By Lisa Zahner

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Coastal Engineering staff reported on Tuesday that they are experiencing unprecedented cooperation from state and federal agencies who need to sign off on the effort to place 472,000 cubic yards of sand onto a 6.6-mile stretch of beach from Treasure Shores Park to John’s Island.

“I think we can give some credit to the legislative delegation, I have never seen the state and federal regulatory agencies be so responsive,” said Coastal Resource Manager Jonathan Gorham. “We’re expecting public hearings on the permit the week of December 14, which is several weeks earlier than we originally anticipated.” In the Oct. 29 issue of our sister publication, as part of an article on the beach renourishment project, Vero Beach 32963 (click on link for full story) passed along the message from commissioners and contractors that local residents needed to get involved to help push the permits through. Chairman Wesley Davis mentioned that the participation of our readers should not be under-emphasized.

“It could have something to do with the zip code that’s out there,” he said.

Gorham said that setting up meetings with FDEP and other agencies is normally difficult but that “they’ve been beating down our door to meet with us.”

The staff is meeting with federal permitting officials on Wednesday to go over the permit modifications and have a preliminary question and answer session about the plan for using upland sand and the design of the project, which revolves around a zero impact to the hard bottom or near-shore reef.

On Monday, county staff has scheduled a meeting with officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, both of which have a say in whether or not the project meets engineering and biological requirements to go forward. The county has opened the meeting up for any interested parties to attend and has extended a special invitation to the Town of Indian River Shores.

Last week, the town sent formal letters to regulatory agencies asking them not to approve any permits which involve the use of upland sand, based on the 26 percent reduction in the volume of sand that was going to be necessary and the impact on the local infrastructure. By involving the town in efforts going forward, the county is attempting to convince Mayor Bill Kenyon and the council to reverse the position and throw their support — and political clout — behind the project. Members of the town council have been vocal about their concerns about traffic congestion and wear and tear on roads and bridges from the estimated 600 dump trucks per day that will be required to complete the project.

Commissioners voted on Sept. 8 to award the contract for the project to Ranger Construction using upland sand, with the prospect of keeping the $7.2 million local to hopefully create jobs overriding outcries of beachside residents to get the project done as soon as possible using the off-shore sand source and dredging contractor used for two other projects in 2007.

The upland sand, which will come from three sand mines — one in St. Lucie County and two in western Indian River County — can only be placed on the beach between November 1 and May 1 due to turtle nesting season. Barrier island residents have been waiting nearly a decade to get sand on their beaches to shore up the many homes and condominium buildings in peril.