|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Bill Keller
|
|
Governor signs Keller bill into law
Allows Pennsylvania to enter agreement in Delaware River dredging project
HARRISBURG, March 20 - Gov. Rendell this week signed into law a bill drafted by state Rep. Bill Keller, D-Phila., that would hold the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers free from all damages arising from the Delaware River dredging project.
The Delaware River Main Channel Deepening Project began with an agreement between Pennsylvania and New Jersey in May 2007. The project involves deepening the Delaware River from 40 feet to 45 feet, and requires participation by the federal government through the Army Corps of Engineers and a non-federal project sponsor. In order to get the project underway, the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority as the non-federal project sponsor must enter into a project cooperation agreement with the federal government.
"The new law created by House Bill 1691 takes care of the project agreement by allowing a hold harmless provision for the Corps of Engineers during the project's execution," Keller said. "Essentially, this bill set the plan into motion and will ultimately protect the Army Corps from paying damages associated with it."
Gov. Rendell praised the project when Pennsylvania entered into the agreement in May. He said deepening the river would allow for increased commercial shipping traffic, investment and economic development.
“I believe nothing is more important to the future of the ports of Philadelphia, southern New Jersey and Delaware than this project,” Rendell said.
The project will run approximately 100 miles, from the Delaware Bay to Philadelphia/Camden. According to the Delaware River Port Authority, this will be the first time the river has been deepened since 1942.
###cnk/2008/jma
l:\print\releases\ dredgingagreement.184