DESCRIPTION: The study area is along the south shore of Staten Island, New York. [Richmond County/Borough of Staten Island, New York City] and covers 13 miles of coastline from Fort Wadsworth to Tottenville and extends along the Lower New York Bay and Raritan Bay.
The area has a long history of storm damages and has experienced major damages from various recent storm events, including the Nor'easter of December 1992, the March storm of 1993, and Super Storm Sandy of October 2012. These storms caused flood damages, loss of structures, large scale emergency evacuations and fatalities within several communities. The area is now increasingly vulnerable to severe damages even from moderate storms.
AUTHORIZATION: The Study is authorized by a resolution of the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Public Works and Transportation, adopted May 13, 1993. The purpose of this Study is to identify possible risk management solutions for hurricane and storm damages in the area, and to determine whether Federal participation is warranted in constructing shore protection measures.
In response to the 2012 Sandy event, P.L.113-2, The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, will provide authorization and Federal funding for project construction.
STATUS: Due to recent funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and P.L. 113-2, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, the Feasibility Study was recently completed and approved.
FORT WADSWORTH TO OAKWOOD BEACH: The Draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement were publicly released in June 2015. The Final Feasibility Report, Final Environmental Impact Statement, and Final Record of Decision were formally approved by a Director's Report October 2016, approved by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works December 2016, and provided for Congressional notification in December 2016. The Design Phase for preparation of plans and specifications for project construction was initiated in early 2017 and is currently underway. Major steps during the Design Phase include data gathering for development of construction contract designs; surveys, mapping, utilities, geotechnical subsurface borings, hazardous material assessments, and cultural resource investigations.
A Project Partnership Agreement, necessary for project construction, was executed between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the State of New York and the City of New York in February 2019. Project Construction is currently estimated to begin in 2020.
GREAT KILLS TO TOTTENVILLE: Although it was determined that there was no Federal interest for this reach, both the State and City of New York are planning various projects for this area.
CONTACT:
Mr. Frank Verga, Project Manager
Phone: (917) 790-8212
E-mail: frank.verga@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Coastal Restoration Branch
Programs and Project Management Division
New York District
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278-0090
CONGRESSIONAL INFORMATION
U.S. Sen. New York
NY-11