Ports offer many communities and cities a vital source of commerce and vitality. Due to the concerns associated with this business, port activities can come under the scrutiny of a variety of entities. Port settlements often reflect these concerns.
Identification
A port settlement in many respects is an agreement between parties regarding a port. The settlement could entail a number of diverse issues such as site development, construction and environmental issues. Usually, the settlement has broader implications because they relate to the interests of the surrounding community as well as those of the business partners involved in the settlement.
Parties
Parties to port settlements can be business leaders but they can also be state or municipal authorities or environmental watch-dog groups. As port settlements often involve litigation, the entire process can go through various levels of local, state and federal court, depending on how aggravated the contested portions of the settlement are.
Examples
As of 2010, two particularly heated port settlements have been subject to media coverage in the United States: Charleston. S.C. and Long Beach, C.A. In Charleston, possible port expansion has been fought by the Conservation League due to their belief that the expansion will enhance the local pollution threat. The Long Beach case has seen similar debate over environmental impact and been subject to post-settlement lawsuits.
