THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 1, 1996 TAG: 9606010227
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, Staff writer
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 48 lines
Dare County officials were assured by Washington lawmakers at meetings this week that federal funds for dredging and beach nourishment will be provided this year.
``I tell you, we have never been treated better in Washington,'' said R.V ``Bobby'' Owens Jr., chairman of the county Board of Commissioners, after returning to the Outer Banks Friday. ``They gave us a total commitment to work with us.''
Owens and Commissioners Shirley Hassell, Douglas Langford, Joseph ``Mac'' Midgett, Clarence Skinner, Planning Director Ray Sturza and County Manager Terry Wheeler traveled to the nation's capital Wednesday to urge federal officials to support legislation that would restore money for dredging Oregon Inlet and other commercial harbors.
Oregon Inlet, the only passage to the Atlantic between Virginia Beach and Hatteras Inlet, has been shoaling rapidly. Local watermen and officials warn that unless action is taken, it will soon be impassable.
Funds also will be restored for Army Corps of Engineers maintenance of other commercial waterways in North Carolina, including Ocracoke Inlet and Roanoke River, Owens said.
During the two days in Washington, the Dare delegation met with top aides of Republican Sens. Jesse Helms Lauch Faircloth; Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr., also a Republican; and with H. Martin Lancaster, assistant secretary of the Army for civil works.
The group also expressed its concerns to Sen. Dan Coats of Indiana, and Reps. Tom Bevil of Alabama and Tim Holden of Pennsylvania, Owens said.
Dare officials were told that legislation already had been introduced in the Senate that would maintain federal participation in shoreline protection projects, such as beach nourishment. A companion bill has been introduced in the House.
Also, a spokesman from Lancaster's office said Friday that federal legislation is expected to be introduced next week that would restore federal funds for dredging projects.
At a May 10 hearing at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, local residents were told that federal funds for such projects would be cut from the Army Corps' budget beginning in October 1997.
Owens said discussions about finding funds for construction of jetties in Oregon Inlet will be held sometime down the road. But in the meantime, he said he's happy with the success Dare County has had so far.
``Everybody we went to was really very positive,'' Owens said. ``Our board was very elated about this trip.'' by CNB