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Green light for dredging of Delaware

The river's shipping channel can be deepened despite objections from the state of Delaware.

By Thomas Fitzgerald

Inquirer Staff Writer

The Army Corps of Engineers has decided to allow dredging to deepen the shipping channel of the Delaware River despite objections from Delaware state officials, clearing the way for a project long sought to benefit ports in the Philadelphia region.

Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant Army secretary for civil works, decided Friday to continue to rely on her predecessor's determination that a permit from Delaware was not needed to proceed, according to officials familiar with the issue.

"It's a giant matter of jobs," said Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.), who took the lead in pushing for the decision with Gov. Rendell and Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.). "I think the merits are pretty plain, and there are no environmental downsides."

The spoil from the project will be deposited in abandoned coal mines in northeastern Pennsylvania under the current plan, officials have said.

New Jersey had fought the project for years because plans called for millions of tons of sand and muck to be dumped there, but Gov. Corzine dropped the state's opposition in 2007 when Pennsylvania agreed to take the material.

Darcy's determination would sweep aside Delaware's July denial of an environmental permit for the $379 million project. Environmentalists and Delaware officials are concerned that the dredging could stir up long-settled contaminants that would harm drinking water and aquatic life.

The permit was denied, Delaware environmental officials said, because the project had grown since the federal government originally applied for it in 2001.

Dan Fee, spokesman for the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, said the work may begin by the end of the year as an extension of the contract for annual maintenance dredging.

Pennsylvania has committed $30 million for the initial part of the project. The work will proceed with state and already-appropriated federal money.

The Delaware River's current depth of 40 feet does not accommodate most modern ships and puts Philadelphia's port at a competitive disadvantage, since depths at other Eastern ports, including New York and Baltimore, approach 50 feet. The project would deepen the shipping channel to 45 feet.

"We are gratified at the result," Rendell said last night in an interview. "This is a great thing for our port. I believe that 10 years from now there will be 10,000 to 20,000 new jobs at the port for longshoremen, Teamsters, and the like."

The Corps is relying on an April policy memo from Darcy's predecessor, John Paul Woodley, that "federal supremacy" in order to protect interstate navigation trumped Delaware's rights to block it.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said in a statement that the Corps' push to go forward without the permit "raises significant concerns," the Associated Press reported.

The section of river that is in Delaware is the first area to be targeted for deepening and is considered crucial for the overall project.

"Pennsylvania intends to be a good neighbor," said Rendell, adding that the project will be subject to "joint oversight with Delaware and New Jersey in order to allay any environmental concerns."

Darcy said the Corps would seek a permit from Delaware even though it is not required.

The ports of Wilmington and South Jersey also will benefit from the dredging, Rendell said. "This is not a matter of one state triumphing over another," he said.

Contact staff writer Thomas Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.

Comments

Posted 07:01 AM, 10/26/2009

Taxpaying Voter

Nice, now lets start digging right away so they can bring some jobs to Philly.

Posted 07:06 AM, 10/26/2009

blackknight

It sounds great on paper but any multi-million dollar project with Rendell and Spector involved makes me uneasy.

Posted 09:14 AM, 10/26/2009

NorthernLibertine

It has serious implications for the environment, and the jobs it supposedly would provide are suspect. Why is this reporter not investigating the facts? Why is there not a quote from the Delaware Riverkeeper?

Posted 10:01 AM, 10/26/2009

Ben Dover

why only 5 foot more? why not dredge to 50 or 60 foot so the ports can handle any ship? also this might create problems in the short term but doesn't this remove the toxic material so there is no longer any danger from it in the future?

Posted 11:01 AM, 10/26/2009

DeTom

Ben, The toxic material is going to abandoned coal mines in PA. Once again business over environment...and yeah why just 45 feet? If your going to do it, get to the 50 feet!

Posted 11:50 AM, 10/26/2009

JohnI

DeTom, you decry the dumping of dredge spoils and advocate doubling them? You have much in common with Assistant Secretary Darcy, who is applying for a permit, but intends to dredge whether it's granted or rejected.

Posted 12:01 PM, 10/26/2009

10,000 - 20,000 new jobs for longshoremen and teamsters. Just what we need....more control of the unions over Phila govt.

Posted 12:02 PM, 10/26/2009

force10

Finally.

Comment removed.

Posted 04:59 PM, 10/26/2009

CC19102

I foresee challenges from New Jersey holding up this project. The Port Authority of Newark does not want this project to go through as it would diminish the amount of shipping coming into North Jersey terminals. In an ideal world, Jersey would support this project as it benefits Camden as well as Philadelphia, but such is not likely to be the case.

Posted 04:59 PM, 10/26/2009

CC19102

Posted 06:09 PM, 10/26/2009

rob76774

Interesting that no one seems to give a damn about the "coal mines of northeastern pa"!! What will be the environmental benefit / harm on that end??

12 comments

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