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Ocean outfall approved in Rehoboth

May 25, 2017

After many delays, reports are coming in that Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn Garvin has approved the ocean outfall in Rehoboth Beach.

Delaware Surfrider Chair John Doerfler said he received a phone call from Garvin earlier today to tell him the outfall has been approved.

“Obviously, we’re extremely upset with the decision,” said Doerfler.

Garvin has issued an order approving the outfall.

“The department finds that the applicants meet the department’s regulatory requirements, and the record supports the department’s decision to issue the approvals for the ocean outfall,” writes Garvin. “The department, however, finds that the public comments do not warrant revisiting its financing decision, and the department’s experts recommended approval of the applications after consideration of these public comments.”

Voters of Rehoboth authorized borrowing $52.5 million for the outfall and upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. Technical problems with the plant - which in July caused the discharge of brown sludge into the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal - prompted the city to begin work early on $10 million in upgrades, which Cooper said could increase the overall cost of the project. Cooper said prices now are not likely to be the same as they were when the referendum was approved.

This is a developing story. It has been updated to include comments from Garvin’s order approving the outfall.

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