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NEW YORK RAIL CARS FOR NEW YORK WATERS COALITION

The membership in "New York Rail Cars for New York Waters Coalition" consists of 20 New York Organizations that have come together for the same cause. Our goal is to have the available and future availability of stainless steel railroad cars approved for use on the existing or future artificial reef sites in New York water. Currently the New York rail cars that have been available have been or will be going to other states at a cost to New York taxpayers. To date, states that have received or are presently seeking these cars are Delaware, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia.

The coalition is reaching out to legislators and government agencies asking that they consider the benefit New York State will reap from the addition of railcars on our own artificial reefs. The recycling of these cars will help provide the basis for the development of a fascinating ecosystem. Shipwrecks and artificial reefs provide large areas of hard surfaces for colonizing marine organisms. The abundance and diversity of marine life that take up residence in or around artificial reefs is amazing.

The diving, boating and fishing community utilizes these reefs, which in turn adds millions of dollars to the economy. New York State is currently transporting railroad cars to other states for artificial reef enhancement, allowing them to have federal funding and economic benefits that New York could be ours. Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program projects the economic return to the Long Island Community per railroad car would be approximately $18,450 per year. Multiplied by an expected lifespan per car of 20 years, times the 720 cars presently available, the number will be over 200 million dollars.

Environmental problems regarding (non-friable) asbestos have been addressed by Mr. William Muir, Delaware's lead investigator for the U.S. EPA and he has approved the use of these rail cars as safe for placement on artificial reefs. This was also investigated and cleared by:

- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE)
- U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
- U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)

We welcome your support in this endeavor. Please do not hesitate to contact The Long Island Divers Association, or any of the coalition member agencies listed below:

SUPPORTING MEMBERS
NEW YORK RAIL CARS FOR NEW YORK WATERS COALITION

The Long Island Divers Association Eastern
Dive Boat Association American Society of Oceanographers, Inc.
New York Fishing Tackle Trades Association
New York Marine Trades Association
Freeport Tuna Club
New York Sportfishing Federation
Coastal Conservation Association NY
North Fork Captains Association
Recreational Fishing Alliance
Sunrise Divers
The Dive Club
Oakdale Sportsman Club
Shinnecock Marlin & Tuna Club
Gateway Striper Club
Moriches Anglers Club
Suffolk County Senior Citizens Fishing
Club Suffolk Alliance of Sportsmen
Montauk Boatmen & Captains Association
Moriches Off-Shore Reef Fund
North Fork Captains Association
Manhasset Bay Sportsmen Club
Captree Boatman's Association
Long Island Beach Buggy Association
Babylon Tuna Club
Great South Bay Anglers

Thank you,

Paula Jerman
Janice Raber

Long Island Divers Association Executive Board