Senator works to secure funds for N.Y. outfall pipe to restore wetlands

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on Monday that he plans to take advantage of several federal funding options to fund the Nassau County’s Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant’s Ocean Outfall Pipe project, which will be instrumental in restoring the Back Bay’s wetlands.

The plant, which serves approximately 500,000 residents, was severely damaged by 9 feet of water that rushed into the facility during Hurricane Sandy, requiring significant repairs and upgrades. The latest step, the Bay Park Outfall Pipe, will help restore the area’s wetlands and, in the process, make it more resilient against the effects of storms.

“While we have secured over $1 billion in federal funding for the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant, over $500 million is still needed to pay for an outfall pipe,” Schumer said. “I’ll continue to work with Nassau County officials to identify all federal, state and local funding sources available to fund the remainder of this pipe.”

Schumer already has secured funds to cover the design, engineering and permitting, amounting to $35 million, and is seeking the rest from a combination of Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency grants and loans.