Home > Uncategorized > Figure Eight Jetty Bill – A test for Speaker Hackney in the last days of session

Figure Eight Jetty Bill – A test for Speaker Hackney in the last days of session

Post on July 17, 2008 by 3 Comments »

As Chris Fitzsimon relates today, wealthy special interests often see the hectic waning days of the state legislative session to circumvent measured public debate to get what they want. In this case, it appears possible that a change in coastal law overwhelmingly opposed by scientists and the public may have a fresh new chance of becoming law. The Charlotte Observer has a great editorial today on the issue.  Chris spells out how wealthy property owners who want to overturn NC's longstanding seawall ban have gotten this far in the process with this unpopular bill. Now it appears up to House Speaker Joe Hackney as to whether the law will go forward. There's apparently some talk of a so-called "compromise" where it would just be a possibility that the seawall ban would be violated. One can guess that the possibility will turn quickly to a certainty. The Speaker's environmental credentials and devotion to public debate and process now face a serious test.

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Comments (Closed):3

  1. Alex Schoenfeldt
    July 17, 2008 at 11:10 am

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  2. JohnB
    July 20, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    Adam,

    The Charlotte editorial made the Wilmington paper, but like most things, there’s no conversation here about the sea wall possibility. Amazing, after the failure of the 2006 dregging operation that cost Figure 8 and N. Wrightsville folks gnarly assessments and didn’t even work. The “All For One and That’s Me!” mentyality thrives as houses wash into the sea…….Hope you and family are well. John B.

  3. Thomas
    August 1, 2008 at 10:30 am

    Adam,

    I think some of us would like to see and read the positions of these scientists that are reported to “overwhelmingly oppose” the legislation. And, to hear their alternative ideas are to address the situation that Figure 8 and Ocean Isle both find themselves in.

    It is my understanding that the legislation requires extensive environmental impact analysis before a terminal groin could proceed. And , if placed, the groin could only be constructed with the provision that it be removed if the results prove that there are negative impacts that outweigh any benefits produced.

    For now, we taxpayers are caught in a never ending cycle of expense in order to preserve or protect what has already been built in just a couple of beach locations. For instance on Ocean Isle, over 200 previously approved home lots are now either in the ocean or non-buildable due to erosion. And, all 365,000 cubic yards of sand used to renourish the beach in December of 2006 is gone after less than eighteen months. In, addition the town is struggling constantly to preserve public access to this area of the beach. The beach is littered with sandbags, utility pipe, concrete, and waste from homes that the ocean has already claimed. Not a pretty sight! Three homes have needed to be relocated in the last six months. Roads are being taken as well. This area resembles a battle field rather than what might could be a beautiful beach if we could just try a groin.

    In fact, a group of marine engineers and experts on marine environments have overwhelmingly agreed that this alternative method of beach preservation is a better alternative than anything that has been tried to date, and a better alternative than continuing to fruitlessly through money that is wasted and washed away faster than the money can be expended and the “old- style” preservation efforts executed today.

    Unless you actually witness first hand these situations, I don’t think you can form an opinion.

    Some people naturally opose change because they are afraid of risk. This, despite the advice of the best experts available that have expended great effort in considering all options to find a solution to a very serious situation.

    Continuing to fight this loosing battle seems to be what some of us would prefer. The alternative being a method that may just permanently and finally give us all some relief.