WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced more than $4.75 million in federal Sandy recovery aid to help repair and rebuild federal roads within New Jersey national parks battered by Superstorm Sandy. The funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Program, will go towards repairs in the Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook and the Edwin J. Forsyth National Wildlife Refuge.

“This federal funding will help address some of the damage inflicted by Superstorm Sandy on our state’s beautiful, seaside national parklands. It’s important that we get to work right away on repairs so New Jersey’s shoreline and parks are fully operational before the summer season,” said Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and co-author of the Sandy relief legislation. “We will continue working to ensure the federal recovery aid approved by Congress is dispersed quickly throughout the state and brings relief to families and businesses recovering from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.”

“This is a significant step forward in our efforts to help the Jersey shore’s landmarks recover and prepare in time for this year’s summer season,” said Senator Menendez, who helped lead the New Jersey delegation’s efforts to secure federal Sandy relief. “Repairing our federal roadways is critical to help accommodate tourists in Sandy Hook and Atlantic County. I will continue the fight for federal resources to help repair our storm-damaged infrastructure throughout New Jersey.”

The funding from the Department of Transportation’s ERFO program will be distributed for the following repairs:

• $3,530,226.00 for the National Park Service Project to repair storm-damaged roadways in the Gateway National Recreation Area in Monmouth County, NJ.

• $1,250,000 for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Project to repair storm-damaged roadways in the Edwin J. Forsyth National Wildlife Refuge in Atlantic County, NJ.

Last month, the President signed into law the Superstorm Sandy Supplemental Appropriations bill, bringing the total Sandy aid enacted by Congress to $60.2 billion. The funding package included federal aid to help homeowners, business, and communities recover, and resources to rebuild coastal, transportation, and clean water infrastructure.

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