Clinton Meets With Army Corps of Engineers to Push for Action on Long Island Issues
Clinton Meets With Army Corps of Engineers to Push for Action on Long Island Issues
Senator calls for action on Tiana Beach erosion, Fire Island to Montauk Point Reformulation Study and Long Island Sound Dredge Management Plan
NY Corps head pledges to work with Senator Clinton to get the results Long Island deserves
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today met with Colonel Richard J. Polo, Commander of the New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to press for action on a number of major environmental issues effecting Long Island.
During the meeting, Senator Clinton requested that the Army Corps respond immediately to the erosion problems at Tiana Beach in Southampton. Specifically, the Senator requested that the Corps send representatives to the County's February 17th meeting with elected and regulatory officials and provide whatever technical and other resources they can to respond to this emergency. In addition, Senator Clinton asked that the Corps update the Breach Contingency Plan to reflect current conditions in order to be better prepared for any future breaches. In the meeting, Col. Polo agreed to send representatives to the meeting and to do everything possible to expedite the emergency permit needed to enable sand to be placed on the beach.
At the meeting, Senator Clinton also stressed the importance of restoring funding for the "Fire Island to Montauk Point Reformulation Study". Last week, Senator Clinton strongly criticized the Bush Administration's budget for abandoning the Army Corps of Engineers' study of the shoreline from Fire Island to Montauk Point. The President's budget for Fiscal Year 2006, released last Monday, eliminates funding for the study for the second year in a row. Last year, when the President's FY 2005 budget also zeroed out the study, Senator Clinton worked with Congressman Bishop and County Executive Levy to get the Administration to restore funding for the study. After raising the issue in a Senate hearing in March of 2004, Senator Clinton received a commitment from the Corps of Engineers in June to restore funding for fiscal year 2005, and the study was funded at $1.4 million.
Finally, Senator Clinton requested Col. Polo's immediate personal attention be given to the development of a Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) for Long Island Sound to ensure that this important work goes forward. In 2004, Senator Clinton introduced legislation to require the Corps to create a DMMP after public outcry about an EPA proposal to designate long-term dredge disposal sites in the Sound.
"I was pleased to meet with Col. Polo today and to raise with him some of the critical environmental issues that are facing Long Island," Senator Clinton said. "From shoreline erosion to the proposal to dump dredge management in the Sound, these issues affect the lives of millions of people living on Long Island and must be addressed as soon as possible."
At the meeting, Senator Clinton presented Col. Polo with a letter outlining her concerns and her requests for action. A copy of the Senator's letter is attached.
February 15, 2005
Colonel Richard J. Polo, Jr.
Commander and District Engineer
US Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278-0090
Dear Colonel Polo:
Thank you for meeting with me today to discuss the vital work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New York State. There are several issues in particular that I would appreciate your attention to:
Tiana Beach
As you are aware, the ocean beach along Dune Road in the area between Mermaid Lane and Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays, Southampton has suffered severe coastal erosion as a result of past and current winter storm systems passing over the Northeast region. Yesterday, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy declared a state of emergency for this area of the county. To develop a coordinated response, the county will host a meeting on Thursday, February 17th with elected and regulatory officials from town, county, state, and federal government. I ask that you send representatives to this meeting and provide whatever technical and other resources the Corps can provide to respond to this emergency. In addition, I ask that you update the Breach Contingency Plan to reflect current conditions so that we are better prepared for any future breaches.
The Fire Island to Montauk Point Reformulation Study
As you know, the Fire Island to Montauk Point Reformulation Study is a partnership between the Corps of Engineers and other federal and state agencies to develop a comprehensive, long-term plan to protect coastal areas that are prone to flooding, erosion and other storm damage. The plan would replace ad-hoc measures that have been used to protect individual properties with a comprehensive management approach that considers the entire coastal system.
This vital study is nearing completion, and so I was dismayed to discover last week that the President's budget for FY 2006 eliminates funding for the second year in a row. Last year, I worked to bring this short-sighted decision to the attention of the Corps, and received a commitment from the Corps of Engineers in June to restore funding for Fiscal Year 2005 and 2006. The Corps made good on the first half of this promise, and the study was funded at $1.4 million in FY 2005. I urge you to work with Corps Headquarters staff to again find a way to restore funding to complete this study.
Environmental Restoration in NY Harbor
I am pleased that the President's FY 06 budget includes $101 million for continued work on the New York and New Jersey Harbor Project. I trust that this level of funding is will enable the harbor deepening to continue to stay on schedule. However, I am concerned that the environmental restoration component of the harbor project is lagging behind the deepening work, and I ask that you work to ensure that this important part of the project moves forward more expeditiously.
Dredged Material Management Plan
As you know, I strongly believe that a long-term plan is needed to manage disposal of dredged material in the Long Island Sound watershed. To accomplish this goal, I introduced legislation in 2004 to require the Corps of Engineers to work with the states of New York and Connecticut and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop a Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) for Long Island Sound. Therefore, I was pleased to see that Governor Pataki and Governor Rell sent a letter to Lt. General Carl Strock on February 8, 2005 asking him to begin developing a DMMP for the Sound. Development of a DMMP that includes alternatives such as reducing sediment sources, reducing contaminant loading, and developing beneficial reuses is critical for the health of the Sound. I request that you give the DMMP your personal attention, and see that work begins as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
http://clinton.senate.gov/~clinton/news/2005/2005215C54.html