Hearing held to address LI Sound dumping plan

The Army Corps of Engineers held its first public meeting Monday night to address a federal proposal on dumping dredging materials into the Long Island Sound.
Environmentalists, fishermen and politicians blasted a proposed federal dredging plan to put contaminated sediment removed from Connecticut rivers in the deeper parts of the Sound.
The proposal calls for the dumping of 50 million cubic yards over the next 30 years, according Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine.
Opponents to the plan say it would allow dumping to continue, offers no alternatives and effectively turns the Sound into a landfill.
For decades, material dredged from rivers and harbors have been dumped in four designated areas throughout the Sound. Two of the sites are within the district of Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, who says that if the plan goes forward, any efforts to improve water quality will have been moot.
John German, of the Long Island Lobsterman's Association, says Connecticut should find a safer alternative that would not pollute the Sound.
Three more public hearings are scheduled to be held on Long Island and in Connecticut. The ACE will take written comments from the public until Oct. 16.