New York, NY - March 12, 2014 - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) finalized the General Permit -Tidal Wetland Bulkhead With Dredging GP-1-13-001 for bulkhead replacement and repair on portions of Long Island's south shore, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.

"Following the lead of Governor Cuomo's push to help New Yorker's build back stronger and better after Superstorm Sandy, DEC issued a General Permit for bulkhead repair to expedite storm recovery efforts," DEC Commissioner Martens said. "This new General Permit will continue streamlined permitting for Long Island residents while maintaining protections for the environment."

The General Permit provides expedited permit procedures for bulkhead projects on the south shore of Nassau and Suffolk counties, west of the Robert Moses Causeway. This area has a high density of individually-owned bulkheads, many of which have existed for 50 years or more. The General Permit is not available in areas of vegetated tidal wetlands, along the ocean shoreline, along the oceanfront of Long Beach Island, all of the Jones Beach State Park and Robert Moses State Park barrier islands.

The General Permit allows:

• The removal and replacement of functional and lawfully existing bulkheads (including returns and parallel capping boardwalks) in the same location;
• The replacement of a bulkhead 18 inches higher in elevation than the existing bulkhead;
• Limited maintenance dredging associated with the bulkhead replacement.

DEC will review and approve requests for authorization under the General Permit before activities can be undertaken.

The General Permit and the associated request for authorization form can be found on DEC's website.