AFTER SIGINIFICANT PUSH, SCHUMER ANNOUNCES USDA TO AWARD $7.5 MILLION TO FUND BLUEBELT EXPANSION ON STATEN ISLAND; PROJECT WILL RESTORE THE WEST BRANCH OF THE NEW CREEK & PROVIDE FLOOD MITIGATION MEASURES FOR HOMEOWNERS IN MIDLAND BEACH

New York, NY – December 18, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that, after his significant push, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has agreed to provide $7.5 million to fund the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) plans to expand the Staten Island Bluebelt. New York City applied for funding created in the Schumer-sponsored Sandy Relief Bill through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) under the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).