Letter to The Honorable Alan Steinberg Administrator, Region 2 U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency, Colonel Aniello L. Tortora New York District ...

Letter

The Honorable Alan Steinberg
Administrator, Region 2
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

Colonel Aniello L. Tortora
New York District
United States Corps of Engineers
26 Federal Plaza
New York, New York 10278

Dear Regional Administrator Steinberg and Colonel Tortora:

We are writing in response to the recent reports of large amounts of garbage and debris washing up on the beaches of New Jersey. We are greatly disturbed that the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary "Floatables Action Plan" did not identify and prevent the heavy wash-up of garbage that led to beach closures over the holiday weekend. The debris has caused beach closings in Normandy Beach, NJ, and many other municipalities reported greater than usual amounts of trash on their beaches. In addition, during the week of August 20th, a forewarning wash-up occurred along the northern Bayshore region and caused beach closures in Middletown, NJ.

As you know, in 1989 the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 designed the "Floatables Action Plan" to identify and remove garbage slicks from the New York/New Jersey Harbor, to prevent beach closures and adverse impacts on coastal species and commercial and recreational boating. To date, the plan has been successful in reducing garbage in the harbor and subsequently diminished the number of beach closures resulting from debris waste.

However the recent beach closures raise serious questions about the "Floatables Action Plan." Please provide information on whether there was a breakdown in the Plan that led to this debris wash-up. In addition, please identify any suggested changes that may lead to the improvement of the Plan and provide information on whether this Plan is adequately funded.

It is important to our constituents that we work together to address these problems. Our coastal environment has been steadily improving over the last 15 years, thanks to the collective efforts of many federal, state and local agencies. We must continue to work together so that we do not go back to the time when debris and trash plagued our waterways and beaches.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to continuing to work together.

Sincerely,

________________________ ________________________

FRANK PALLONE, JR. FRANK R. LAUTENBERG

Members of Congress United States Senate

________________________

ROBERT MENENDEZ

United States Senate

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