Indicating they are redoubling their efforts to protect South Jersey's environment, Gov. Chris Christie and Bob Martin, acting commissioner of the N.J. Depart­ment of Environmental Protection, joined forces Monday with U.S. Rep. Rob An­drews and State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney to oppose the Army Corps of Engineers’ plan to deepen the Delaware River shipping channel. And they vowed to keep fighting the project.

“We are standing our ground because it is the right thing to do for South Jersey,” Christie said during a news conference at Red Bank Battlefield, a Revolutionary War fort along the river in Gloucester County. “Congressman Andrews and Senator Swee­ney have fought this project long and hard—and for good reason. The Army Corps expects South Jersey to bear the environmental burden for a project that doesn't make economic sense.”

The Army Engineers say they have the necessary approvals, and proponents of the project say it’s necessary to keep the Port of Philadelphia-Camden economically viable.

Andrews maintains that the Army Engineers ignored mandatory environmental regulations and in the process, is placing the health and well-being of residents at stake.

“I applaud Gov. Christie for standing up against this enormous waste of taxpayer dollars and reckless attempt to dump millions of tons of spoils on South Jersey.”

“For all the years of reports and discussions, South Jersey still has never received an acceptable answer to how this dredging project will benefit our communities,” said Sweeney. “South Jersey will not be Pennsylvania’s dredge dump and we will not benefit from a project that has such questionable economic ties.”