FOIA Archive — South Carolina Ports Authority
Why this archive matters: Public oversight depends on access to original records. This archive brings together documents obtained through the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act so readers can independently verify what actions were documented, what records were produced, and where gaps in the public record may exist.
This archive contains primary-source records obtained through the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), related to governance, financial decisions, port operations, internal communications, and legislative oversight involving the South Carolina Ports Authority.
About this archive:
Documents are organized by topic and listed in chronological order within each section.
No interpretation or conclusions are provided on this page.
Readers are encouraged to review the original records directly and draw their own conclusions.
FOIA Master Index (Agency-Generated)
This is the South Carolina Ports Authority’s own summary log of FOIA requests received and how the agency labeled each request (completed / partial / fee dispute / withdrawn). It is provided as a finding aid.
SCPA FOIA Request Log (Agency Summary of Requests & Dispositions) — 2025–2026
Includes request number, date received, description, agency notes, and disposition / response date(s).
Law & Governance — Primary Records
The documents below are listed in chronological order and are provided without interpretation. Readers may review the primary records directly.
| ID | Document | Date | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG-1 | Board Meeting Agenda & Public Notice | Aug 19, 2025 | Properly noticed public board meeting |
| LG-2 | Board Minutes — “No Action Taken” | Aug 19, 2025 | No vote or resolution approving CEO severance |
| LG-3 | CEO Separation Agreement | Aug 21, 2025 | Contract obligating severance compensation |
| LG-4 | Counsel Email — “No Board Resolution Required” | Oct 2025 | Agency position that no public board vote was required |
| LG-5 | CEO Performance Evaluation | FY 2023–FY 2025 | Evaluation document |
RapidRail / Truck-to-Rail — Primary Records
| ID | Document | Date | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| RR-1 | RapidRail — CY 2021 Containers & Dollars | Jan 28, 2022 | Program scale: container counts and dollars spent |
| RR-2 | RapidRail — FY 2025 Containers & Dollars (image) | Nov 12, 2025 | Most recent RapidRail snapshot: cost and scale |
NBIF / Palmetto Railways — Primary Records
| ID | Document | Date | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBIF-1 | Palmetto Railways–SCPA NBIF Agreement | Dec 19, 2024 | Contract structure and responsibilities for NBIF rail-yard operations |
Barge / Traffic Impacts (I-526) — Primary Records
| ID | Document | Date | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARGE-1 | SCDOT–SCPA Container Barge Operation: Traffic Impacts on I-526 (p. 75) | Jul 2020 | State analysis of barge impacts on I-526 traffic and congestion |
Leatherman Labor Cost Warnings — Primary Records
| ID | Document | Date | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAB-1 | Newsome emails to Senators/Governor’s Office (union cost warning; redactions) | Jan 4, 2021 | Internal warning: all-union labor materially increases per-container costs |
Legislative Oversight — Primary Records
| ID | Document | Date | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEG-1 | Legislator Email: Questions re §54-3-140 / oversight | Feb 21, 2021 | Oversight questions raised in writing |
| LEG-2 | Review Commission on the State Ports Authority (RCSPA) — public page | — | Official oversight body page (where public would expect oversight outputs) |
Independent Reporting (Context)
| ID | Document | Date | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIA-1 | SC Daily Gazette (David Wren) — “With costs escalating… taking a pause…” | Oct 22, 2025 | Oversight quotes; labor cost framing; “too costly to operate” |
| MEDIA-2 | SC Daily Gazette (David Wren) — “Legislators want to know more…” | Jun 12, 2025 | Delays, overruns, oversight posture |
| MEDIA-3 | SC Daily Gazette (David Wren) — “As taxpayer funds deplete… focus on rail…” | Jun 19, 2025 | Funding shifts; barge program left behind; rail prioritized |
| MEDIA-4 | Post & Courier (Wise/Bartelme) — Daniel Island Port Push / I-526 restripe (PDF) | Jan 24, 2002 | Historical context linking port growth to I-526 impacts |
Financials & Legal — Primary Records
| ID | Document | Date | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIN-1 | SCPA audited financial reports (Investor Relations) | — | Official audited financial reporting source |
| FIN-2 | Georgia Ports Authority audited financial reports (Investor Relations) | — | Comparative audited financial reporting source |
| FIN-3 | SCPA Internal Cash Flow & Operating Forecast Model (FY2025–FY2044) | Oct 2024 / Jan 2025 update | Internal long-range financial projections by segment, including rail, NBIF, debt, and cash assumptions |
| LEGAL-1 | SCPA Legal Fees (2024–2025) | Nov 17, 2025 | Legal spend snapshot |
| ADMIN-1 | Email: “not come back to the state for more money” | Jul 16, 2025 | Internal positioning on funding |
| ADMIN-2 | SCPA CEO emails (June–July 2025) | Jun–Jul 2025 | Leadership communications during key project period |