PUBLIC COMMENTS OPEN: TIME TO WRITE IN SUPPORT!!!

The public comment period is open for Army Corps of Engineers for the Sargent Breakwater Project! - this was facilitated by Kent Pollard and our county commissioners as this sometimes takes 18 months for them to get around to posting public comment - but they got it done in 2 months!!  

Now we have to do our part.  The project is posted here:

https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-Notices/Article/2387210/swg-2018-00678-matagorda-county-gulf-of-mexico-matagorda-county-texas/

You need to send public letters of support to:  swg_public_notice@usace.army.mil

You must reference the project in the subject line: File # SWG-2018-00678

1. ALL LETTERS MUST HAVE A SIGNATURE.
   If the letter isn’t signed, the Corps does not consider it. - - how to put a signature in email
2. Letters may be mailed to the address provided
3. Letters may be faxed to 409 766-3931
4. Letters may be emailed to SWG_public_notice@usace.army.mil
5. You may also send an email with the body of your letter in it, rather than an attachment.
6. Letters must arrive at the Corps no later than November 20 to be considered.
7. If a resident composes their own letter, it must have the “SWG” number in the subject line
   SWG-2018-00678

Sample letters of support below:  (if you are a business owner - please fill that in and make the economic case for the project). Feel free to copy and paste if you want - if you do your own see the bottom of the blog on what they need in a letter of support. Two more sample letters here.

Your Name

Your Address

Sir/Madam;

I am writing in support of File #SWG-2018-00678 as a concerned homeowner in Sargent Texas.  This project is long overdue and critical to protect the beach area for a number of reasons. First it will restore the public beach and recreational area that was destroyed by the 4 recent hurricanes that affected our Sargent beach.  Second, it will protect the intracoastal waterway that runs behind it which is critical to the Texas economy.  Third it will help protect the homes that are in the creek area from future storms and storm surge.

I have watched the erosion take away this amazing natural beach area and impact the wetlands behind it. This area is home to so many local and migrating birds.  We are proud of this incredible natural area and this project will help ensure that this natural landmark is not lost to erosion. 

This is just the first phase of the project and we really need this to be done so that we can determine if this project can save the entire island. We are seriously running out of time and need this approved as soon as possible.

{if you can put a personal reason on why this is important to you - put it here}

Thank you for the chance to provide support for this project

Sincerely, 

SIGNATURE

SAMPLE LETTER #2

Your Name and address

I am writing in support of the breakwater and beach nourishment project for Sargent Beach, Texas File #SWG-2018-00678. This project will restore the beach and assist in protecting the intracoastal waterway which is vital to the Texas economy. The project will re-establish the beach habitat that provides nesting and foraging grounds for local birds and the many species that travel through the area each year. It will also provide a first line of defense to protect the healthy, thriving marshes and public and private property in Sargent.

Sargent Beach has experienced some of the highest levels of erosion on the Gulf Coast and we simply cannot wait any longer for this project to begin. The studies have been completed – we need the funding to begin work on installation of the breakwaters now.

I urge you to use the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Funds for the Sargent Beach project now so that we can save the beach and intracoastal waterway.

Sincerely,

SIGNATURE

What should our letters of support contain?  From the public comment document 

The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors, which may be relevant to the proposal, will be considered: among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shore erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people.

To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above