From Press staff reports
The Press of Atlantic City
Saturday, June 27th, 2009

A small amount of money, compared with past earmarks, moved forward Thursday for beach replenishment on Long Beach Island.

The Energy & Water appropriations bill, which funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was marked up in the Appropriations subcommittee Thursday, said a spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. John Adler, D-3rd.

The bill included $600,000 for beach replenishment on Long Beach Island. Adler said this is a victory, since President Barack Obama did not include the project in his list of priority projects and beach replenishment funds are difficult to secure.

"Beach replenishment projects are critical for strengthening Ocean County's economy.? By securing these federal funds, shore communities and businesses will be protected from severe storms. This is a resounding win for Ocean County's residents and business owners," Adler said in a statement.

This is the first step toward securing the funding, but the fact that it is included in the first draft of the bill indicates a very high chance that the project will be funded once signed into law, said Jill Greco, Adler's chief of staff.

The multimillion-dollar project is at a standstill on the island as municipalities fight oceanfront homeowners for easements granting the corps and state Department of Environmental Protection access to complete the project.