Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced Tuesday Long Island home heating prices could skyrocket due to an oil barge that ran aground earlier this month.

Kevin Rooney of the Oil Heat Institute of Long Island estimates an increase of at least 10 to 15 cents per gallon of oil. Due to the tanker that became stuck in the East Rockaway inlet, the Coast Guard says the area must be dredged before it will be safe for large vessels carrying oil and gas. According to Schumer, a substantial decrease in supply would hurt Long Island homeowners.

Schumer proposes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge the inlet now, instead of mid-2007 as planned. He is also calling for the Army to pick up the entire $3.1 million tab, although their budget for the project falls $400,000 short.

Related Information: Tanker with home heating oil runs aground in East Rockaway Inlet