Philadelphia, January 27, 2010
U.S. District Court Ruling Allows the Deepening of Delaware River to Begin Immediately

Washington, January 27, 2010
Specter Applauds District Court's Decision

Philadelphia, January 19, 2010
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority Launches Website in Support of Delaware River Deepening

Philadelphia, January 11, 2010
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority Issues Clarification on Sydport Agreement

Philadelphia, January 6, 2010
Philadelphia area ports are the East Coast fruit hub

U.S. District Court Ruling Allows the Deepening of Delaware River to Begin Immediately

PHILADELPHIA, January 27, 2010...The United States District Court for the District of Delaware late today refused to block the critically needed deepening of the Delaware River to 45 feet.  In a decision signed by Judge Sue L. Robinson, the Court ruled the project could proceed, but that it expected the Army Corps of Engineers to work closely with impacted states on future stages of the project.

          “Today’s decision is great news for the tens of thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on Philadelphia area ports and for the taxpayers of Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey who will reap the economic benefits of the deepening,” said John H. Estey, chairman of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA), the lead local sponsor of the project.  “We look forward to moving quickly to begin the project, protect current jobs and, hopefully, foster the creation of new ones.”

          In her decision, the Judge wrote, “the public holds a vested interest in the nation's environmental preservation efforts,” but that “the public holds an equally compelling stake in the continued economic vitality of the Delaware River ports.”  She noted, “Congress has made the determination that it is in the public interest to proceed with the Deepening Project.”

         The combined ports of the Delaware River currently support an estimated 75,000 jobs, generating billions of dollars of economic activity and payroll wages, and contributing more than $150 million in state and local taxes.  The deepening, first proposed almost two decades ago, is projected to directly create more than 8,000 new jobs and is critical to the long-term economic prospects of Philadelphia-area ports. 

         From a nationwide perspective alone, the deepening is projected to create $1.35 in new economic benefit for every $1 of the project’s cost.  Other ports across the country, including the Port of Baltimore and Port of New York/New Jersey, have already either begun or have completed deepening projects.   The Port of Baltimore recently announced a private sector investment of $750 million after the deepening.  If the Delaware River is not deepened, area ports will be at a competitive disadvantage.

         To find out more about the deepening, please visit www.supportthedeepening.com.

         The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing, and promotion of publicly owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, as well as strategic planning in the port district.  PRPA works with its terminal operators to modernize, expand, and improve its facilities, and to market those facilities to prospective port users.  Port cargoes and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania, as well as numerous other economic benefits.

Specter Applauds District Court’s Decision

WASHINGTON, January 27, 2010... Today, Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) commented on the decision by the United States District Court for the District of Delaware to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with the first phase of deepening the Delaware River's main shipping channel to 45 feet:

“I applaud the District Court’s decision today, thereby reaffirming the Army Corps’s authority to move forward on the much-needed deepening of the Delaware. It's a giant matter of jobs and the residents of the Delaware Valley region have already waited far too long for this project to proceed which is essential to Pennsylvania's economy and future shipping.

“It is my hope that Delaware chooses not to appeal this decision to the Third Circuit; the effort will simply waste taxpayer time and money as this case is clear on the merits.”

Senator Specter filed an amicus curiae brief in the case, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control v. United States Army Corps of Engineers, in which he argued that the public’s interest in realizing the economic benefits that Congress intended to confer on the Delaware Valley region when it authorized and funded the project weighs heavily against the issuance of an injunction.

Senator Specter has been actively engaged with the deepening of the Delaware River’s main shipping channel for nearly his entire tenure in the Senate, and since Fiscal Year 1999, Senator Specter has helped to secure over $75 million in federal funding for the project. Deepening the channel is essential for Delaware River ports to accommodate modern, larger vessels and remain competitive in the shipping industry. A 2004 economic analysis estimated $1.15 in economic benefits produced for every dollar spent on the project. The channel’s current depth of 40 feet has been stagnant since 1941.

Philadelphia Regional Port Authority Launches Website in Support of Delaware River Deepening
New Site Will Detail Benefits and Counter Misstatements

PHILADELPHIA, January 19, 2010... On Tuesday, January 19, the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) launched a website in support of deepening the Delaware River to 45 feet.  The new website – www.supportthedeepening.com -- will detail the economic benefits of the project, specify the facts about its environmental impact and counter the sometimes false and misleading claims of opponents. 

            “We are very pleased to announce this new public resource,” said John H. Estey, chairman of the PRPA, today.  “Given the facts about the project and its economic benefits, we believe that fair minds will see the overwhelming need for the deepening project and the tremendous benefits it will bring to the region.  That’s what this site will do: give people the facts about this important project.”

            The deepening, first proposed almost two decades ago, is projected to create more than 8,000 new jobs and is critical to the long-term economic prospects of Philadelphia-area ports.  Other ports across the country, including the Port of Baltimore and Port of New York/Newark, have already either begun or completed deepening projects.   The Port of Baltimore recently announced a private sector investment of $750 million after the deepening.  If the Delaware River is not deepened, Delaware River ports will be at a competitive disadvantage.

            One key part of the new site will focus on combating the inaccurate and at times false statements about the economic and environmental impact of the project.   In the almost 20 years since the project was first proposed, there have been dozens of studies that have determined there will be a positive economic impact and a minimal environmental impact.  These reports will be posted along with a continually updated news and information.

            In addition, there will be a section detailing the strong support the project has won from all over the tri-state region, including major business organizations like the Delaware Chamber of Commerce and the PENJERDEL business organizations and merchants who rely on the ports.

            “If we're committed to the future economic viability of the region's ports, we need to deepen the river to 45 feet. Failing to do so will drive maritime business out of the Delaware River, along with thousands of family-sustaining jobs,” closed Estey.  “After almost two decades, it is time to move forward.”

The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing, and promotion of publicly owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, as well as strategic planning in the port district.  PRPA works with its terminal operators to modernize, expand, and improve its facilities, and to market those facilities to prospective port users.  Port cargoes and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania, as well as numerous other economic benefits.

Philadelphia Regional Port Authority Issues Clarification On Sydport Agreement
Authority supports concept, but needs board approval

PHILADELPHIA, January 11, 2010... The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) today reiterated its support for the effort to implement a deep-water container terminal in Sydney, Nova Scotia known as Sydport.

            In a Jan. 6 letter to James Wooder, chairman of the Sydney Marine Group (SMG), PRPA Chairman of the Board John H. Estey expressed support for the plan, including formalization of a “sisterport” relationship.

            However, according to a Jan. 7 press release issued by SMG, it was reported that the PRPA had joined the International Longshoreman’s Association District Council, Ports of Delaware River Marine Trade Association and the Sydney Marine Group as “parties to recently signed memoranda and a letter of intent” to advance the project.  The Authority was not a party to recently signed memoranda, which may have led to confusion as a result of the wording of the press release.

            “Let there be no doubt: we support the Sydport project in concept,” Mr. Estey said today.  “But, as is proper in matters like these, the PRPA must conduct our legal due diligence with regards to any memoranda or documents among the parties to make certain they are in accordance with federal maritime laws.

            “In addition,” he continued, “this matter is subject to approval by our Board of Directors.”

            Additional study of the alliance should in no way be interpreted as a lack of support by the PRPA, said Mr. Estey.

           “We need to do our homework, and then present this unique opportunity to our board,” he said.