SCHUMER, DONOVAN, ODDO ANNOUNCE ARMY CORPS TO HOLD PUBLIC COMMUNITY FORUMS ON STATEN ISLAND SEA WALL PROJECT; MEETINGS WILL TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST
Earlier this Year, Schumer, Oddo Urged Army Corps to Organize Community Meetings on Status of ‘Staten Island Sea Wall Project’ to Help Sandy-Impacted Families to Better Understand Project Alternatives & Provide Necessary Community Input to Inform the Study; ‘Staten Island Sea Wall Project’ Will Finally Implement Coastline Defense Along East Shore Communities
Schumer, Donovan, Oddo Announce Public Information Meetings Are Scheduled for August 19th & August 20th at Staten Island University Hospital; Lawmakers Urge All Impacted Residents to Attend & Participate
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Congressman Dan Donovan and Staten Island Borough President James Oddo today announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to hold public community forums regarding their plans for the Staten Island Sea Wall Project. The meetings will take place on August 19th and August 20th from 6-9pm at Staten Island University Hospital (McGinn Center).
Two and a half years ago, Superstorm Sandy devastated communities along Staten Island’s East and South Shores. The Staten Island Sea Wall project, that Schumer has long supported, is studying storm protection measures along sections of the coastline from Fort Wadsworth to Tottenville, including a proposed seawall. Phase 1 of the project covers Ft. Wadsworth to Oakwood, while Phase 2 is Great Kills to Tottenville.
In the Sandy Supplemental Appropriation of 2013 Senator Schumer secured full federal funding to complete the study, as well as the federal portion of construction funding. In March, Schumer and Oddo urged the Army Corps to conduct public forums on Staten Island so that impacted residents can review the Army Corps plans and project alternatives and provide experts with necessary community input. Last month the Army Corps released a draft feasibility report for Phase 1 of the project. It can be viewed here: (http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/ProjectsinNewYork/SouthShoreofStatenIsland.aspx). The public comment period is part of an Environmental Impact Study and comments can be submitted until September 9th.
“I fought hard to deliver the full federal funding for this study and for the federal share of construction for these vital protections for Staten Island's South and East Shore communities because no area was hit harder. These public meetings will help Staten Island residents better understand the full details of this much-needed resiliency project and I urge all impacted community members to attend,” said Senator Schumer. “I am pleased the Army Corps heeded our call by providing more transparency on the ‘Staten Island Sea Wall project.’ These public meetings will allow residents to voice their concerns and also, allow residents to ask important questions that affect their future.”
Congressman Donovan said, "I am committed to using my federal oversight authority to ensure this project advances quickly to construction. As another hurricane season begins, addressing Staten Island's vulnerability is a top priority. One of my first meetings since taking office was with the Army Corps of Engineers, and I will continue to closely monitor their progress. I would like to thank Senator Schumer and Borough President Oddo for their work and support -- protecting Staten Islanders is truly a non-partisan endeavor, and I look forward to a productive relationship."
“Simply put, this is the most critical infrastructure project slated for our borough. I very much appreciate the cooperation the US Army Corp has demonstrated since we arrived at Borough Hall last January, and their active participation in our Sandy Recovery Task Force has been quite productive. So much time and effort has been put into this project to get us to this point, but we have much work to do to ensure it is built in a timely fashion, including doing whatever it take to ensure the remediation work at Great Kills Parks in no way, shape or form delays the start of this vital protection,” Borough President Oddo said.
The Army Corps’ “Staten Island Sea Wall Project” aims to study the coastline of Staten Island, from Fort Wadsworth to Tottenville, extending along lower New York Bay and Raritan Bay, and identify possible risk management solutions for hurricane and storm damages in the area. The area was seriously damaged during Superstorm Sandy and previous, the area experience major storm damage during the 1992 Noreaster and the March 1993 storm. These storms caused flood damage, loss of structures, large scale evacuations and several deaths within the communities. The area remains vulnerable to future damage.
After Superstorm Sandy, Schumer secured full federal funding in the Sandy Relief Bill for the “Staten Island Sea Wall project” study and the federal share of funding, 65%, for subsequent construction. According to the Army Corps, the study includes a proposed plan of improvement for the Phase 1 area (Fort Wadsworth to Oakwood Beach) which will consist of a system of buried seawalls, floodwall, levee and acquisition, preservation and excavation of natural open space storage. The study is also assessing potential alternatives for the Phase 2 area (Great Kills to Tottenville).
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