Connecticut's environmental commissioner has endorsed a U.S. Army Corps of Engineering plan to dump dredged materials from waterways and harbors into areas of Long Island Sound.
Rob Klee, commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said Wednesday the draft plan "identifies a range of environmentally sound alternatives for the handling of materials created by dredging projects." He cited uses such as beach rehabilitation and marsh restoration, which environmental advocates are demanding as alternatives to putting sediment and other dredged materials into the Sound.
Klee said the Sound also must be available because sediment from Connecticut waterways often is fine-grained, making it impossible to recycle.
The Corps released its plan Monday examining alternatives for handling nearly 53 million cubic yards of material and ten disposal sites for 60 dredging projects.