Politics & Government

Report Supports Substantially Larger Montauk Beach Stabilization Project

A new economic analysis of a proposed beach stabilization project for downtown Montauk has calculated the project’s total benefits (in dollars) to be more than double the amount presented by URS, a leading engineering consulting firm, on behalf of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. This finding lends support for Montauk to receive significantly more relief than what the Army Corps has already committed to the hamlet according to a press release issued by Town of East Hampton Supervisor Larry Cantwell's office.

The proposed beach stabilization would begin west of South Emerson and east to just past Surfside Place said Alex Walter, the executive assistant to Supervisor Cantwell.

First Coastal Consulting Corporation prepared the report at the request of the Town of East Hampton. The detailed analysis tallied $238,834,884 worth of total benefits to be derived from the Army Corps project, whereas the analysis prepared by URS for the Army Corps found only $103,833,900 worth of benefits.

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The Army Corps’ latest proposal calls for only half of the Montauk project to be built this fall. A more extensive beach fill and feeder beach is proposed to be built under the greater Fire Island to Montauk Point Reformulation Study two years later.

“Without the construction of a feeder beach, the emergency project as currently proposed places Montauk in a vulnerable position,” stated Supervisor Larry Cantwell.

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Since the economic analysis is key to the Army Corps’ justification for this project, Supervisor Cantwell is urging the Army Corps to build a much more substantial project in Montauk as soon as possible.


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