News

March 2, 2010

Environmental groups rip Delaware River dredging

Dredge material could find its way into mine reclamation projects in NEPA.

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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The deepening of the Delaware River was derided by a trio of environmental groups as a power play by Pennsylvania and federal agencies to the detriment to New Jersey and the ability of individual states to have a say in what happens in their jurisdiction.

In a harshly worded statement, the three organizations – the Delaware Riverkeeper, Sierra Club and New Jersey Environmental Federation – applauded New Jersey officials for their stance against the project and said the promises of job creation and no harm to the environment are not proven.

“Stripping New Jersey and all states of their authority over federal projects, false claims of economic benefit and jobs, wasting $25 million on a dead-end channel that is likely never to be finished, ignoring the past and impending findings of the Government Accountability Office all demonstrate an unforgivable abuse of power and betrayal of the public trust by the Army Corps of Engineers” said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper.

The comments came Monday, shortly after a long-awaited, and opposed, deepening and dredging project began along a stretch of the Delaware between Philadelphia and Camden, N.J., south to the Delaware Bay. The project involves a 102-mile stretch of the river.

Dredge material from the $300 million project could find its way into mine reclamation projects in Northeast Pennsylvania, but some environmental proponents said the project was anything but environmentally friendly.

“The project threatens our river and region with lost river jobs, pollution, contaminated drinking water, damaged wetlands and harmed species,” van Rossum said.

“The deepening is the poster child for an environmental and taxpayer boondoggle,” added the New Jersey Environmental Federation’s David Pringle.

“Pennsylvania and the Army Corps have been bullying New Jersey far too long. We are pleased the governor is willing to stand up in defense of New Jersey and the environment,” said Jeff Tittel with the New Jersey Sierra Club. “There are no jobs to be had with this project, but lots of harm.”

But one Pennsylvania congressman saw a federal court’s decision to let the project take place as the right one.

“I am happy to see this project moving forward. This is the most important job creator for our region, and I’m glad the court saw through the stall tactics of the dredging opponents. This project is environmentally sound and critical to the economy,” said U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, D-Philadelphia.

The Associated Press reported that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will fight to stop the deepening project, saying it’s more important to protect the environment than to create a few jobs.

His announcement Monday came just minutes after the Army Corps of Engineers began its deepening project, which has been at the heart of lawsuits and political battles among Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for a dozen years.

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