Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 09:25:12 AM EDT
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| Once again, South Jersey finds itself in a constitutional dispute anbout its border.Yesterday, the Army Corps of Engineers announced it is going ahead with the Delaware River dredging program, and both New Jersey and Delaware are considering suing. The Corps will not wait for environmental reviews to be completed, as the federal government now claims it does not need state permission "if the project is needed to maintain navigation." The project is unpopular in New Jersey and Delaware because it benefits Pennsylvania's Port of Philadelphia but puts the environmental damage on Delaware and New Jersey, potentially releasing toxic material now trapped in the river bottom.
Jon Corzine's statement promised action:
"I'm extremely disappointed that the Army Corps is trying to circumvent New Jersey's strong environmental protection processes and plow blindly ahead with its dredging plan. I have directed the Attorney General to prepare legalaction to stop this irresponsible move unless the Army Corps suspends it plan infavor of allowing the environmental review process to be completed.
"Governor Rendell has given me personal assurance, and public assurance, that any spoils from the dredging will be taken by Pennsylvania. Until the Army Corpy has participated in New Jersey's environmental review process, however, I must take action to ensure that the people of our state are fully protected and these spoils are not dumped on South Jersey."
In other words, the Corps is breaking our deal with Pennsylvania. |
| Hopeful :: New Jersey Leaders Still Against Delaware River Dredging |
The Third District legislators also reacted (PDF):
Assembly Deputy Speaker John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley on Monday decried the Army Corps of Engineers' decision to allow a dredgingproject to the Delaware River to proceed.
Burzichelli and Riley (both D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) said they were disappointed the decision came before New Jersey has completed its environmental review. They backed Gov. Jon S. Corzine's decision to direct the Attorney General to prepare legal action to stop the project.
"It's unfortunate that the backers of this project are running roughshod over New Jersey's environmental protection process, ignoring the concerns of South Jersey and moving forward before even knowing whether this project makes economic sense," Burzichelli said. "We still have way too many unanswered questions about what this project and its spoils will mean for our region's health and environment. This decision is extremely premature and disappointing."
"This project has the potential to damage our environment and drinking water, and yet we're not even sure it will benefit us financially," Riley said. "New Jersey's strong environmental review process exists to protect the people - in this case the people of South Jersey - and it must be respected."
The Inquirer also has a good article on the dredging decision, though emphasizing the benefits of a deeper river and minimizing New Jersey's opposition. |
| Tags:
border,
Pennsylvania,
Delaware,
SOUTH JERSEY,
dredging,
Delaware River,
Army Corps of Engineers,
John Burzichelli,
Celeste Riley,
Jack Conners,
herb conaway,
Jon Corzine,
(All Tags)
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