Rep. Michael G. Grimm (R,C-SI/Brooklyn) sent the following letter to the NYC Parks Commissioner urging Parks to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use the sand dredged from Great Kills Harbor to replenish the storm-ravaged beaches along Staten Island’s coastline.
“When it comes to our recovery efforts, we have to think creatively to maximize resources and stretch every federal dollar to its full potential. The Army Corps of Engineers is already scheduled to dredge Great Kills Harbor, so it would be foolish not to capitalize on the abundance of sand and use it to replenish our storm-ravaged shorelines, ” said Rep. Grimm.
“NYC Parks has already identified two areas near the harbor for beach replenishment; however, it is projected that there will be an abundance of sand remaining. It would be a missed opportunity if we didn’t take advantage of the excess sand and available equipment onsite, which is why I am calling on Parks to work with the Corps in order to use every salvageable bit of dredged sand to replenish as many coastal areas in Staten Island as possible, ” continued Rep. Grimm.
According to a public notice issued by the Corps, in fall 2013, Great Kills Harbor will undergo routine maintenance dredging with subsequent placement of the dredged material on portions of the eroded shoreline of Staten Island. Crescent Beach and Wolfe’s Pond Park are the only two identified sites. In anticipation of an abundance of sand, Rep. Grimm is asking that the additional dredged sand be used to replenish other vulnerable areas, such as Midland Beach, New Dorp and Tottenville.
The text of the letter
[mappress]
Press Release, May 20, 2013