Press Release
Smith: $28M in Federal Funding to Dredge State Channels Impacted by Sandy; Shark River Will Be Among the Projects Funded by FEMA
Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) announced Thursday that the federal government has obligated $28 million to dredge State waterways, including Shark River, which were filled with silt and debris as a result of Superstorm Sandy. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had originally denied funding to many of the waterways, but this week reversed its earlier denial of a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) request to seek FEMA funding. Congressman Smith sent a letter to FEMA Region II Administrator Jerome Hatfield asking the federal agency to cover the cost of the dredging and overturn the denial.
“I am pleased that this funding will pay to dredge numerous waterways, including helping to fund dredging of Shark River’s state channel, which is in desperate need of dredging because the shallow depth makes the channel non-navigable and unsafe during all but a few hours during high tide,” Smith said. “This has had a negative impact on marine navigation, the local economy and environment. Vessels have become grounded and damaged as a result. Sandy worsened navigation significantly, and I believe this FEMA funding is appropriate to help make the channel safer. This project is critical for the public good and FEMA did the right thing in reversing course.”
FEMA agreed to provide $28 million to fund $31.1 million in dredging of NJ waterways. The balance of 10 percent will be provided by the State of New Jersey.
Last year, Smith met with local boat owners to see the effects of Sandy on these waterways firsthand and has since worked to advance the project by coordinating with state, county and local officials, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE).
Smith recently wrote a letter to the head of FEMA Regional II in New York, asking Administrator Jerome Hatfield to review the application denial that had been issued and fund the important dredging projects:
“The USACE has performed dredging on different portions of the federal channel in Shark River multiple times since Sandy. The state-maintained channels, however, have not been dredged, but are scheduled to be cleared following the receipt of federal support through the FEMA process,” Smith wrote. “I respectfully request that you and your staff carefully review the updated and superior data incorporated into the [NJDEP] appeal and use whatever discretion may be appropriate and proper to assist the State of New Jersey with these important dredging projects.” Click here to read the May 2015 letter.
NJDEP submitted its plans to FEMA in September 2013, offering supporting documentation in November 2013. NJDEP’s proposal included thousands of data points and calculations and tens of thousands of photographs. Unfortunately, weeks later FEMA denied the eligibility of all but a small amount of the work included in the request, and denied the estimated quantities of eligible Sandy-related materials to be removed. In July 2014, NJDEP submitted their appeal which included enhanced data and an updated methodology.
Approximately one-third of the cost to dredge the state-maintained channel in Shark River will be funded with federal dollars. In total, FEMA will reimburse the State of New Jersey $27,999,912.48 for the Sandy-related dredging in dozens of channels throughout the State.
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