On Friday, October 23, 2009, the Corps of Engineers made a good faith effort to advance the project to deepen the Delaware River main shipping channel from 40 to 45 feet.  The Corps path forward addresses the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s permitting process in a manner that addresses both the economic necessity of the project and those key issues necessary to ensure the project moves forward in an environmentally sound way.  Under this proposal, the Corps will exercise its option under an existing base dredging contract to commence deepening work in a defined section of the main shipping channel.  During this time, the Corps will continue to work with DNREC with the goal of securing the Delaware permit within the next nine months, prior to when additional work in Delaware waters would begin.

The economic benefits of the channel deepening project to the Port of Wilmington and the entire tri-state regional port complex are significant and position our regional port to maintain and enhance its competitive position among east coast ports.

It is our hope DNREC will give serious consideration to this proposal.