For Release: Thursday, November 8, 2007
Grannis and King Announce Clearance of State Funding
Work To Start This Winter
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has secured the necessary authorizations to enable the start of dredging of Jones Inlet this winter, Commissioner Pete Grannis and Congressman Peter King today announced. This project is integral in rehabilitating Point Lookout beaches, protecting private property, preventing navigational hazards, and reducing the impacts of erosion on the natural resources of the area. Today, state contracts were approved for a $7.6 million Jones Inlet project, clearing the way for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin the dredging and beach restoration.
"DEC has remained committed to following through on this critical project and finding the funding to make it happen," Commissioner Grannis said. "Congressman King and Senators Schumer and Clinton have joined DEC in working to accomplish these funding authorizations, and we will continue to work with them to maintain the Inlet and protect waterfront communities."
"This is terrific news for the people of Point Lookout," said Representative King. "For years, I have been fighting to secure funding for this project, and for months I've been working with the State and the Army Corps to reach an agreement. I thank Commissioner Grannis for understanding the safety threat that Jones Inlet poses. Together we made this issue a top priority and as a result, the dredging will be completed by the April 1 deadline."
While maintaining navigational channels such as Jones Inlet is traditionally the responsibility of the federal government, New York State took the unusual action of funding the dredging to ensure the project was expedited. The dredging will be completed before the spring nesting season of the endangered piping plover, which nests at Point Lookout, and will fulfill Commissioner Grannis's commitment that work would be completed in time for the 2008 boating season.
The announcement is the culmination of months of negotiations between DEC, Congressman King, Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the State Comptroller which authorized the contracts. The dredging of navigational channels like Jones Inlet are a federal responsibility, with the federal government usually paying for those projects. However, no federal funding is in place for the timely start of the work. As part of the state budget and legislation signed by Governor Eliot Spitzer in July 2007, $7.6 million in state funding was made available for the project's implementation.
Senator Schumer said, "This agreement between the Army Corps and DEC is a win-win for the residents of Point Lookout and the thousands of boaters and fishermen who enjoy Jones Inlet. With this sorely needed dredging, homes will be protected, beaches will be restored, and the waters will be made safe for navigation. And I will continue to aggressively push for more federal dollars to ensure we never again reach this crisis point."
With the state funding, the Army Corps will arrange for dredges to remove sand in the Jones Inlet channel to a depth that is safe for navigation. The exact start date of the work will be dependent on when equipment is available. The dredged sand will be placed on the Point Lookout beach, and will help to begin remedy the down-drift erosion problem in the area.
While Congressman King and Senators Schumer and Clinton are continuing to work at obtaining funding for future work at Jones Inlet, New York State does not anticipate reimbursement for the current dredging expenditure.
