USA: DEC Issues General Permit for Bulkhead Repair

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) finalized the General Permit -Tidal Wetland Bulkhead With Dredging GP-1-13-001 for bulkhead replacement and repair on portions of Long Island’s south shore, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced yesterday.

“Following the lead of Governor Cuomo’s push to help New Yorker’s build back stronger and better after Superstorm Sandy, DEC issued a General Permit for bulkhead repair to expedite storm recovery efforts,” DEC Commissioner Martens said. “This new General Permit will continue streamlined permitting for Long Island residents while maintaining protections for the environment.”

The General Permit provides expedited permit procedures for bulkhead projects on the south shore of Nassau and Suffolk counties, west of the Robert Moses Causeway. This area has a high density of individually-owned bulkheads, many of which have existed for 50 years or more.

The General Permit allows:

– The removal and replacement of functional and lawfully existing bulkheads (including returns and parallel capping boardwalks) in the same location;

– The replacement of a bulkhead 18 inches higher in elevation than the existing bulkhead;

– Limited maintenance dredging associated with the bulkhead replacement.

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Press Release, March 13, 2014