U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer has announced the details of the major, $180M federally-funded dune and groin protection system for Long Beach, Long Island.
Superstorm Sandy devastated the Island, in large part because a protection system had never been built. Following the storm, Schumer secured $180 million in federal funds for the Sandy relief bill to install a system of dunes and groins to protect Long Beach from future storms.
However, despite the availability of funds, the Office Of Management and Budget (OMB) tried to require that the City of Long Beach and New York State pay 35% of the project cost, which likely would have prevented the dunes and groins from ever being built.
Schumer then successfully convinced OMB that such a high local cost share was not Congress’ intent, and that they should pick up the entire tab, ensuring no cost to local taxpayers. Schumer today released the details of the project and a tentativetimeline.
“ With funding secured and details laid out, we are on the verge of finally making a project, a decade in the making, a reality,” said Schumer. “ This project, fully funded by the federal government, will ultimately provide massive protections for Long Beach residents and businesses, and should allow them to sleep a bit better at night knowing that when the next Sandy comes, they will be better protected. While I would have preferred to get shovels in the ground sooner, a project of this magnitude and complexity took the Army Corps and other federal agencies longer than expected to design and implement.”
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano stated: “I commend Senator Schumer for working with Nassau County, Hempstead Town and the City of Long Beach to strengthen our shoreline and protect local neighborhoods against future storms.”
“We fought hard for the Long Beach Island project for more than two decades and one of the constant partners through the fight has been Senator Schumer ,” Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray said. “ We thank Senator Schumer for his continued support and leadership. This puts us one step closer to putting a ‘shovel in the sand,’ hardening our coastline and protecting homes and infrastructure on the barrier island.”
[mappress]
Press Release, February 17, 2014