Delaware Environmental Appeals board dismisses appeal to prevent Rehoboth ocean outfall project
The Delaware Environmental Appeals Board voted to dismiss an appeal to prevent Rehoboth Beach's ocean outfall project from happening, on Wednesday.
According to officials, the Delaware Environmental Appeals Board voted 5-1 to grant DNREC's Motion to dismiss finding that the appellant did not have standing to conduct an appeal to prevent the ocean outfall in Rehoboth Beach.
Rehoboth Beach Mayor Paul Kuhns released a statement on the decision saying, "The city is very pleased with the Environmental Appeals Board decision to grant DNREC and the city's motion to dismiss the appeal.
This closes yet another chapter in a lengthy project and moves us one step closer with the Consent Order's requirement that the city's wastewater effluent not be discharged into the canal. The project has been going well so far and is on schedule to be completed with construction by mid-March."
Back in November, Executive Director of the MERR Institute, Suzanne Thurman told 47 ABC that she filed an appeal regarding the order because the decision did not properly consider the tenets of the Marine Mammal Protection ACt and the Endangered Species Act.
She said, "There is conflicting and inaccurate information in the EIS regarding the presence of these species in the area of the Outfall, and in the contents of the different Federal permits that were issued.
The ultimate goal of the appeal is to bring about improvements to the waste water treatment process in Rehoboth Beach so that the adverse impacts on the marine ecosystem are lessened." 47 ABC has reached out to Thurman for a response on the vote. She says, "We are, of course, very disappointed, but not surprised since it is such a rarity that anyone is granted Standing by this Environmental Appeals Board. We maintain that the Secretary's Order is not in compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, nor the National Environmental Policy Act, and is also in violation of State regulatory statutes.
The City of Rehoboth and DNREC has a responsibility to protect and preserve the environment. I hope to pursue an ongoing dialogue with the City and Sussex County Planning Commission to voluntarily incorporate a tertiary system known as Electrocoagulation to further detox the effluent from the pharmaceuticals, endocrine inhibitors, and heavy metals that, under the current wastewater treatment system, will remain unfiltered, and which are proven to have a detrimental and cumulative effect on the marine ecosystem.
Originally, the permits were issued solely to Rehoboth Beach for their wastewater management, but now Sussex County will be adding wastewater from County residents to the effluent load, so that is why I hope that both entities will engage in a prudent and responsible effort to minimize the harm that will be done to the environment.
