[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 120 (Friday, September 20, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S8981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SARBANES (for himself and Ms. Mikulski):
  S. 2984. A bill to authorize a project for environmental restoration 
at Smith Island, Maryland; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, this measure would authorize the Smith 
Island, Maryland ecosystem restoration project. Joining me in 
sponsoring this measure is my colleague Senator Mikulski.
  Smith Island, is one of the last remaining inhabited islands in the 
Chesapeake Bay and an area of unique cultural, historical and 
environmental significance. Because of its location and elevation, it 
is highly susceptible to the damaging forces of nature. In the past 150 
years, more than 3,000 acres of the island have eroded into the 
Chesapeake Bay. As a consequence, the communities of Ewell, Tylerton 
and Rhodes Point are seriously threatened, the Federal navigation 
channels shoal within months after dredging, and habitat and other 
natural resources are being lost at an alarming rate. Since 1993 alone, 
the Smith Island vicinity has lost over 2400 acres of Submerged Aquatic 
Vegetation, SAV ecologically valuable wetlands have also been lost. 
This habitat is critical to the health of the Bay and the area's 
fishing and crabbing industry.
  Over the years, Senator Mikulski and I have worked very closely with 
the citizens of Smith Island, the Somerset County Commissioners, the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other State and Federal resource 
agencies to address the serious erosion problem and other needs on the 
island. Among other projects, we secured funding to help protect the 
eroding shoreline of Tylerton, to dredge the channels and repair of the 
stone jetties leading into Ewell, which has also helped with the 
erosion problem in that community, to construct a new sewage treatment 
facility, and to expedite completion of the Corps of Engineers' 
feasibility study for Smith Island.
  That latter study was completed in May of 2001 and the Chief of 
Engineers report on this project was transmitted to the Congress in 
October, 2001. The reports recommend construction of off-shore 
segmented breakwaters and back-filling to create additional wetlands 
along the coastline of Martin National Wildlife Refuge to stop or 
reverse the tremendous loss of SAV around parts of Smith Island. The 
recommended plan is expected to protect approximately 720 acres and 
restore about 1,400 acres of wetland and SUV habitat. The legislation, 
which we are introducing today, would authorize construction of this 
project at a total cost of approximately $7.5 million. It is our hope 
that this measure will be included as part of a broader package of 
water resource projects being developed by the Senate Environment and 
Public Works Committee.




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