Letter: Keating hopeful Army Corps will fund channel dredging

Posted 6/22/22

To the editor:

As you are aware, there have been a number of conversations between my office, Harbormaster Chris Leonard, Town Administrator Michael Sullivan, Senator Michael Rodrigues and …

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Letter: Keating hopeful Army Corps will fund channel dredging

Posted

To the editor:

As you are aware, there have been a number of conversations between my office, Harbormaster Chris Leonard, Town Administrator Michael Sullivan, Senator Michael Rodrigues and Representative Paul Schmid regarding the need for dredging the federal channel at the mouth of the Westport River. It is clear from these conversations that there is a great need to dredge the federal channel.

I have recently been in touch with the leadership of the New England Region of the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the critical need for this dredging project. I am pleased to report back to your board that the ACOE is fully aware of the need for this project.

This week I have sent a letter to the Assistant Secretary of Civil Works Michael Connor, who heads the Army Corps, to formally ask that the funding to dredge the federal channel be included in the Army Corps "Work Plan" for the federal fiscal year 2023. As you are aware, federal fiscal year 2023 begins this coming October. Projects selected to receive funding during that FY23 are included in a final "project work plan" that the Army Corps will submit to Congress. It is my hope that this funding will be allocated and arrive in a timely manner that will allow for the use of the dredging vessels owned by the Army Corps to complete this important project.

I look forward to continuing to work with you to engage with all the stakeholders as we advocate for the dredging of the federal channel. If you have any questions on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact Andrew Nelson from my office at Andrew.Nelson@mail.house.gov.

Congressman William R. Keating

Editor's Note: This letter was sent to Shana Shufelt, chairwoman of the Select Board, on Wednesday, June 1.

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