After numerous municipalities, community organizations and state and federal officials denounced the project, the North Carolina International Terminal is now officially on hold.

In a statement issued today, NC State Ports Authority CEO Tom Eagar explained that the considerable objection to the project forced the ports authority to examine other options beyond the port. According to a release: “The NC State Ports Authority has heard and respects the concerns voiced by local communities and our elected officials and is placing the proposed NCIT project on hold.”

U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre responded to the news with a release of his own: “The decision to place the proposed North Carolina International Terminal on hold by the North Carolina Ports Authority is a positive step forward. I applaud the leadership at the ports for listening to the communities that will be most affected by this project.”

Not all parties are as pleased with Eagar’s announcement. Toby Bronstein, spokeswoman for the community organization No Port Southport, said that she is wary of the news from the ports authority. “We’re delighted about this, but we question if this is the beginning of a new public relations campaign,” Bronstein said.

Bronstein doubts that the ports authority understands why citizens are so opposed to the project. “The (state ports authority) was saying it was a problem of communication, but the real problem is with the project.” Eagar now admits that his organization did a poor job communicating plans for the port.

For Bronstein, the port debate is far from over. “As long as that land is still available to the ports authority this issue is certainly not a dead issue,” Bronstein said. “Until that land is sold or they find an alternate use, this issue is alive and kicking.”

In 2006 the ports authority purchased 600 acres of land north of Southport along the Cape Fear River with the intention of building a deepwater port. The project was intended to be a public-private partnership, but the public money quickly fell through. State Rep. Pricey Harrison of Greensboro removed state funding for a feasibility study on the project from the state budget. Not long after, McIntyre announced he would not pursue federal funds for the project either.

Despite a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study that found sufficient federal interest in proceeding with the project, the proposed port was left with little support and no public money.

The ports authority’s release went on to say, “We believe that access to a deepwater port is important to keeping North Carolina globally competitive. We will examine all options beyond the NCIT.”