News that the proposed Delaware River dredging project is No. 2 on a national survey of wasteful bad ideas shouldn't surprise anyone.

This has been a boondoggle from Day No. 1.

A national analysis by the National Wildlife Federation and Taxpayers for Common Sense says the $311 million Army Corps of Engineers' plan to deepen the Delaware River by 5 feet, to 45 feet, is a waste of money.

Local opponents to the project hope that the General Accounting Office will review the economic justifications for the project, which could start this summer.

In addition to environmental concerns, this project's economic impact is suspect at best. Why? Well, just look at some of the reasoning the Corps offers.

A spokesman for the Corps' Philadelphia District said the organization looked at existing shipping traffic to see how much refiners and shippers would save annually. Then, in the Corps' view, that savings will be passed on to consumers.

In other words, the Corps thinks the dredging project will lead to cheaper gas, since the bulk of the benefits of the dredging project will go to refineries.

Not so fast.

There are a few holes in the Corps' logic.

First and foremost, the oil companies are not committed to deepening their berths, which are needed to take advantage of the deeper channel.

Without deeper berths, there won't be a lot of savings.

And, even if the refineries eventually do upgrade their facilities, creating these deeper approach channels will cost millions of dollars - thereby no doubt cutting into the chances we'll see cheaper gas prices in the next few years.

What about the protection and creation of jobs? Won't the end of lighterage services mean the loss of jobs?

And how deep does the Delaware really need to be to attract supercargo ships? Aren't we really looking at a 50-foot channel to be truly competitive?

The Pentagon is looking closely at the Corps these days.

Top officials are accused of cooking the books regarding a $1.2 billion proposal to expand locks on the Mississippi River.

Given some of the other Corps projects called into question, one has to wonder if the agency isn't simply trying to create work for itself to justify its existence.

Dredging proponents believe that if the channel is deepened, the oil refineries will fall into line, there will be no negative impact to the environment, that dredge muck will be put to good use and that taxpayer dollars will be well spent to protect jobs, stabilize the ports and boost the economy.

The Corps is a little too sure of itself - especially given the refineries' lack of commitment.

Certainly, the Delaware dredging project needs closer scrutiny. A GAO review would be most welcome.