WHEREAS, In 1992, Congress authorized legislation to deepen the Delaware River channel from its current depth of 40 feet to 45 feet; and
WHEREAS, Design and Environmental impact statements were completed in 1997; and
WHEREAS, Congress has appropriated over $40,000,000 since 1999 for the project; and
WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Maritime Administration 71 million tons of goods valued at over $16.7 billion flowed through the rivers ports; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that the ports along the river pump $4,000,000,000 into the economies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware and support up to 70,000 jobs; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated by the Army Corps of Engineers that the project will save $2,000,000,000 in travel costs over fifty years or $1.40 in benefit for every $1.00 invested in the project; and
WHEREAS, All other major ports from New York City to Savannah are deeper than 40 feet or have plans to deepen; and
WHEREAS, The deepening project has gone through the review process dictated by the Clean Water Act and the federal principles and guidelines for Water Resources Development issued by Presidential Executive Order; and
WHEREAS, The Army Corps of Engineer environmental studies were coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency and addressed project impacts related to groundwater, sediments, salinity, wetlands, shellfish, oil spills and endangered species; and
WHEREAS, Clean sand used from dredging the Delaware River will be used for wetland and beachfill projects; and
WHEREAS, The deepening project will result in more efficient vessel loading, reduce transfers of crude oil from tankers to barges and attract more efficient container and dry bulk vessels; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the City Council of Philadelphia record its continued support for the Delaware River deepening project and encourages the Congress of the United States and the Army Corps of Engineers to take all steps necessary to assure its completion and increase our regions competitiveness with all major ports from New York City to Savannah, Georgia; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Philadelphia District Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, Pennsylvania’s two United States Senators and its Congressional Delegation as evidence of the support of this Council for the deepening project.
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