Maritime officials fear a change on the Delaware.

Losing the dredge-disposal site could jeopardize four major port-expansion projects on the Jersey side of the river as well as anticipated port growth in Pennsylvania and Delaware, Sweeney said.

"These port projects will create thousands of well-paying jobs," Sweeney said.

McGee, the Philadelphia port engineer, said the dispute could cause Weeks to move its equipment from the river to its other locations.

"Having to bring equipment to the river from other areas would add hundreds of thousands of dollars to dredging projects," McGee said.

Meanwhile, Gallub said that his Bellmawr project was "progressing nicely" and that buildings would begin to go up later this year.

Gallub's attorney, Donald Nogowski of Earp Cohn, the Cherry Hill firm that includes veteran State Sen. John H. Adler (D., Camden), defended the use of New York dredged material at the site.

"The material is treated to meet residential soil standards, one of highest levels of cleanliness. It is not what most people would consider New York-dredged material," Nogowski said.

The first phase in Bellmawr, along Big Timber Creek, is expected to be completed in 2010. Gallub said it would include 600,000 square feet of retail and commercial space - a large retailer, a multiplex cinema, four hotels, four restaurants, and a regional visitors center.

The Logan site will be different. No hotels or stores will go there, Gallub insists.

That, said Sweeney and maritime officials, had better be true.

"I'd vehemently oppose closing the site," the senator said. "I don't want to see condos there."

Contact staff writer Henry J. Holcomb at 215-854-2614 or hholcomb@phillynews.com.