SE North Carolina News

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 524, legislation led by Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07) that aims to secure a permanent fix allowing Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach to use their traditional borrow sites for beach nourishment.

"I’m proud my bill to allow Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach to use their historic borrow sites for beach nourishment passed the House today," said Congressman Rouzer. "This legislation allows these beaches to continue to use their historic borrow sites for protection from storm damage, maintain their natural ecosystems, and protect our local economy."

The Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982 created certain protected coastal zones, known as CBRA Zones, along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Great Lakes coasts, placing several natural borrow sites where communities could not access them. Shortly after enactment, clarification was made to permit communities like Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach to use their historic borrow sites. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration's US Army Corps of Engineers reversed these clarifications in 2021, undoing decades of precedent and forcing these communities to use naturally incompatible sand while skyrocketing beach nourishment costs.

Congressman Rouzer worked closely with the USACE to receive approval on a CBRA emergency exception allowing Wrightsville Beach to use their 50-year traditional borrow site, Masonboro Inlet. Following the emergency exception approval, Congressman Rouzer urged OMB to expediently review and approve the emergency funding allowing dredging and nourishment to occur as soon as possible.

"Most recently, Congressman Rouzer announced funding had been approved to begin the process of replenishing sand to Wrightsville Beach to protect the town and its residents," the statement read. The project officially started pumping sand on January 18, 2024 and completed nourishment on March 13, 2024.

For long-term certainty, H.R. 524 will allow for continued use of historic borrow sites which have proven successful for decades.