Congressman MacArthur Urges Army Corps of Engineers to Finish Beach Replenishment Project Before Summer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman MacArthur wrote a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urging them to complete the beach replenishment project in Seaside Heights before the start of the summer season and called for reassurance that, if this project cannot be completed before Memorial Day weekend, that work will be halted until after the second weekend in September to allow an unhindered summer season.

“Seaside Heights has done a tremendous amount of work to rebuild the community and local economy, but even five years later, it remains a challenging task,” wrote Congressman MacArthur. “I recognize the essential work that the Army Corps of Engineers is doing to replenish our beaches and build dunes that will help protect us against another event like Sandy. The local economy in Seaside Heights, like so many shore economies, is highly dependent on tourism. To hinder access to beaches during the summer season poses serious economic risk to the businesses and individuals who rely on summer tourism. Many tourists are making summer travel plans now and they need assurance that the incredible beaches of Seaside Heights will be open.”

Seaside Heights Mayor Tony Vas agreed stating, “Seaside Heights had made it clear for years that this dune project needed to be done before or after our summer season. I am disappointed that we do not have clarification on this yet from the Army Corps of Engineers and echo Congressman MacArthur’s request. Seaside Heights has been through enough and I hope we can count on this project helping, not hindering our rebound. I am thankful that our Congressman, Tom MacArthur, has our back on this and look forward to working with him — and any other interested leaders — to ensure a successful and timely completion to this much-needed project.”

 Full text of letter:

Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Dahle

Commander

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Philadelphia District

The Wanamaker Building

100 Penn Square East

Philadelphia, PA 19107-3390

January 24, 2018

Dear Lieutenant Colonel Dahle:

I write to convey urgent concern from the Borough of Seaside Heights regarding the timetable of the Army Corps of Engineers’ beach replenishment project in Northern Ocean County.

As you know, Superstorm Sandy devastated many communities in Ocean County, including Seaside Heights. And, as you also know, Seaside Heights suffered the additional catastrophe of a major boardwalk fire in September 2013.  It has been a long, difficult struggle to recover and rebuild.  Seaside Heights has done a tremendous amount of work to rebuild the community and local economy, but even five years later, it remains a challenging task. I recognize the essential work that the Army Corps of Engineers is doing to replenish our beaches and build dunes that will help protect us against another event like Sandy. The protection that this project will provide is absolutely vital. However it is a matter of highest priority that this project does not inadvertently end up harming the very towns that it is intended to protect.

The local economy in Seaside Heights, like so many shore economies, is highly dependent on tourism. To hinder access to beaches during the summer season poses serious economic risk to the businesses and individuals who rely on summer tourism. Seaside Heights already relies on state transitional aid to avoid further burdening local taxpayers as the Borough continues to recover from the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in property ratables.  Further economic strain is an unacceptable prospect. On behalf of Seaside Heights, I ask you for two things:

1) Reassurance that the Army Corps of Engineers is doing everything in its power to complete the Seaside Heights portion of its work prior to the summer tourism season, and

2) Reassurance that, if this project cannot be completed before Memorial Day weekend, that work will be halted until after the second weekend in September to allow an unhindered summer season.

Clarity on both matters is necessary as a matter of urgency, as many tourists are making summer travel plans now and they need assurance that the incredible beaches of Seaside Heights will be open.

Thank for your attention to this matter.

Best regards,

Tom MacArthur

Member of Congress