NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) - U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney says he’s working with a broad Connecticut coalition to contest a lawsuit filed by New York state opposing a federal plan to allow dredged sediments to be dumped into Long Island Sound.
The Democrat appeared Thursday with regional governmental and marine organizations, local businesses and state officials to announce plans to file a brief in support of the federal court case defending both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s plan and Connecticut’s maritime interests.
Courtney says it’s “difficult to overstate how important dredging and dredging disposal is” to the southeastern Connecticut maritime industry. Without it, he says everything from the U.S. Submarine Base to recreational boating would cease.
Democratic New York Gov. Mario Cuomo argues the dumping poses environmental dangers. The dump sites are technically in Connecticut waters.
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