News Releases

Army Corps announces availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for proposed Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet Stabilization Project

Published March 17, 2014

-- Public comment period open until April 2, 2014 --

NEW YORK – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet Stabilization Project and the opening of the window for the public to submit written comments regarding it.

With the passage of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, the Army Corps has been given the authority and funding to complete ongoing coastal storm damage risk management projects and studies in the Northeast, including the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet project, which had been previously proposed for construction but was never constructed. As part of the planning and implementation process for the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet project, the New York District has updated prior engineering and design efforts, physical surveys, and environmental compliance in putting together the recently completed Draft Hurricane Sandy Limited Re-evaluation Report (HSLRR).

The DEA and the Draft HSLRR for the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet project, as well as associated documents, are available on New York District’s web site at www.nan.usace.army.mil/FIMP

Public comments on DEA regarding this proposed work should be submitted to:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
Planning Division-Environmental Branch (ATTN: Mr. Robert Smith)
26 Federal Plaza, New York, New York 10278-0090

Public comments can also be submitted by e-mail to Project Biologist Robert.J.Smith@usace.army.mil and Project Manager Frank.Verga@usace.army.mil

Further instructions for submitting comments can be found in the Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment document on the District’s site. Comments received by April 2nd regarding the DEA will assist in the agency’s evaluation of the project changes and will be reflected in the project record.

The Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet project is a partnership between the Army Corps and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. It has been closely coordinated with various other federal, state and local partners.

The proposed Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet project calls for the placement of roughly 7 million cubic yards of sand through three contracts to reinforce the existing dune and berm system along the island. The selected design includes beachfill at Robert Moses State Park, the Fire Island Lighthouse Tract, all of the communities outside of Federal Tracts, and Smith Point County Park. Where feasible, dunes constructed as part of this project will be tied into existing natural dunes in Federal Tracts.

Pending the Environmental Assessment, required reviews of the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet Draft Hurricane Sandy Limited Re-evaluation Report and the signing of a Project Partnership Agreement with the DEC, the Corps expects to award the first of three construction contracts for the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet stabilization project this summer with construction to begin this fall after environmentally sensitive windows related to endangered species are closed. The first contract will be for dune and berm construction in Smith Point County Park.

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Contact
Chris Gardner
917-790-8007
christopher.p.gardner@usace.army.mil

Release no. 14-005