NYS Has Submitted its High-Priority FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Applications – Schumer Urges FEMA to Quickly Approve Funding for All Three Projects in Capital Region Due to Urgent Infrastructure Needs
Schumer Specifically Points to the State of the Troy Seawall, which is in Desperate Need of Repairs – If FEMA Approves Grant Quickly, Construction & Repairs Can Begin as Soon as Next Year
Schumer to FEMA: No Time to Waste in Approving the Funds for Much- Needed Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 14, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced his effort to secure $10.1 million in federal funding for three critical infrastructure projects in the Capital Region that are in desperate need of repair: the Troy Seawall, the Amsterdam Dove Creek Wall, and the Cobleskill Water Supply project. Specifically, Schumer urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to swiftly approve funding for these three New York State high-priority Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applications: the City of Troy needs $6.7 million from FEMA to begin the construction of its seawall stabilization project, which can begin in earnest next year if FEMA quickly approves the funds. The City of Amsterdam is seeking $1.1 million in federal funding for repair of the Dove Creek Wall, and the Town of Cobleskill is seeking $2.3 million for repairs to its water supply system.
“These three projects would bring scores of benefits to residents nearby, from preventing future flood damage, to encouraging waterfront development,” said Schumer. “FEMA should quickly approve these grants because – when critical infrastructure like the Troy Seawall is in need of extensive repairs and protective measures – there is simply no time to waste. If the federal government can step in and help, that spares the budgets of local governments and taxpayers, allowing them to use local resources to support other initiatives. The sooner these cities and towns can begin planning for these projects, the sooner the Capital Region will reap the benefits, like construction jobs, a healthier water supply, and faster waterfront development.”
Schumer explained that New York has determined these three Capital Region projects as top priority for the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), and now FEMA must approve the projects and their funding levels. The HMGP program provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. The purpose of the HMGP is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster. The HMGP is authorized under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
Schumer said the Troy Seawall stabilization project, in particular, should be funded as quickly as possible. The wall was initially constructed in 1922 and underwent repairs in 1978, over 30 years ago. Climate change, increased ice flows, erosion and other naturally occurring events are threatening to severely compromise the integrity of the seawall, which protects sewer systems and stabilizes nearby buildings. If the wall were to suffer serious further damage before repairs, the result could be catastrophic in financial and environmental terms (i.e. if the sewer system were to fail). The City of Troy is concurrently planning $27 million in construction along the waterfront to develop the area and provide more housing opportunities. The FEMA grant would pay for wall repairs that would start at State Street and go north along Riverfront Park past the Green Island Bridge to Hutton Street, near the Hedley building. Besides basic maintenance and repairs, the FEMA grant would fund the encasement of the Seawall in corrugated steel. Schumer said the project is long overdue, and needs to be prioritized by FEMA for an expedited review and approval process.
Schumer also pointed to projects in nearby Amsterdam and Cobleskill as among the highest-priority HMGP applications for New York. The City of Amsterdam has a $1.5 million project for the demolition and removal of damaged retaining walls along Dove Creek in Amsterdam and the Town of Cobleskill has a $3.1 million project to protect three water reservoirs in Cobleskill and make improvements to the village’s water treatment plant.
Schumer’s office released the following chart, showing the total cost of each project as submitted by NYS and the federal share of that cost provided under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP); 75% of the total cost:
|
Project |
Total Cost |
FEMA Cost Share |
| City of Troy: Seawall Stabilization |
$9,027,859 |
$6,770,894 |
| City of Amsterdam: Dove Creek Wall |
$1,500,000 |
$1,125,000 |
| Cobleskill Water Supply |
$3,100,000 |
$2,325,000 |
A copy of Senator Schumer’s letter to FEMA Administrator Fugate appears below:
Dear Administrator Fugate,
I write in strong support of three Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applications currently at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review. The following projects are essential to the communities involved and the protective measures proposed would have a tremendous impact in preventing future flooding and infrastructure damage as well as encouraging waterfront development:
· Seawall stabilization project for the City of Troy (Total cost of $9.03 million): The City of Troy’s seawall is in dire need of repairs and without this critical funding poses a tremendous risk to the community and the Hudson River. Over the past 30 years increased ice flows, erosion, severe flooding during Tropical Storm Irene, and other natural elements have dramatically deteriorated the condition of the seawall. A pipe carrying raw sewage runs within 15 to 25 feet of the seawall and if the seawall is compromised it would risk a failure of that sewer line and potentially cause an environmental disaster in the Hudson River. Furthermore, the City of Troy is concurrently planning $27 million in construction along the waterfront to develop the area and provide more housing opportunities to a community experiencing an economic revitalization. A compromised seawall would hurt this development as well as threaten the foundations of nearby buildings. In addition to necessary repairs, the project would fund the encasement of the Seawall in corrugated steel to enhance its resilience.
· Protective measures for three water reservoirs in the Village of Cobleskill, NY as well as improvements to the village’s water treatment plant (Total cost of $3.1 million): This project would put in place necessary mitigation measures to protect the water supply and reduce flooding in the Cobleskill Water System. The Cobleskill Water System includes three water surface reservoirs and this project would make improvements to the water-treatment plant and Dow Reservoir as well as dredge and repair Cobleskill’s dam spillway.
· Demolition and removal of damaged retaining walls along Dove Creek in Amsterdam, NY (Total Cost of $1.5 million) : This project would prevent future flooding by demolishing and removing damaged retaining walls on Dove Creek and replace them with stackable concrete retaining walls. The City of Amsterdam has faced record floods in recent years, and the condition of its retaining walls has drastically deteriorated. If the effects of erosion and crumbling retaining walls were left unchecked, the City would experience further flooding and infrastructure problems down the road.
Given that the State of New York has given these projects top priority by being among the first projects submitted to FEMA for final review and approval, the significance of these projects and the effect they would have on mitigating future damage in New York’s Capital Region is substantial. I urge you to approve them swiftly so that the work on these essential mitigation measures can commence.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
U.S. Senator
