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SupportTheDeepening - News for April 26, 2010
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News for April 26, 2010 |
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April 26th, 2010 12:18pm |
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It’s been a busy few weeks for the deepening project and the Philadelphia ports.
As work continues to protect the port’s future by deepening the Delaware, a newly announced project highlights how important the port is to the regional economy and that it remain a viable, strong port. On Wednesday this week, a deal to bring as many as 150,000 Hyndai and Kia cars through the port was announced, creating at least 270 full-time jobs and pump millions of dollars into the local economy. The new project will begin in June and be located near the Walt Whitman Bridge.
Also this month, the Bucks County Commissioners voted to join with the county’s redevelopment authority in their efforts to persuade New Jersey to drop its challenge to the deepening project. The Commissioners drafted a letter to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) arguing the project would be a crucial part of the plan to redevelop former U.S. Steel land at the Port of Bucks County.
But even as the deepening picks up more support, opponents continue to push to stop it. After withdrawing their appeal challenging a Delaware federal judge’s and the Third Circuit’s refusal to stop the Army Corps of Engineers from deepening, opponents continue to employ stall tactics at every opportunity. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, after intervening in the original Delaware action initially refused to agree to transfer their case to Delaware. If they wanted an New Jersey judge to hear their case, why did they hastily run into a Delaware court? Those against deepening the river continue to ignore the fact that deepening has begun and the Army Corps is monitoring water quality to ensure that no adverse impacts result from this work.
Perhaps most importantly for the project, it’s clear the deepening project will continue to have the strong support of Pennsylvania’s next governor – no matter who that is. In a recent candidates’ forum on maritime issues, five of the six declared candidates attended and each and every one backed the deepening project and vowed to push it forward if elected. That’s great news for Pennsylvania, the Ports and the businesses that depend on the port.
There’s a lot of good news on the river these days. |
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