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Long Island Leaders Push For Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant Project

EAST ROCKAWAY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Local leaders are urging the federal government to come through with money for a much-needed sewage treatment plant project on Long Island.

Federal funding is already in place to help build a new Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant in East Rockaway and clean up the waters around it, officials said.

But without the second part of the project -- a pipe that has yet to be funded -- Nassau County's Western Bays will stay polluted, officials said.

"When it's low tide, you smell it," said Legislator Dennis Dunne Sr., R-Levittown.

Leaders Seek Additional Funds For Ocean Outflow Pipe At Bay Park Sewage Plant

An outflow pipe, which would cost an additional estimated $500 million, is needed to carry sewage from the Bay Park plant to the ocean, Dunne said.

"That pipe has got to go underneath Reynolds Channel and out into the ocean to save our waterways," Dunne said.

The offices of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said they are working to secure the money for the project.

"The state is working hard to secure federal funding for the ocean outflow pipe," said Jamie Rubin, director of the governor's Office of Storm Recovery.

"Sen. Schumer has already secured a historic $810 million FEMA public assistance grant to rebuild the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant -- the largest sanitary sewer project in FEMA's history," spokeswoman Meredith Kelly said in a statement. "In addition, Sen. Schumer successfully fought for the inclusion of up to $150 million in HUD's third tranche of CDBG funding for nitrogen removal at the plant; as soon as the state asks for it, that is available. The senator has also already delivered $35 million to study and develop a plan for the outfall pipe, and the ball is now in the state's court to determine how they wish to pursue funding from available state, federal and local resources. Legislative leaders Dean Skelos, Carl Heastie and the governor control the state budget and can contribute funding that way as well."

The Nassau GOP announced hearings on the funding issue will be held next month.

Superstorm Sandy knocked the plant offline when nine feet of saltwater submerged power supplies. Sewage spilled into the streets, the channel and the bay, and made its way into the Atlantic Ocean.

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