Press Conference Announcement
Town of Palm Beach Snubs “Reach 8” Olive Branch
PALM BEACH August27th- Rumors that the Surfrider Foundation, Snook Foundation and three individuals challenging the Reach 8 dredge-and-fill project had “initiated” the settlement are untrue. Surfrider et al. had simply returned to the table Friday afternoon with a written compromise, similar to those offered at various intervals in this fight, after the Town attorneys’ last-ditch request for a settlement option. A press conference will be held today to discuss the case and the proposed settlement terms.
Time:
12:10pm,Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Location:
Palm Beach Town Hall Steps, 360 South County Road, Palm Beach, FL
The Chapter had offered the Town possibly the best collection of coastal science minds in the Country, to explore the most sustainable and cost-effective ways to manage and balance the Town’s coastal resources. The offer included the following:
The Petitioners, Surfrider Foundation, Snook Foundation, Terry Gibson, Tom Warnke, and Captain Danny Barrow hereby agree to withdraw their challenge to the current draft Reach 8 permit and not initiate any challenge to the joint Army Corps of Engineers Permit for Reach 8 if the Town and DEP agree to do one of the two following options:
1. Perform dune restoration only for the proposed Reach 8 beach segments.
2. Perform dune restoration and additional fill for the area south of the Lake Worth Pier only.
a. For the areas that the DEP has declared dune restoration only, this remains in effect.
b. Reduce the amount of fill by starting the project area 500 feet south of the southeast corner of the municipal parking lot using the same taped design. In accordance with the Town’s expert Dr. Dean method 1 model, as stated in his report, using 100 cubic yd/foot would only require approximately 250-260,000 cubic yards of fill material.
c. To ensure compatible sand, the sand used for the fill must be trucked in from an inland compatible sand source. Use Palm Beach County’s methodology and criteria for trucking inland sand and have a third party present for monitoring
All dune restoration shall include immediate plantingof native species to ensure dune stabilization. To help cover the costsassociated with the dune restoration, Surfrider volunteers will help plant thedunes to save additional costs to the Town.
Use the money that the Town had appropriated for the legal costs associated with the Reach 8 project for helping to restore the sand transfer plant at Singer Island and begin the process to revise the outdated Beach Management Plan. Surfrider will also work with the Town on restoring the sand transfer plant.
If Borrow areas V and VI are proposed in the future, new proper vibracore sampling will be necessary to ensure sand compatibility.
Surfrider Foundation would make their top experts from across the country available to discuss and plan for the preparation of the project as proposed herein.
This offer must be presented to the entire Town of Palm Beach Council for vote.
In the interest of keeping engineers and lawyers from fleecing Palm Beach taxpayers ofupwards $20 million, the Town still refused the settlement offer. Surfrider et al. have rock-solid evidence provingthat the project designed by Coastal Planning& Engineering (CPE) is fatallyflawed. “The only possible result of this project is the destruction ofthe beach/reef ecosystems, displacement of surfing/fishing/diving communities,and a colossal waste of Town and State tax dollars” said plaintiffCaptain Danny Barrow.
The administrative court process is not the only or last place the project is likely to be challenged. “The federal (Army Corps) permit still has not been issued, and the petitioners will challenge its issuance if necessary” said Petitioners’ attorney Jane West. Win, lose or draw, these decisions will likely face appeals by either losing both party. This is a process that could have been avoided by the Town. However, now the end is nowhere in sight.
![Dr. W. H. Cotton’s ode: “Oh, My Lake Worth, Florida!” [circa 1920].](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhHyCn84ZIQ/WezjlEL-0tI/AAAAAAAAPZ4/CzkhriK6zpEJJ3d9Je1495d49gIhnMlxACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/LakeWorthPioneers.JPG)
