East Chester Creek Dredging Advances

Press Release

Congressman Eliot Engel praised the action of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for providing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to study the feasibility of dredging Eastchester Creek. This dredging wouldallow for expanded commercial transportation of home heating fuel and other products in the region.

Rep. Engel said the Corps performed maintenance dredging in Eastchester Creek last year but it could not dredge the "Y" portion of the creek because it was de-authorized in 1992. "I consider the dredging of that area to be very important, and I am heartened by the Wednesday's developments in the Senate advancing this project," said Rep. Engel.

This week, Rep. Engel voted for an increase in the budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which sought to restore the huge cuts made by the House Republican Majority. Unfortunately, the amendment was unsuccessful. As Rockland and Westchester Counties and other areas throughout the country deal with the recent devastating floods, it is more apparent that deep cuts to the Army Corps are short-sighted.

The 12-term Congressman said the Republicans in their haste to cut spending are losing sight of who will suffer the most from the cuts. "Taking a machete to the budget means that deserving projects like Eastchester Creek dredging get lost," he said. "Dredging here will do a world of good locally, and the Senate committee action today is a good first step to saving it."

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