The final phase of the environmental dredging of the Buffalo River has officially commenced. The removal of nearly one million cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the Buffalo River is one of the largest cleanups in the nation and one that can be a catalyst to re-brand Buffalo from its rust belt past.
“The commitment to complete the Buffalo River cleanup has catalyzed significant public and private investment into Buffalo’s Inner Harbor and river corridor,” said Jill Jedlicka, Executive Director of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper . “ Our partnership is viewed as a national model for achieving a shared vision of ecological and economic revitalization, and is responsible for the ongoing rust to blue transformation of an environmental liability into a community asset .”
This project is moving forward through a unique public, private and non-profit partnership that is held as an international model for the Great Lakes. The Buffalo River Restoration Partnership includes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER®, Honeywell, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
“Honeywell is proud of our partnership with the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, the Great Lakes National Program Office of EPA, the DEC, and the Army Corps on a cleanup that reflects the community’s vision of a restored Buffalo River. The remediation has achieved tremendous progress and become a catalyst for economic development as well as expanded recreational opportunities,” said Honeywell.
Buffalo River restoration work will be visible this season to recreational river and waterfront users all summer as the barges travel up and down the river and along the Inner and Outer Harbors.
Two dredges will be working at the same time to expedite the project at different sections of the river. The final phase of the river restoration includes capping of sediments in the City Ship Canal and habitat restoration in-water along various segments of the shoreline. The work is expected to be completed in 2015.
The current $22.7 million dredging contract is funded through a through a 50/50 cost share agreement with Honeywell and the EPA under the Great Lakes Legacy Act program.
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Press Release, June 19, 2014