Judge permits some Delaware River dredging
Friday, January 29th, 2010
A proposal to deepen the Delaware River's shipping channel has been 20 years in the making, with countless ups and downs. The US Army Corps has won the latest battle — but opponents to deepening say they are not giving up.
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Digging the river's shipping channel down to 45 feet would allow ships with heavier loads to do business in the ports. The US Army Corps of Engineers is in charge of the project and just got the go-ahead from a judge to start dredging.
The judge's decision didn't go all the way — it blocks dredging except in a stretch of river called Reach C, near Wilmington.
Ed Voigt is the spokesman for the US Army Corps of Engineers, which is in charge of the deepening. He says it's a good start.
Voigt: Right now it's the one and only contract that's in place than we can carry out for the deepening project and by the judge's decision we're now clear to go forward so we will.
In blocking much of the project, the judge agreed with Delaware's contention that additional environmental review is required for those sections.
Collin O'Mara is Delaware's environmental secretary. He says the administration is exploring legal options in response.
O'Mara: If it is determined that a permit was not needed for Reach C, it's unclear to us whether, by that same logic, why is it required for reaches A, B, D, and E? So we want to have that legal conversation.
Maya van Rossum is the Delaware River Keeper, and opposes deepening.
van Rossum: The fact that the judge issues a preliminary injunction against the project as a whole, preventing it from going to completion. and yet at the same time did allow a segment of the project to move forward is undoubtedly perplexing.
Environmental advocates say digging in the the river will harm the habitat, and they will work to make sure the rest of the deepening remains blocked.
The Corps says dredging could begin as early as February. And it will continue to apply for Delaware's permit for the rest of the project. Van Rossum says to expect more litigation to come.
http://www.clearwater.org/news/dredge.html (Hudson River Dredging)
"# Modern environmental dredging equipment and techniques can safely remove contaminated sediment. Hydraulic dredges, such as the cutterhead dredge and the eddy pump, and enclosed mechanical buckets are designed to minimize resuspension of contaminated sediments. Environmental dredging is much more contained and precise than navigational and construction dredging and has been used successfully in environmental cleanups throughout the US."
Mr. Hunt, is this an environmental dredge, as is the Hudson's dredge project, or is it strictly a navigational dredge. Mr.Hunt can get his "job" and I can drink uncontaminated water from my river – er' I mean my faucet (same thing), as long as the dredging is done with the cutterhead dredge and the eddy pump. Hey union members wouldn't PCB / contaminant remediation create additional economic opportunities. Why aren't union members fighting for the optimum employment opportunities as well as, uncontaminated drinking water? Hum, something does not add up here.
Ask Mary Van Rossum why its ok for New York to dredge their harbor from 40 feet to not just 45 feet but to 50 feet!!?? Why arent they taking them to court?? Ask Mary Van Rossum, if the delaware river mud is so toxic as she claims why not dredge it up and dispose of it properly like they are doing in the Hudson River in New York??? Why can New York do it but not the Delaware River??? Sounds to me like its not the environmentalist blocking this project but someone else that has deep pockets and worried about strong competition from the ports of philadelphia and wilmington. Could it be New York Port fighting this project????????????????????? Dredge the Delaware River Main Shipping Channel!!!! I NEED A JOB!