Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) was awarded $471,500 for research, extension and education programs on coastal issues. Sea Grant is a nationwide network administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of 32 university-based programs that work with coastal communities.
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is located within the Sixth District on Sandy Hook, a unit of Gateway National Recreation Area that falls under the National Park Service’s (NPS) jurisdiction. NJSGC conducts research and hosts educational programs to further understanding of the state’s marine and coastal environment. The NJSGC facilities atSandy Hook were badly damaged by Superstorm Sandy and closed for months until repairs could be completed.
“This funding for research and education at New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is more important now than ever after the devastating impact Superstorm Sandy had on our coastal communities, ” said Pallone. “NJSGC is a prime example of good ocean science research and its work helps us better understand our marine environment, so we can mitigate adverse effects of disasters like Sandy on our economy and ecosystem.”
NJGC’s research and education initiatives that will benefit from this grant include providing assistance to coastal municipalities with dune building and shoreline engineering; working with bait and tackle shops and marinas to assess Sandy’s impact and help them better understand rebuilding information; and providing educational resources to help students and teachers better understand the connection between storm intensity, rising seas and climate change. NJGC is also preparing to launch a regional project with its New York and Connecticut counterparts aimed at improving storm communication and response.
Pallone has taken a lead in the Sandy Hook recovery process since the storm hit, and he worked directly with the National Park Service to ensure that needs were tended to with urgency. Critical to the recovery, Pallone was instrumental in securing over $37 million in federal funding for Sandy Hook to repair roads, buildings, trails, beaches, utilities and equipment. Pallone monitored the recovery and toured Sandy Hook multiple times to assess damage and progress.
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Press Release, July 16, 2013