River dredging ruling appealed

Environmental groups appeal a ruling that cleared the way for a portion of the Delaware River deepening project to begin.

Five groups who oppose plans to deepen the Delaware River shipping channel have filed an appeal of the ruling that would allow part of the project to move forward.

In late January, U.S. District Court Judge Sue Robinson’s ruling cleared the way for some of the river dredging work to begin in spite of a pair of federal lawsuits filed by New Jersey and Delaware against the project.  The groups appealing the ruling include the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, National Wildlife Federation, New Jersey Environmental Federation, Delaware Nature Society, and Clean Water Action.  The Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s Maya van Rossum says, “Every state and citizen should be quaking at this stripping of state power by an out of control federal agency.”

Environmental opponents say the dredging will disturb habitat.  Last July, Delaware denied the Army Corps of Engineers request for a permit to dredge.  The request was denied in part because the proposal had changed significantly since it was initially proposed.