<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-06</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000028866</issuerCik><issuerName>VERITAS DGC INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001022521</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ROBSON DAVID B</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>10300 TOWN PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>77072</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.19</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-01-06</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-01-06</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>Larry L. Worden, as Attorney-In-Fact for David B. Robson</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

