Senator Bruce Tarr Convenes Northeast Coastal Coalition To Discuss Draft Dredge Study

What: Northeast Coastal Coalition: Regional Dredge Purchase Feasibility Study

Who: Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, Senator DiZoglio, Representatives Mirra, Hill, Kelcourse, Ferrante, Parisella, the Woods Hole Group, the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, representatives of the Federal legislative delegation, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Coastal Zone Management, municipal officials, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, the University of New Hampshire, and other non-governmental organizations.

When: Friday July 12, 10 AM to Noon

Where: Essex Town Hall, Third Floor, 30 Martin Street, Essex, MA

Press: Open

Boston- Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, Chairman of the Northeast Coastal Coalition, has scheduled a public meeting to discuss the preliminary findings of a Regional Dredge Feasibility Study that has been ongoing for the past several months.

The study is being conducted by the Woods Hole Group, an international environmental services organization commissioned to assess the feasibility of a regional collaborative among North Shore communities to maintain navigable depths in places such channels and mooring areas.

Regional lawmakers succeeded in securing $50,000 in last year’s budget to fund the study; Peter Phippen, Coastal Coordinator at the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission is administering the state grant and the study project.

Representative Lenny Mirra and Senator Tarr filed budget amendments in their respective legislative branches to examine long-term strategies, permitting, best practices, and cost effectiveness for dredging options. The study project is being addressed by the Coalition’s Regional Dredge Subcommittee Chaired by Representative Mirra, with Representative Brad Hill, Representative Jim Kelcourse, and Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante assisting.

Senator Tarr has encouraged the participation of the general public and engagement from local, state and Federal officials. The Coalition has attracted the participation of representatives from North Shore communities from Cape Ann to the New Hampshire state border.