The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has the authority to shut down the entire project. As the agency responsible for water resources, it should feel a strong obligation to conduct its own environmental impact review of the dredging project.

Dredging potentially could hit what opponents call toxic "hot spots" where high concentrations of toxins could be released into the water. Since about a dozen bends in the river will be widened, and since the level of contaminants are higher closest to shore, the DRBC should have a real interest in seeing that fish, wildlife and water quality are not harmed.

The DRBC must not be shy about its role here. The group maintains a lot of credibility in the environmental community, so its approval - or disapproval - carries great weight.

Want to bend the commission's ear? Be at the DRBC building, 25 State Police Drive, West Trenton, at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The second agency vital to South Jersey is the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), which is contributing 70 million of your bridge toll dollars to the dredging project and is the local sponsor.

Topping the DRPA's list of things to do is acquiring dredge disposal sites.

Unfortunately, the DRPA seems to be just fine with the prospect of dumping 22 million cubic yards of river muck in South Jersey - and only in South Jersey. Neither the DRPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers nor apparently anyone else has been able to find suitable dumping grounds in Pennsylvania, a state roughly six times the size of New Jersey. How hard were they looking?

Towns up and down the Delaware River have ambitious plans to redevelop prime riverfront property. With these projects, not only will their tax bases be enhanced, but so will their residents' quality of life.

These dump sites threaten the development of that property and access to the river. And, quite frankly, it simply isn't fair to make South Jersey taxpayers and toll payers pick up the tab for the right to play host to toxic river muck. Find a different place to dump.

For whatever reasons, only a few local officials are protesting the South Jersey dump sites. They, of course, are the ones who see their land being eaten up and opportunities lost.

Where are South Jersey's congressional and legislative delegations? Why aren't each and every one of them anchoring down in front of the dredge barges? Why aren't congressmen calling for a General Accounting Office review to see if the numbers really add up?

It's time for these folks to get more involved.

A thumbs up from the DRBC would put many minds at ease over potential environmental hazards. Finding other dump sites is essential to riverfront development.

Along with support for waterfront projects and leadership, these are two critical issues that must be addressed.