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Public Review and Comment Period on Proposed Sites in Long Island Sound for Disposal of Dredged Material Extended for Additional 28 Days

Release Date: 11/18/2003
Contact Information: David Deegan, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1017 Tim Dugan, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 978-318-8264

To ensure ample opportunity for public comment on a proposal to designate two sites in the western and central regions of the Long Island Sound for dredged material disposal, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-New England District are extending the public comment period on this proposal for an additional four weeks. EPA and the Corps originally released for public review and comment a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the "Designation of Dredged Material Disposal Sites in Central and Western Long Island Sound, Connecticut and New York," on Sept. 12. The original comment period was extended first until Nov. 17. Today's public comment period extension means that concerned individuals and organizations may review the proposal and formally submit comments until 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 15.

The DEIS identifies the Western Long Island Sound and Central Long Island Sound sites as the preferred long-term disposal sites for Long Island Sound. The two sites are located in Connecticut waters approximately 2.5 nautical miles south of Stamford and 5.6 nautical miles south of East Haven, respectively. The sites were selected from among four sites that were evaluated. The two sites not selected in the proposal are located in Connecticut waters south of Milford and Bridgeport, Conn.

The draft EIS was prepared by the New England office of EPA, in cooperation with the New England District of the Corps, in response to the need for a long-term disposal site for dredged material from rivers and harbors in the central and western regions of Long Island Sound. The report was prepared in accordance with federal laws requiring an evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of designating open-water dredged material disposal sites in Long Island Sound and of alternatives for disposing dredged material.

The Western Long Island Sound and Central Long Island Sound sites are both active dredged material disposal sites. The western site is a rectangular area 1.2 by 1.3 nautical miles in size. The central site is also a rectangular area about two-by-one nautical miles. The alternative sites off Bridgeport and Milford are both inactive historic dredged material disposal sites.

Studies found that the potential for erosion was highest at Bridgeport and Milford and the potential for water quality impacts was greatest for the Milford site.

Work on the EIS began in 1999 when the federal government published its intent to designate one or more dredged disposal sites in Long Island Sound. Periodic dredging and disposal of dredged material is necessary to maintain safe navigation and marine commerce. There presently are no disposal sites designated for long-term use.

In 2002 the scope of the project was modified from all of Long Island Sound to just the central and western portion of Long Island Sound. Review of the eastern region was deferred until completion of the first phase of the project, which is scheduled for mid-2004.

Electronic copies of these documents and various background documents are available on the EPA home page at: https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/ , or on the homepage of EPA New England (Region 1) at: https://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/lisdreg. Written comments may be submitted to EPA at the following address: U.S. EPA New England Region, One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (CWQ), Boston, MA 02114-2023, Attn: Long Island Sound Proposal.

Additionally, copies of the study and site monitoring plans and management plans are available at the following locations:

EPA New England Library 11th Floor One Congress Street Suite 1100 Boston, MA 02114-2023	Milford City Library 57 New Haven Ave. Milford, CT 06460-3345
Boston Public Library 700 Boylston Street Copley Square Boston, MA 02116	New Haven Free Public Library 133 Elm Street New Haven, CT 06510-2057
New York State Library Document Section Cultural Center, 6th Floor Madison Ave. Albany, NY 12230	New London Public Library 63 Huntington Street New London, CT 06320-6194
Information Service Division CT State Library, 6th Fl. 231 Capital Ave. Hartford, CT 06106	Norwalk Public Library 1 Belden Ave. Norwalk, CT 06850-3397
Mamaroneck Public Library Inc. 136 Prospect Ave. Mamaroneck, NY 10543	Acton Public Library 60 Old Boston Post Road Old Saybrook, CT 06475-2200
Port Jefferson Free Library 100 Thompson Street Port Jefferson, NY 11777	Ferguson Library 752 High Ridge Road Stamford, CT 06905-2308
E. Bridgeport Public Library 925 Broad Street Bridgeport, CT 06604-4871	Port Washington Public Library 1 Library Drive Port Washington, NY 11050