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June 26, 2008                                                      202.225.6572

 

House Committee Approves $8.4 Million for 2^nd District Beach Replenishment & Construction Projects

Beach Replenishment in Ocean City, Cape May and Cape May Point

Funded Under Annual Appropriations Bill

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) announced today that the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations approved the Fiscal Year 2009 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill containing $8.4 million for local beach replenishment and construction projects in New Jersey’s 2^nd District.  The bill now awaits action by the full House of Representatives.

 

“This is certainly good news for Southern New Jersey’s coastal communities, which rely on federal support to maintain and protect the quality of our beaches,” said Congressman LoBiondo.  “This federal funding will help protect life and property, and it will continue to bolster the local economies of our coastal communities which rely on our beaches and tourism they attract.”

 

        Within the appropriations bill, $3.5 million is provided for the replenishment of Ocean City's beaches.  Ocean City Mayor Sal Perillo applauded the news of the funding:

        “Three million people visit Ocean City beaches each year.  Our beaches are a national asset and this funding is critical to our ongoing success.  It will provide for a robust beach replenishment project in the near future” said Mayor Perillo.  “I thank Representative LoBiondo for his hard work and dedication to the residents of Ocean City.”

 

In addition, the bill provides $2.5 million for replenishment of the beaches from Cape May through Cape May Point.  Construction is set to begin on the project late this year.  Cape May City Mayor Jerome Inderweis said of the funding:

"Cape May City is much better off for participating in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach replenishment program.  It has saved life and property and helped keep FEMA flood insurance premiums low for our residents" said Mayor Inderweis.  "I want to thank Representative LoBiondo for this funding and for his years of tireless work on behalf of people of Cape May."

 

Other local projects approved in the Energy and Water Development bill include:

 

·       $400,000 for reconstruction of the bulkhead along the north end of Atlantic City;

 

·       $1,596,000 for dredging of the New Jersey Intercoastal Waterway;

 

·       $67,000 for planned dredging of the Salem River;

 

·       $231,000 for dredging in the Cold Spring Inlet in Cape May;

 

·       $150,000 for on-going environmental restoration efforts at the Lower Cape May Meadows Project in West Cape May and Cape May Point.