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Army Corps of Engineers announces signing of Chief's Report Coastal Storm Project in Tidal Areas of the Rahway River, N.J.

Public Affairs Office
Published June 11, 2020
Updated: June 11, 2020

NEW YORK — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, announces Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, Chief of Engineers, has signed a Chief’s Report recommending to Congress a Coastal Storm Risk Management Project for Tidal sections of the Rahway River— representing completion of a key milestone.

The Chief’s Report will now undergo further review by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works and Office of Management and Budget before formal submittal to Congress for authorization. 

The principle features of the proposed project would reduce the risk of damages from flooding in portions of the City of Rahway, Borough of Carteret, and Linden Township, N.J.

The Recommended Plan consists of structural and nonstructural components. The structural components consist of a levee segment in Joseph Medwick Park in Middlesex County. The Nonstructural Plan includes elevation and flood proofing for properties in each of the three towns.

"The Rahway River Basin is notorious for severe flooding that has caused damage during Superstorm Sandy and other heavy storms throughout parts of Middlesex and Union counties," said U.S. Senator Robert Menendez. "This is a great step forward to protect the homes, businesses and wildlife ecosystems along the river. We must continue investing in risk reduction and flood mitigation projects that will help safeguard our environment and communities. I thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and community stakeholders for their work on this project and look forward to seeing this project move to construction and completion."

“For years, communities along the Rahway River have endured significant flood events that have damaged homes, hurt businesses, and jeopardized safety,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker. “While we must work to address this issue along the entire Rahway River, I thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their partners for taking this important step for the lower portion of the Rahway River Basin. I remain committed to securing the federal resources needed to see this project through to completion and protect New Jersey communities.”

"This report is a strong step in the right direction," said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr.  "The Rahway River has been a flood issue for a long time.  A new levee and other measures would protect the current property near the river and prevent flood damage from becoming a larger problem in the future. I am pleased the Army Corps of Engineers agrees that this project needs immediate attention." 

"This Chief's Report is a result of outstanding collaboration to achieve the next step that will lead to project implementation that will provide flood risk reduction to homes and businesses for the region and specifically for Rahway, Carteret and Linden, New Jersey that were devastated by Superstorm Sandy and is long overdue. This project milestone represents tremendous work by our partners at all levels of government,” said Col. Thomas D. Asbery, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District.  "I am deeply honored and humbled to work with an incredible team of professionals at New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection that serve as our study sponsor and made this project milestone possible.”

The next step will be the approval of the Chief’s Report by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, after which it will be sent to Congress for possible authorization for construction. Once authorized and funded, the project would move forward.

The Chief’s Report and associated documents are available at:  https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/RahwayRiverTidal/

 


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Release no. 20-036