WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02), along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), John Larson (CT-01), Jim Himes (CT-04), and Elizabeth Esty (CT-05) announced they sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with members from the Rhode Island congressional delegation to reaffirm their strong support for the proposed rule to designate a new Eastern Long Island Sound Dredged Material Disposal Site (ELDS).

“Without access to an ELDS, it is expected that transporting dredged materials to other sites, like the Rhode Island Disposal Site, will increase carbon emissions from ships and risk of dredged material spills as transport distance is extended,” wrote the members. “Moreover, the use of the Rhode Island Sound Disposal Site's limited capacity for Long Island Sound dredging will have cascading effects on projects throughout Southern New England. Our states have been responsibly dredging in eastern Long Island Sound for over 30 years, which was recently confirmed with an A- rating on the 2016 Long Island Sound Report Card.

“In addition to the critical goal of protecting Long Island Sound and its resources, access to ELDS is absolutely vital to the economy of our states and districts- and that of the entire Long Island Sound region. According to the aforementioned Dredged Material Management Plan, economic activities that utilize Long Island Sound waterways contribute more than $9 billion annually in economic output. Additionally, these economic activities support more than 55,000 jobs in the Long Island Sound region. As important, our region is host to a range of federal and military facilities dependent on the viability of accessible and cost-effective placement options. These include facilities like Naval Submarine Base New London and premier submarine builder Electric Boat, with facilities in both Connecticut and Rhode Island.

“Approval of the ELDS is critical to maintaining the economic vitality of the Long Island Sound region - and, in particular, to the maritime, economic, military and recreational interests that rely on it. Long Island Sound is an economic and ecological treasure that we all seek to preserve, and we believe that the ELDS maintains that goal. We must continue to embrace our maritime heritage and support this balanced, sustainable proposal to responsibly manage dredging activities in the sound.” 

To read a previous letter sent by members from the Connecticut and Rhode Island delegations to the EPA in July, click here 

To read a letter of support for the ELDS proposed rule from Groton SUBASE commander Captain A. Whitescarver, click here

To read a letter of support for the ELDS proposed rule from Electric Boat President Jeffrey Geiger, click here  

Following the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ final Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) issued in January, the EPA determined that a new site was necessary for long-term open-water dredged material disposal in the Long Island Sound region. The EPA is proposing the new ELDS because it provides the best option for minimal environmental impact. The two current dredging disposal sites in the area, Cornfield Shoals and New London, which are both short-term sites managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be closed. 

The periodic dredging of harbors and channels is essential to ensuring safe navigation. All dredged material placed in the Sound must pass stringent EPA testing requirements to determine whether the material is toxic. Any material that does not pass these tests will not be eligible for open-water disposal in Long Island Sound. EPA will require similar restrictions for the ELDS as those that were recently finalized for central and western Long Island Sound disposal sites. The new restrictions notably include a mandate that alternative means for disposal of dredged material, such as beach nourishment, be used whenever practicable before turning to open-water disposal. 

The full text of the congressional delegation letter is available online and below:

October 18, 2016
The Honorable Gina McCarthy
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460 

Re:  Support for Final Designation of One or More Open-Water Disposal Sites in Eastern Long Island Sound

Dear Administrator McCarthy: 

We write to reaffirm our strong support for the final designation of an Eastern Long Island Sound Disposal Site (ELDS). Since the first request for a regional Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) in 2005, our region has worked towards building a comprehensive management framework with the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA to meet long-term dredging and placement needs.

As you know, the EPA’s preferred ELDS location, located south of the Thames River Estuary, would consolidate the current New London and Cornfield Shoals Disposal Sites into an area that is two square nautical miles and will be able to meet the dredging needs of eastern Long Island Sound for the next 30 years. As noted in the rule, designation of the ELDS would provide “an environmentally sound, open-water disposal option for possible use in managing dredged material from harbors and navigation channels in eastern Long Island Sound and its vicinity in the states of Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island.” We agree, and believe that approval of this designation is vital to the future of the Long Island Sound region.

Without access to an ELDS it is expected that transporting dredged materials to other sites, like the Rhode Island Disposal Site, will increase carbon emissions from ships and risk of dredged material spills as transport distance is extended. Moreover, the use of the Rhode Island Sound Disposal Site’s limited capacity for LIS dredging will have cascading effects on projects throughout Southern New England. Our states have been responsibly dredging in eastern Long Island Sound for over 30 years, which was recently confirmed with an A- rating on the 2016 Long Island Sound Report Card. And, while the ELDS provides a framework for continuing open-water disposal of dredged material, this proposed rule reaffirms the Long Island Sound region’s focus on finding sustainable on-land solutions for suitable dredged materials. 

In addition to the critical goal of protecting Long Island Sound and its resources, access to ELDS is absolutely vital to the economy of our states and districts – and that of the entire Long Island Sound region.  According to the aforementioned DMMP, economic activities that utilize Long Island Sound waterways contribute more than $9 billion annually in economic output. Additionally, these economic activities support more than 55,000 jobs in the Long Island Sound region. As important, our region is host to a range of federal and military facilities dependent on the viability of accessible and cost-effective placement options. These include facilities like Naval Submarine Base New London and premier submarine builder Electric Boat, with facilities in both Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Approval of the ELDS is critical to maintaining the economic vitality of the Long Island Sound region – and, in particular, to the maritime, economic, military and recreational interests that rely on it.  Long Island Sound is an economic and ecological treasure that we all seek to preserve, and we believe that the ELDS maintains that goal. We must continue to embrace our maritime heritage and support this balanced, sustainable proposal to responsibly manage dredging activities in the sound.

We urge the swift approval and adoption of the ELDS rule without delay. Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue for our region. 

Sincerely,

Rep. Joe Courtney
Sen. Jack Reed
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Sen. Richard Blumenthal
Sen. Chris Murphy
Rep. Rosa DeLauro
Rep. John Larson
Rep. James Langevin
Rep. Jim Himes
Rep. David Cicilline
Rep. Elizabeth Esty

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