National Park, NJ - Environmental groups joined Governor Christie, Congressman Andrews, Senate President Sweeney and DEP Commissioner Martin on the dais today to applaud their strong stance against the proposed Delaware River deepening proposal. The bi-partisan event demonstrated strong opposition to the project on environment, health and safety grounds on the day New Jersey formally filed its opposition to proponents' latest legal effort to railroad the project through and run roughshod over environmental protections and states' rights.

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 project threatens our River and region with lost river jobs, pollution, contaminated drinking water, damaged wetlands and harmed species. Governor Christie, joining with Congressman Andrews and Senator Sweeney, is being the strong leader taking the strong steps needed to protect New Jerseyeans."

"The Deepening is the poster child for an environmental and taxpayer boondoggle" said the NJ Environmental Federation's David Pringle. "It is unbelievable that any federal agency would push a project that has so much opposition from so many agencies and experts at the state and federal level. Even the feds say its economic benefits are outweighed by its economic costs!"

"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. It is time to kill this project and stop dumping on New Jersey."

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network and NJEF have brought legal challenges to the deepening project in federal district court in both Delaware and New Jersey. They claim the project violates 7 federal environmental protection laws and deprives the States of legal authority to review federal projects setting dangerous national precedent.

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