NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Residents of New York and New Jersey worry that the raising of a major bridge to accommodate bigger ships could harm their environment.
The Port Authority plans to raise the Bayonne (BAY'-ohn) Bridge by more than 60 feet to accommodate ships coming from Asia through a widened Panama Canal.
The Coast Guard did a preliminary environmental assessment. It says the project will have no significant environmental or health effects.
But people in Newark and on Staten Island say the agency needs to do a full environmental review. They worry that more trucks offloading huge ships could lead to increased diesel pollution.
The Environmental Protection Agency is also calling for a full review. Residents have until March 5 to comment on the preliminary assessment.
