Groin permit approval has one more hurdle

A visit with Congressman Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, this week in Washington, D.C. from Longboat Key Commissioner Jack Duncan appears to have been productive.

Duncan, who is the president of Manasota League of Cities and is there this week on league business, had an opportunity to sit down with Buchanan on Wednesday to discuss the issuance of a federal permit for two groins on the north end of the Key.

T.J. Tatum, Buchanan’s press secretary, informed Duncan in an email Thursday the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is just waiting on the National Marine Fisheries Service to complete its endangered species consultation for sea turtles and fish before it can issue the permit.

“This is the only issue requiring resolution prior to the Corps taking action,” Tatum wrote in his email.

Buchanan’s office contacted the National Marine Fisheries Service Wednesday to see what could be done to expedite its consultation, but a winter storm has shut down the office. That storm has also kept Duncan in Washington longer than expected.

Tatum said Buchanan’s office will update the town on the status of the permit when it has more information.

Longbeach and 360 North condominium owners are worried about the lack of sand in the area. The town can’t perform a sand and structure project in the area any earlier than summer 2015.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].