Federal Government Releases Final Document Proposing Two Sites in Long Island Sound for Disposal of Dredged Material

Release date: 04/12/04

Contact Information: Contact: David Deegan, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1017

For Immediate Release: April 12, 2004; Release # 04-04-06

(Boston, MA - April 12, 2004) A Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) recommending the designation of two dredged material disposal sites in the western and central regions of the Long Island Sound is being released by EPA. The EIS was prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District. Interested members of the public may review and comment on these materials for 30 days.

Following a multi-year process that has included much public participation, the Final EIS recommends designating two open-water dredged material disposal sites, one in Western Long Island Sound and one in Central Long Island Sound. The EIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with the designation of these sites as long-term disposal sites for dredged material. Both sites are existing dredged material disposal sites that have been in use for several years.

The Final EIS being released today includes a Response to Comments document and Final Site Management and Monitoring Plans (SMMPs), which were all prepared in consideration of comments received on the Draft EIS published in Sept. 2003. The comments received on the Draft EIS included suggestions concerning alternatives to open-water disposal of dredged material in the Sound, potential impacts on fisheries and other marine resources, composition of dredged material and dredged material/disposal site management and monitoring.

The Draft EIS and SMMPs were available for public review and comment for 95 days. EPA and the Corps held a total of six public hearings, on four days, in New York and Connecticut to ensure opportunity for public participation. EPA is soliciting public comment on the Final EIS for 30 days, beginning Friday, April 16. The comment period will end on Monday, May 17 at 5:00 p.m.

EPA and the Corps will hold two additional public information meetings, at which the public may provide comment on the Final EIS. The meetings will be on:

• May 4, 2004, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (registration begins at 3:00 p.m.) at the Islandia Marriott Long Island Hotel, 3635 Express Drive North, Islandia, N.Y. Directions available at: http://marriott.com/property/propertyPage/ISPIS .
• May 5, 2004, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (registration begins at 3:00 p.m.) at the Westin Stamford Hotel, One First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT. Directions available at: http://www.starwood.com/westin/index.html .

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