House Republican Press Release

March 19, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. CAFERO GRATEFUL FOR $1 MILLION FOR NORWALK DREDGING

HARTFORD – House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., today thanked Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration for the anticipated approval of $1 million in state bond money to continue dredging Norwalk harbor.

The Governor’s office said it expects the money to be released on March 28 when the state Bond Commission meets.

“Gov. Rell recognized the need to move forward with this project because it greatly affects both commercial boat traffic as well as recreational boating. We have not fully dredged the harbor in nearly two decades and a fair amount of silt has built up in that time,’’ Cafero said. Part of the harbor was dredged in 2006 and this portion of the project will center near Washington Street.

The $1 million will be used to cap the dredged material once it is removed and dumped in a designated disposal site. The state Department of Environmental Protection requires the capping of the material because of the contaminants it contains.

Cafero said that there were concerns voiced by local officials because the lack of funds threatened to slow down Phase II of the work.