The Jersey Journal
Approval by Senate to spend $22M on enviro work in park
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
By N. CLARK JUDD
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
The U.S. Senate recently approved $22.2 million in federal funding for
environmental restoration at Liberty State Park, and could start appropriating
those funds for the 2009 fiscal year, the offices of Sens. Robert Menendez and
Frank Lautenberg said yesterday.
"Here in this crowded metropolis within sight of New York City, there's
going to be a real natural area," said Friends of Liberty State Park
President Sam Pesin, who has been pushing (with NY/NJ Baykeeper's Greg Remaud
for restoration (with nature trails) since 2000.
The bill is now on its way to President Bush's desk for final approval, although
a statement from Lautenberg's office said the president may veto the bill. (On
11/06/07, Congress over-rode the President's veto of the Water Resources
Development Act and so the federal funds for LSP's Interior is now authorized,
and awaits a future Congressional vote on the actual appropriation).
(In the plan, the Army Corps of Engineers would create a 40-acre stretch of
tidal saltwater wetlands in more than 200 acres that includes a 100 acre
forest).
Another channel would funnel stormwater runoff from the roof of the Liberty
Science Center (and the Center's and Light Rail Station's parking lots) to
create freshwater wetlands (on the western side of the park's Interior).
A network of trails through the new, restored area would connect Liberty Science
Center with the park's nature center, added Greg Remaud of NY/NJ Baykeeper.
Remaud said the project would take at least five years from groundbreaking,
which he anticipates next year. (end of news story).
Friends of LSP thanks Senator Robert Menendez, NY/NJ Baykeeper Conservation
Director Greg Remaud, and LSP’s administrator and Chairman of the LSP Public
Advisory Committee, Frank Gallagher for their leadership in the Interior
Restoration planning since 2000. We also thank the US Army Corps of Engineers,
and our fellow members on the LSP Public Advisory Committee including Dr. Emlyn
Koster, president of Liberty Science Center, and also NJ Audubon Society. We
also thank Senator Frank Lautenberg for his work in the last year with Senator
Menendez on obtaining passage of the Water Resources Development Act which
included the $22 million for LSP.
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