Sea Isle City Beach Rebuilding Funds Secured

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (R-2nd), a member of the House Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee, on Aug. 2 announced that several provisions he secured to benefit South Jersey within the 2007 “Water Resources Development Act” have been approved by Congress.
Included within the bill is a $136 million authorization for the construction of the Sea Isle City beach replenishment project and explicit approval for the Army Corps of Engineers to remove debris from the Delaware River. The final legislation will now head to the President for his signature.
“I am pleased Congress has approved these projects which are critical to South Jersey. This legislation is especially important for Sea Isle City and its residents, whose property and businesses are threatened daily by beach erosion,” said LoBiondo. “I will continue to fight for South Jersey’s fair share, and to ensure our waterways and coastal communities are protected.”
“We are very thankful to Congressman LoBiondo for his efforts,” said Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio. “Throughout my 14 years in office, I have had a great working relationship with the Congressman. He’s always delivered for his district and for Sea Isle City. This is great news for the citizens of Sea Isle City.”
Emerging from the House-Senate Conference Committee, the legislation funds the following projects championed by LoBiondo:
* A $136 million authorization for construction of the Sea Isle City and portions of Strathmere beach replenishment project and periodic renourishment over 50 years (Note: A Congressional authorization is required prior to the appropriation of federal funds for the project – federal funds were not and have not been appropriated for this project at this time);
* Explicit authorization for the Army Corps to remove debris from the Delaware River that would be hazards to navigation. This provision came about as a result of the Athos I oil spill which was caused by a discarded anchor that ripped a hole in the haul of the ship;
* Authorization to incorporate the Cape May Point National Shoreline Erosion Control Demonstration Project at the boroughs six beach cells into the Lower Cape May Meadows Project. This would enable the Army Corps to replenish the beach cells when the Meadows Project receives periodic renourishment;
* Explicit authorization for the Army Corps to conduct the oyster revitalization project in the Delaware Bay. This is continuation of a project already underway in conjunction with Rutgers University;
* A provision originally included in LoBiondo’s “Community Beaches Protection Act” (HR 1504) to reauthorize and expand the National Shoreline Erosion Control Development and Demonstration Program. The provision will extend the program’s life, allow cost sharing with local communities, permit the removal of projects that do not perform and increase the federal funding for the Program to $30 million annually.
Cape May Point is the site of the nation’s first project under the Shoreline Erosion Program where they are testing artificial reefs for erosion control;
* A provision originally included in LoBiondo’s “Community Beaches Protection Act” (HR 1504) which strengthens current federal policy for beach restoration and clarifies that periodic renourishment is a federal priority; and,
* A provision originally included in LoBiondo’s “Community Beaches Protection Act” (HR 1504) to prohibit the Army Corps from forcing states and municipalities from paying more than the Congressional-authorized share.
In 2001, LoBiondo led the effort to defeat an amendment to an annual appropriations bill that would have flipped the current cost-share formula, forcing state and local communities to pay 65 percent of the project costs. The current formula requires states/localities to pay 35 percent of the costs while the federal government covers the remaining 65 percent.