UB set project priorities for Army Corps The Courier,July 17 Posted:07/20/08
During its recent agenda session, the Union Beach Borough Council sat down and discussed area priorities to send to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
The Army Corps recently introduced a $125 million shore protection project for the borough that included road improvements, floodgates, levees, berms and dunes.
The council decided on five key pieces when it came to Union Beach's overall protection.
The first priority would be the levee and floodwall project from 7th Street to Bay Avenue, up to Florence Avenue.
The internal levee and road raising at Harris Avenue would be next on the list.
Third would be the Brook Avenue pumping station, which would include a floodwall system and levee.
A levee and the raising of roads at Florence and Union avenues fell next, followed by any remaining floodwall systems and beach fill.
The coastal evacuation route was also included on the priority list.
The council said several times it wished all project points could be "number one," as every piece is important when protecting the community.
With the introduction of its newly updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) informed the Army Corps that its current standard for levees does not meet FEMA's new requirements for shore protection.
Councilman Michael Harriott said the only question for FEMA would be what structure they consider sufficient now, as the agency has deemed dunes unacceptable because they are "sacrificial elements."
The council said its ultimate goal is to protect the residents of Union Beach from any kind of natural emergency with shore protection projects.
