The Army Corps of Engineers yesterday published in the Federal Register the necessary documents announcing the beach replenishment project and beginning the next phase in the regulatory process that will lead ultimately to new dunes on our beach.   Here is the Army Corp Press Release.

This document and the underlying project have been the subject of intense negotiations in the last few weeks in Washington among the various Federal agencies involved.  As we have indicated in the past the project to rebuild our sand dunes is a part of FIMP which is a very comprehensive government project to address flood protection along a large stretch of the south shore of Long Island.  A critical and unresolved question has been the nature of the environmental study necessary to support the project. The DOI agencies have pressed for an EIS. They see the longer study as necessary to adequately address environmental and biological concerns and regulatory requirements. The Army Corps has argued for the EA and its shorter timeline because of the emergency created by Sandy. That question has now been resolved.  A compromise has been reached.  Our project will stand alone because of the emergency need for sand on Fire Island.  It will be known as the Fire Island to Moriches Inlet (FIMI).  And referred to as a stabilization project and be supported by an Environment Analysis (EA) which can be accomplished in 2 to 3 months.  FIMP will continue, but on a separate regulatory track and be supported by an EIS.  We are told that study can take as much as 5 years.

As a stand alone project, FIMI, will be a one time project.  It will not carry the 30 year repair guarantee.  FIMP will continue to include provisions for repairs. Any EIS requires several alternatives, or scenarios, and the DOI has promised that one that will be listed and evaluated in the EIS will be one that allocates funds for maintenance of the dune for a number of years as a protection of the earlier investment in the dune itself. The decoupling of the repair guarantee is unfortunate as we are keenly interested in the dune replacement project and the 30 year guarantee which had been proposed. 

Yes we are disappointed but I continue to be optimistic.  The last beach replenishment project in 2009 was substantially damaged by a nor 'Easter that occurred in April of that year.  The affected communities have worked hard in the last 4 years to get a new project and we have been hung up with the Federal agencies over the EA/EIS issue.  The issue has now been resolved and the project can move ahead and we will get new dunes.  Sometimes, you just have to take what you can get.

There will be a number of options ahead for repairs to the new dune system. As I have mentioned FIMP will contain provisions for repair.  The Army Corps maintains a separate account for repairs to its projects and this may be a source of funding.  If other government money is not available, FEMA money may become available and finally the communities themselves will have greater leeway to make their own repairs.

The FIMI notice will be out for comment until April 2, 2014.  Public comment will be essential.  Here are the Fire Island Association Guidelines for comments.  We will need to make a strong show of public support for the project from as many people as possible.

There will be a number of regulatory steps that will follow the April 2 deadline.  These steps will take several months.  I still anticipate the execution of the necessary agreements with the state and county in late summer.  The goal is to begin putting sand on the beach in the wilderness areas after Labor Day.  The final survey/easement process will also begin at this time. 

Thank you,