Congressman John Tierney, joined by state and local lawmakers, announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a permit request for beach scraping on Plum Island. Following intense efforts by homeowners and local and federal officials, this news means that Plum Island families can take steps to protect their homes and community from imminent disaster.
"The Army Corps's decision is the right one for our local families. I applaud Senator Bruce Tarr, Representative Costello, local Newbury officials and the residents involved for their hard work and determination in making this happen. Using their own resources Plum Island families can now protect their homes and keep their community safe. This news will help many in the immediate term, and the federal funding I supported and secured to repair the South Jetty is another critical piece. Moving forward, I will continue to work with the Army Corps and state and local officials to ensure that the community's erosion concerns are expeditiously addressed," Congressman Tierney said.
"This permit from the Army Corps of Engineers is another positive step forward and another tool to assist homeowners to protect their homes," said State Representative Michael A. Costello (D - Newburyport). "I would like to thank Congressman John Tierney for his work shepherding this issuance through Army Corps channels and making the permit a reality."
Selectmen Chairman Joe Story said, "I want to thank everyone involved in the process. This is a prime example of what can be down when people work together to solve a problem. We met with Congressman Tierney, and he and his staff went right to work to help us get the solution we needed."
"If it wasn't for Congressman Tierney, Senator Tarr and Governor Patrick, we would likely still be a group of concerned homeowners without a path forward to protect our homes from damage or disaster this winter," said Bob Connors, who owns one of the five threatened properties. "This is a good starting point, and we will continue to work together to ensure our community remains safe for all residents and their families."