Nadler Welcomes $475 Million in Emergency Sandy Funds to Restore Federal Parks and Monuments in NYC and Northeast

Press Release

Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the most senior member from the Northeast on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, welcomed $475.25 million in emergency federal relief for Hurricane Sandy-devastated parks and monuments in the Northeast, including key National Monuments in New York City. Through the U.S. Department of the Interior, the funds will go toward 234 projects for repairs, restoration and construction within federal parks, monuments, and other sites.

"I'm very pleased to support this funding for critical federal infrastructure, parks and monuments in New York City and across the Northeast," said Nadler. "These much-needed federal dollars will help restore and reopen the Statue of Liberty, Governors Island, Castle Clinton, and many other public lands frequented by millions every year."

In Nadler's district, the funding will include:

$75,500,000 for the Statue of Liberty National Monument
$1,500,000 for Governors Island National Monument
$300,000 for Castle Clinton National Monument

Below is the summary from the Interior Department:

The National Park Service (NPS) will allocate $329.8 million for 158 projects to rebuild, repair and restore parks facilities, lands and replace equipment. The allocation includes funds that will be used for repairs, to restore utilities, and open the Statue of Liberty in New York in time for Independence Day. About 3.7 million people visited the statue in 2011, generating $174 million in economic activity and supporting 2,218 jobs. An additional $47.5 million will be made available for historic preservation efforts through grants to State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will allocate $64.6 million for 55 projects to repair and restore refuges, hatcheries, and other facilities and to restore wildlife habitat. Hurricane Sandy left behind a 22-mile debris field in the marshes and wetlands along the coastal boundary of Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey. These fragile areas will be cleared of trash, hazardous materials and contaminants to restore clean water and healthy wildlife habitats.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will allocate $18.8 million for scientific monitoring, mapping, modeling, and forecasts to support broader recovery efforts throughout the impacted region. USGS scientific work will assist Interior's efforts to restore Federal lands and facilities and will assist States, cities and communities to recover and rebuild in a more resilient manner. USGS will identify coastal areas vulnerable to storm damage and provide communities with critical information needed for recovery that will also help prepare for future storm events.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), as the agency responsible for managing sand and gravel resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), will use $11.7 million to address critical needs for OCS sand and gravel throughout the coastal areas undergoing recovery and rebuilding. BOEM will identify and evaluate OCS sand and gravel resources, and work with other Federal agencies, States, cities, and others to facilitate coastal restoration.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) will allocate $2.85 million to make repairs to the Ohmsett oil spill research facility in Leonardo, New Jersey. The Ohmsett facility provides independent and objective performance testing of oil spill response equipment and marine renewable energy systems, and helps improve technologies through research and development.

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