Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act, which allows Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure Beaches to continue using historic sand sourcing sites for beach nourishment projects.
In 2021, the Biden Administration disrupted decades of cost-effective and ecologically responsible sand-sourcing practices by withdrawing historic burrow sites from further use, delaying critical storm management projects.
Provisions of the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act will reverse these bureaucratic disruptions and maintain continuing access to these historic burrow sites for North Carolina beaches.
Senator Budd and members of the North Carolina congressional delegation championed these provisions.
Senator Budd said in a statement:
“I am glad to see language to allow Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure beach to continue using historic sand sourcing sites has passed the Senate. Beach nourishment projects are critical protections for homeowners and businesses against natural erosion and powerful storms. Changes in Department of Interior and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers guidance in 2021 was disruptive and put these important projects on hold. Guaranteeing access to historic, cost-effective, and ecologically sound burrow sites in law will prevent further costly and dangerous delays. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this language signed into law.”
###
