Major Fire Island to Montauk Point (FIMP) Project Milestone Hit

Press Release

Today, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) and Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R, NY-2) announced that Suffolk County and the Towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Islip and Southampton have now all signed local Project Partnership Agreements (PPA) for the Fire Island to Montauk Point (FIMP) project. These agreements have been sent to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and represent a major milestone for completing the decades-in-the-making FIMP project.

The multi-billion dollar FIMP project would provide essential dredging and shoreline projects spanning 83 miles of Long Island coastline. The massive project includes a variety of coastal and wetland restoration projects that will use the natural environment to reduce flooding, erosion and storm damage, while also preserving the natural environment and habitat for wildlife. It also promotes various coastal management initiatives for the bay side of the barrier beaches.

NYSDEC will now review the six local PPAs and has the ability to sign off on the agreement for the project to move forward. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has approved a policy waiver that will allow for the advertisement of the first construction contract prior to the execution of the final PPA. However, bid opening cannot occur until the PPA is fully executed and signed by USACE and NYSDEC.

The FIMP project was authorized in the 116th Congress through a December 2020 congressional appropriations package. The cost of the project's reformulation study and initial construction is more than $1.5 billion, paid for entirely through federal funding. The renourishment cost for the project separately totals approximately $1.5 billion, 50 percent of which will be federally funded. From start to finish, the FIMP project will total more than $3 billion. Additional federal funding will be provided as needed.

"Long Island is a coastal community, and our ability to take care of our coastline and waterways is essential for the health, safety, and prosperity of that community. The FIMP project will provide critical initiatives to help preserve and protect our coast. My team worked tirelessly with towns and municipalities across my district to secure an agreement that best serves all of Long Island and I look forward to seeing it come to fruition," said Congressman Garbarino.

"Completion of the FIMP project is critical to the long-term health and viability of Long Island's environment, economy and coastal way of life. My team and I have worked very hard on this effort since I first arrived to Congress in January 2015. I was proud to secure Congressional authorization for FIMP during the 116th Congress, and it's incredibly encouraging to see all levels of government working together to finally get this project done for Long Islanders," said Congressman Zeldin.

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