NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY PORT AUTHORITY SEEKS DREDGE FUNDS FROM CONGRESS

NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY PORT AUTHORITY SEEKS DREDGE FUNDS FROM CONGRESS    The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as well as government officials from both states, on Tuesday urged Congress to provide more than $100 million for dredging projects at the port.
   In testimony to the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, the port authority sought additional funding for these harbor deepening projects:
   * Continued work to deepen the Kill van Kull and Newark Bay channels to 45 feet. The channels service Port Newark and the Elizabeth Port Authority Marine Terminal, the large container terminals. The project would also provide access to terminals on the Arthur Kill.
   * Deepening the 35-foot Arthur Kill Channel to the Howland Hook Terminal to 41 feet, and to 40 feet beyond to the Tosco Bayway Refinery.
   * Deepen the 38-foot Port Jersey channel in Bayonne, N.J. to 41 feet.
   * Continue preliminary engineering and design work on a planned 50-foot port deepening project.
   The port authority pointed out it is embarking on a five year, $1.8-billion port redevelopment plan and private industry has committed to spending more than $500 million in marine terminal investments.
   The testimony was endorsed by more than 40 transportation companies, terminal operators, industry associations and government organizations.