Albany, NY – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says his administration will appeal a decision by federal regulators to reject his plan to use clean water funds to help finance the new Tappan Zee Bridge.
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The Environmental Protection Agency says Tuesday it has rejected $482 million of the $511 million in federal clean-water loans Cuomo had proposed for the bridge.
The administration says the loans would reduce the bridge’s $3.9 billion price tag while helping to reduce the project’s environmental impact.
The EPA specifically rejected proposals to use the money for dredging and removing the existing span. The agency approved some smaller projects related to the bridge, including marsh restoration.
Environmental groups praised the decision, saying funds for drinking water, sewers and other water projects shouldn’t go to bridge construction.
They are full of sewage
Drivel: the Tappan Zee bridge is twice as long as it needs to be: the width of the Hudson is 1/2 as much, just a little to the south. (Don’t believe me? Google the bridge on Maps and see for yourself.) So, why was it built there?
Because, according to the law establishing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the revenues from any bridge crossing the Hudson within 25 miles of the Statute of Liberty, belonged to the PA. And Governor Dewey really wanted the money from that bridge, to help finance the colossus that bears his name, the Dewey Thruway. So, the bridge got moved north, just out of the 25 mile radius, and had to be twice as long as a result. Politics Uber Alles.