U.S. Army Corps Will Be Responsible For Repairing Damage To Montauk Beach From Monday's Storm

The Town of East Hampton will not be responsible for repairs on the Downtown Montauk Emergency Stabilization Project for damage it suffered this week from waves brought by the remnants of Hurricane Hermine.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation informed the Town on Wednesday that it would not be responsible for reconstruction of the textile sandbags that were uncovered and torn in Monday's storm, according to a release from the Town.

As a local sponsor of the project, and as part of an inter-municipal agreement in 2014, the Town agreed to split the cost of routine maintenance with Suffolk County, and perform the work using Town Highway workers. However, since the project has not been officially turned over to the Town and the State of New York, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which constructed the project, will have to perform the repairs caused by the recent storm.

"The damage incurred by this modest storm should demonstrate to the Army Corps the inadequacy of the project and its new proposal under the Fire Island to Montauk Point plan," Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell said in the release, referring what many have said are shortcomings in the plan for a larger and more permanent shoreline stabilization project for the entire region. "Unfortunately, the current FIMP plan for downtown Montauk calls for the placement of 120,000 cubic yards of sand to be placed once every four years. What is needed to protect the beach and downtown Montauk is a major beach-fill project that would pump at least 1 million cubic yards of sand from an offshore source to provide the protection needed in the hamlet of Montauk."

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has set up public meetings to discuss the Fire Island to Montauk Point Project, known as FIMP. One of the meetings will be held at the Montauk Playhouse on Wednesday, September 28, at 6 p.m.

The $1.16 billion project contains funding for dredging and shoreline projects along 83 miles of beaches on the south shore of Long Island, including the Downtown Montauk Stabilization Project and the Breach Contingency Plan, which addresses erosion and shoreline issues in East Hampton and Southampton towns.

Residents are encouraged to attend the meetings and voice their concerns. Comments can also be submitted in writing, and should be addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, Planning Division-Environmental Branch (ATTN: Mr. Robert Smith) 26 Federal Plaza, New York, New York 10278-0090. Comments can also be emailed to: Robert.J.Smith@usace.army.mil and Mark.f.Lulka@usace.army.mil.