Ocean City Continues Push for Long-Term Bay Dredging Plan

City Council members reported Thursday that a congressman and a state senator have joined the fight to find a sustainable plan to dredge Ocean City's shallow lagoons and channels.

U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo and state Senator Jeff Van Drew will meet next week with local officials in an effort to isolate the regulations that are preventing Ocean City from making its bayside waters deeper for boat traffic. Much of Ocean City's bayfront is impassable at low tide. 

The city administration says it is committed to funding dredging projects, but environmental regulations have made it difficult to identify new sites to dump sediment.

Councilman Keith Hartzell said LoBiondo and Van Drew will be part of a parallel effort to clear the way for new spoils sites.

A group of more than 120 people showed up for a community meeting in June to come up with a strategy to push for regulatory relief at the state and federal levels. Hartizell and Councilman Antwan McClellan reported on the progress at Thursday's City Council meeting.

At the same time, an already approved project to dredge lagoons between 15th and 34th streets is stalled.

The contractor, Hydro-Marine Construction Company of Hainesport, NJ, did not complete work by the end of a permitting window on Dec. 31, 2012, and was scheduled to resume work to complete the job on July 1.

But Business Administrator Mike Dattilo said Thursday the city is having trouble getting the contractor to return. He did not provide more detail (on what could be a potential legal dispute with the contractor).