Analyst: Jax may not see the economic impact projected with deepening river

[thelakelander]

On the heels of the Jaxport Board approving the purchase of conservation land to continue the port's deepening project, St. John's Riverkeeper is digging in their heels to protect the river.

The Riverkeeper organization has a longstanding opposition to deepening the river due to issues with the United States Army Core of Engineers environmental impact studies, an "inadequate mitigation plan, along with other issues surrounding federal and local economic interests.

Dale Lewis, an expert with 30 years of experience in logistics, challenges some of the findings made by the USACE and Martin and Associates, a research firm Jaxport hired to conduct an economic impact study. Lewis has been researching economic issues surrounding deepening the St. John's River from the viewpoint of shippers for 25 years.

Lewis is a independent analyst with no affiliation with St. John's Riverkeeper, although the organization did facilitate the presentation.

Full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2017/03/06/analyst-jaxport-may-not-see-the-economic-impact.html