Politics & Government

Feds Green Light Montauk Beach Re-nourishment Project

Feds will pick up 100 percent of the cost; Chamber president says, "This is truly a great day for Montauk."

Federal funding has been secured to start the beach rebuilding process on the South Fork, including in Montauk, Rep. Tim Bishop and town officials announced on Tuesday.

The federal Office of Management and Budget approved $700 million of the $3.5 billion Congress appropriated for construction projects in the areas impacted by Sandy, as part of the implementation of the US Army Corps of Engineers' Fire Island to Montauk Point Reformulation Study, a 50-year assessment of shoreline conditions along 80 miles of coastline.

Federal officials are aiming to start construction in 2014.

The application for the funding, submitted by the town, was for 2.3 miles of beach re-nourishment, from East Deck Motel at Ditch Plains to Oceanside Resort.

The specifics have not yet determined, but detailed planning and design of the Montauk beach re-nourishment project can begin with 100 percent federal expense, Bishop's office said in a statement.

"This is great news for the hamlet of Montauk and the Town of East Hampton,” said Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson, who said this will be the first time in history that the beaches in Montauk have been engineered. 

He also said that the federal government will pick up 80 percent of any damage caused by a FEMA eligible storm in the future. "That's what's really nice," he said.

“Sandy painfully highlighted the vulnerability of downtown Montauk," Wilkinson said. "The global attraction of these beaches are an economic asset to all of New York and I, the people of Montauk and the residents of East Hampton want to personally thank Congressman Bishop for his extraordinary efforts in securing the expertise and funding to complete this renourishment.”

Erosion is so severe at Ditch Plains that the beach can't wait until 2014, Wilkinson said. "We're going to have to do something before that, obviously," he said. "We want to try and patch Ditch Plains up for this summer. I think what we'll wind up doing is probably creating some sort of comfort zone or beach zone closer to Otis Road, which is where Ditch Witch is."

Paul Monte, the Montauk Chamber of Commerce president and the CEO and general manager at Gurney's Inn in Montauk, said he never thought the funding would come through so quickly. 

"Besides our local residents, our beaches are our most precious resource. They dramatically affect our economy as well as our way of life. I'd like to express my heartfelt appreciation and congratulations to Congressman Tim Bishop and Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson along with Senator Ken LaValle, Assemblyman Fred Thiele and County Legislator Jay Schneiderman for all their hard work to make this happen," Monte said. 

"This approval not only means that we will get 100 percent federal funding for the initial project but also 87 percent of the cost of any future damage by a named storm will be paid by the government," he said. "This is truly a great day for Montauk and the East End. It's a great example of government and the public working together for the greater good."

East Hampton Town Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc said, in a statement, that the project is going to help protect and maintain not only the beaches, but the economy. “Our beautiful beaches are the core economic driver of East Hampton’s economy. Sandy made us painfully aware of our vulnerability and of need to protect the hamlet of Montauk and other beachfront areas.

Bishop said that rebuilding beaches where Sandy related-damage could adversely affect tourism is a top priority.

“Superstorm Sandy was a once-in-a-generation storm that dealt a heavy blow to Downtown Montauk and other areas along the South Shore, but it has provided a unique opportunity to secure a stronger and more resilient coastline for the long term at 100 percent federal expense,” Bishop said.

Bishop also announced on Tuesday that the Army Corps' second interim report includes $18 million to help protect the historic Montauk Lighthouse from erosion, as well. The funding will go toward design work and construction of 840 feet of riprap stone revetment for long-term erosion control at Montauk Point. No schedule was included for this project.


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