails to provide mandated legal safeguards. ‘We are convinced that the physi cal characteristics of the Spit, federal Ethics Awareness Week at CCGA to Highlight Core Values While in pursuit of creating a more educated Georgia, the University Sys tem of Georgia (US© commits itself to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct. One way the USG demonstrates this commitment is through the annual Ethics Aware ness Week, celebrated system-wide. Ethics Awareness Week will take place this year from November 11-17. During this special week, the College of Coastal Georgia will host activities to further the College’s and USG’s ef forts to promote an ethical culture. USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley has emphasized how critical an ethical culture is to the success of not only USG institutions, but also of employ ees, students, communities, and ulti mately of Georgia. The highlight of Ethics Awareness Week at Coastal Georgia will be a guest speaker, Federal Law Enforce ment Training Center Director Thom as Walter, on Thursday, November 15. Community members, students, and employees are invited to attend Walter’s address on ethical leader ship, to be held at Stembler Theatre inside the Campus Center from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. “Ethics Awareness Week is a great way to communicate with our employ ees and community that we care and are committed to ethical conduct,” said Dr. Michelle Johnston, president of the College of Coastal Georgia. findings indicating that the area is so hazardous that it’s ineligible for fed eral flood insurance, and the extreme damage to the Spit done by hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Irma (2017) pro vides conclusive evidence that the Corps permit was issued without ad equate evaluation - in violation of fed eral law and allowing activities that will harm the public,” says the Cen ter’s executive director, David Kyler. The 27-page legal complaint filed by the Center clearly and exhaustively explains that the permitted activities will harm wildlife and expose the pub lic to unacceptable risks that have not been properly evaluated by the Corps, violating federal law. The lawsuit seeks a declaratory judgment confirming that the permit is invalid and that all work on the project should be stopped until the requirements of federal law are met. Those project activities include the construction of a rock “groin” 1200 feet south of the southernmost exist ing groin on Sea Island, and the place ment of as much as 2.5 million cubic yards of sand along approximately 3 miles of Sea Island beaches. By sup porting development of the Spit, those activities will disrupt the sand-shar ing system and impose significant hazards to already developed shore- front property in the area. It should be noted that the contest ed Corps permit is related to another legal action by the Center - a suit against Glynn County for illegal ap proval of a Beach and Dune Protection Ordinance Amendment last spring. That improperly approved amend ment resulted in the county issuing a misleading letter to DNR that result ed in erroneous state approval of the Sea Island project. That state permit, in turn, was undoubtedly a factor that helped sway the Corps decision to ap prove the Sea Island project. The Center’s action against Glynn County in state court is still undecided. Publisher's Statement THE ISLANDER (USPS 002430), A mem ber of the Georgia Press Association and Glynn Countys only weekly newspa- per is published 51 weeks a year for $35 per year in Glynn County and $40 per year in the United States outside Glynn County by Per- mar Publications, Inc., 1604 B Newcastle Street, Brunswick, GA 31525. Periodicals postage paid at Brunswick, GA. The Island er is also available to subscribers online at www.theislanderonline.com. Contents of The Islander, including advertising, may not be reprinted or repro duced in any form without written permis sion of the publishers. POSTMASTER send address change to The Islander, P.O. Box 20539, St. Simons Island, GA 31522. Mission Statement: to publish the truth without fear or favor. Established 1972 Matthew J. Permar - Publisher Elise J. Permar - Publisher 1972-2003 Gertrude Bradshaw - Co-Editor 1972-1991 Managing Editor & Advertising Manager Pamela P. Shierling 912-265-9654 Church News Patty Gibson - 912-638-8844 Contributors Ginny Johnson Phone Number 912-265-9654 email: ssislander@bellsouth.net theislanderonline.com Publication Deadline Publication Date: Every Monday Deadline: Thursdays, 12 PM for ads and news copy for the following Mon days edition. Holiday Deadline: Wednesdays, 12 PM for ads and news copy for the following Mondays edition. Holiday Schedule On Monday Post Office holidays, The Islander is printed on the Friday before. 2018 Postal Holidays Monday, January 1 New Year’s Day Monday, January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Monday, February 19 President’s Day / Washington’s Birthday Monday, May 28 Memorial Day Wednesday, July 4 Independence Day Monday, September 3 Labor Day Monday, October 8 Columbus Day Monday, November 12 Veterans Day Thursday, November 22 Thanksgiving Day Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Day Award Winning Newspaper 1975 1980 1985 1976 19811992 1977 1982 1999 1978 1983 2002 1979 1984 2008 2016 The Family Gourmet Feast 2 (5 oz.) Filet Mignons 2 (5 oz.) Top Sirloins 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts (1 lb. pkg.) 2 (4 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops 4 (3 oz.) Kielbasa Sausages 4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers 4 (3 oz.) Potatoes au Gratin 4 (4 oz.) Caramel Apple Tartlets OS Seasoning Packet 55586HAD I $100.01* separately Combo Price $49" "Savings shown o aggregated single item case price. Limit 2 pkgs. 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