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WASHINGTON - Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) today urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize its assessment of the environmental impact of dredging the Long Island Sound so that the dredging sites can be designated and the process can get underway. Lieberman further expressed his concern that failure to quickly finalize the assessment would have adverse economic, employment, and environmental impacts for the State of Connecticut and its residents, who rely on commerce facilitated by the operability of the state’s ports along the Sound.
In a statement submitted during the fourth and final Environmental Impact Statement hearing on the dredging process, which took place today in Stonybrook, NY, Lieberman said he supported the EPA’s conclusion that the open-water disposal of dredged material would have minimal potential impacts on the Sound’s environment, and those impacts could be mitigated by appropriate site management.
“Connecticut is currently facing a critical need to undertake long overdue maintenance dredging in maritime transportation areas, including the ports of Norwalk, Southport, and Bridgeport,” Lieberman said. “Some areas have not been dredged for more than 40 years. Maintenance dredging is urgently needed to maintain safe navigation, the long-term viability of the ports, and public access to the Sound.”
The full text of Lieberman’s statement is below.
“Throughout the duration of my career, first as a state legislator, then as the Attorney General for the State of Connecticut, and now in my current position as a United States Senator representing Connecticut, I have fought tirelessly to protect our environment and its precious natural resources. Of special concern to me have been the ongoing efforts to restore and protect the fragile environment of Long Island Sound. In 1991, I introduced legislation that led to the creation of the Office of Long Island Sound within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This office was established to consolidate efforts within the EPA to complete and implement the Long Island Sound Study. In addition, Senator Dodd and I are hopeful that we will secure $2.3 million dollars in funding for continuing cleanup and preservation activities in Long Island Sound that will combat declining fish populations, wetlands degradation, and toxic pollution, once the federal budget process for 2004 is completed.
“Given my longstanding commitment to the protection of Long Island Sound, I am naturally cautious about any plan that could potentially have a negative impact on the health of the Sound. However, after careful consideration of the EPA’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Designation of Dredged Material Disposal Sites in Central and Western Long Island Sound (DEIS), I strongly support the EPA’s conclusion that any potential impacts to the Sound’s marine environment associated with dredged material disposal at the historically utilized Central Long Island Sound (CLIS) and Western Long Island Sound (WLIS) disposal sites would be minimal and could be mitigated with appropriate site management. On December 8, I joined the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation in submitting comments strongly supporting the DEIS. I would like to submit a copy of these comments for the record.
“Several limitations on the disposal of materials at the alternative preferred sites are noteworthy. First, the sites will be used only for disposal of suitable dredged material sediments under the application of established sediment criteria. Suitable sediments do not include industrial waste, sewage, or other types of waste; EPA also does not expect any significant contaminant or suspended solid releases to occur from suitable dredged materials. Second, the appropriateness of open-water disposal at the sites for any specific dredging project will be determined in the future on a case-by-case basis under the authorization process governing open water-disposal of dredged material. These limitations will serve to protect the fragile environment of the Sound.
“As part of the EIS process, EPA evaluated a variety of alternative means for managing dredged material other than through open-water disposal. After a thorough evaluation, EPA concluded that at this time, postponing dredging activities is not a feasible alternative and, currently, there are no viable alternatives to the open-water disposal of dredge materials from Long Island Sound. Given these facts, I strongly urge the EPA to finalize the EIS as soon as possible, so that the CLIS and WLIS sites can be designated for open-water disposal of suitable dredge materials. Connecticut is currently facing a critical need to undertake long overdue maintenance dredging in maritime transportation areas, including the ports of Norwalk, Southport, and Bridgeport. Some areas have not been dredged for more than 40 years. Maintenance dredging is urgently needed to maintain safe navigation, the long-term viability of the ports, and public access to the Sound. The failure to conduct needed dredging has already restricted shipping traffic to a significant extent in some areas, with partial harbor closure projected to occur next year.
“Failure to finalize the EIS in a timely manner and designate the CLIS and WLIS sites for open-water disposal of dredge material will result in adverse economic, employment, and environmental impacts for the State of Connecticut and its residents. I recognize that finalization of the EIS and designation of these open-water disposal sites are merely first steps in the development of a comprehensive plan for the management of dredge materials that must be cooperatively developed by the States of Connecticut and New York. However, these are necessary steps that must be taken in order to ensure the continued viability of the Sound as an immense economic resource, while protecting the Sound as an immeasurable environmental treasure.”
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