Letter to Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick, Commanding General and Chief of Engineers of US Army Corps of Engineers - Midland Beach Emergency Storm Protection Project

Letter

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and New York City Councilman James S. Oddo today urged the Army Corps of Engineers to secure a source for the sand necessary to implement the Midland Beach emergency storm protection project. In May, Schumer and Oddo pushed the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to correct a policy mistake that originally excluded Midland Beach from receiving temporary protection measures along its shoreline. Recently, New York City Parks announced $5 million for protective measures at Midland Beach and today, Schumer and Oddo urged the Army Corps to commit to a source for the much-needed sand so that the shoreline can be protected as soon as possible.

"Midland Beach was desperately hurt by Superstorm Sandy and we need to make sure this community is protected in the event of a future storm," said Schumer. "NYC Parks allocated this funding and now all we need is the sand. The Army Corps should immediately find a source for this sand so that this project can begin immediately."

"Our community continues to be particularly vulnerable. That is why when at a recent meeting with the Army Corps and the NYC Parks Department, when the Army Corps indicated their Sandy Hook dredging project could create materials that could be used to protect other communities, we jumped at the opportunity. Senator Schumer and I are saying in a united voice, 'Let New York City Parks have the first shot at that material to help all of us protect the folks in Midland Beach and Staten Island. As always, it's a pleasure to have an ally like Senator Schumer and I thank him for having Staten Island's back yet again," said Councilman Oddo.

New York City Parks has announced $5 million for the Midland Beach protection project. The Army Corps is currently working on providing Parks with approximately 200,000 yards of sand needed to complete this project. Some possible options being explored are the Sandy Hook Channel dredge, other dredging operation, as well as existing quarry reserves in New Jersey.

Schumer and Oddo today urged the Army Corps to begin locating the sand for this much-needed project at Midland Beach so that the shoreline can be protected immediately.

Their letter can be found below:

Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick

Commanding General and Chief of Engineers

United States Army Corps of Engineers

441 G Street NW

Washington, DC 20314-1000

Dear General Bostick:

Thankfully, $5 million was included in the recently completed New York City budget specifically to fund temporary protective measures to protect the Midland Beach portion of Staten Island's shoreline. We have both advocated for such measures to be taken at Midland Beach, as they are on others parts of Staten Island's shoreline as a result of Superstorm Sandy.

We would also like to thank the Army Corps for your attention and time spent on the issue of protecting Staten Island's shoreline, including the willingness to work with us to try and find a workable solution to protect the Midland Beach community.

Councilman Oddo recently participated in a meeting at City Hall with Army Corps and New York City Parks Department ("Parks") officials discussing this issue. At this meeting, we learned about the possibility of the Army Corps providing Parks with approximately 200,000 yards of sand needed to complete this project. We understand that the Army Corps is working with Parks to secure a source for this sand, including the Sandy Hook Channel dredge, other dredging operations, as well as existing quarry reserves in New Jersey. We urge you to identify and commit to a source of this sand as soon as possible so the project can start and homeowners can be protected. Parks must be provided with the raw materials needed to complete this project, in a cost-effective and timely fashion

It is our understanding that the process for securing the approvals to use the appropriate sand in this way has begun, and we ask for a positive determination.

Very truly yours,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senate

James Oddo
Minority Leader, New York City Council

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