DeLauro Fights Against Morris Cove Dredging Project

Calls for answers, alternative plans to protect New Haven Harbor

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) joined Mayor DeStefano and other local officials and residents today to oppose the Army Corps of Engineers' plan A, which would deposit dredged materials from the Bridgeport Dredging Project into the Morris Cove Borrow Pit.

"I oppose the Army Corps of Engineers' Plan A to deposit dredged materials dredged materials from Bridgeport in the Morris Cove Borrow Pit, said Congresswoman DeLauro. "I stand with the residents of Morris Cove, and Mayor DeStefano and the City of New Haven."

Congresswoman DeLauro expressed her concerns about the project, citing environmental, economic, and health dangers, and has asked for the Army Corps of Engineers to explore alternate options.

"The Army Corps of Engineers needs to consider the situation more broadly before any decision is made— the potential costs for the families and residents of New Haven need to be taken into consideration. The current plan does not factor in the real concerns of our community, and our voices must be heard," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "I urge the Corps to reconsider Plan A and to fully examine all alternatives, and I will continue to work with Mayor DeStefano and everyone involved to protect our Harbor."

Congresswoman DeLauro sent a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers yesterday pressing for answers about the project. The text of the letter is below.

October 29, 2010

To: Army Corps of Engineers

I am writing today to express my grave concerns about the Plan A portion of the Bridgeport Dredging Project currently being considered by the Army Corps of Engineers. I want to be clear that I am in no way objecting to the Bridgeport Dredging Project, but to the Plan A alternative which proposes the dredged materials be disposed of at the Morris Cove Borrow Pit.

My staff attended the informational meeting on October 25th at Nathan Hale School and while this meeting was helpful, many questions and concerns remain.

1. The residents of Morris Cove have questioned Plan A set forth by the Army Corps of Engineers as being inaccurate geographically and ecologically, and have not received a suitable response from your agency proving the points that drive the cost benefit analysis. For example, could contaminated ground water present an issue after the disposal of the materials? Were transportation costs of the materials from Bridgeport to New Haven included in the analysis?

2. The City of New Haven has future dredging issues that could make use of the Morris Cove Borrow Pit while keeping the project cost significantly lower than alternative options. What options will be available for the dredging of New Haven Harbor if the Morris Cove Borrow Pit is used for the Bridgeport project? Has the future cost of dredging projects for New Haven if the pit is already filled with the dredge materials from Bridgeport been considered in your analysis?

3. The levels of contaminants in the materials proposed to be brought into Morris Cove are significantly higher than the Cove's current levels. According to a chart presented by Michael F. Keegan, Project Manager for the Army Corps of Engineers' New England District, Bridgeport Harbor has PCBs that measure just under 600 parts per billion, while New Haven Harbor has slightly under 200 ppb. Does the Bridgeport Dredging Project and subsequent disposal of the dredged materials at the Morris Cove Borrow Pit have the potential to present harm to the families, community, and recreation areas of Morris Cove given all of the possible environmental occurrences that are possible in the future; i.e. hurricanes, flooding?

4. State legislators, the Mayor of New Haven, and the Port Authority of New Haven, have all stated similar concerns about Plan A. More specifically, can Bridgeport's dredged materials be disposed of in CAD cells suitable to contain all of the materials? Why will this option cause additional costs?

Thank you very much for your prompt attention and response to these concerns. I intend to closely monitor this situation and I look forward to working with you and all parties involved to reach an acceptable conclusion.

Sincerely,

Rosa L. DeLauro

Member of Congress