The Great South Bay shoreline fronting the Fire Island Pines Substation, located approximately 500 feet east of the Fire Island Pines community, has experienced significant erosion over the past decade. The substation infrastructure is now critically close to the bluff crest. In addition, erosion has exposed a live transmission cable within the face of the bluff and on the beach, as well as an abandoned transmission cable and a fiber optic cable that is presumed active. Immediate action is necessary to stabilize and protect the cable and the substation. To accomplish this, the project will involve the installation of a U-shaped, temporary erosion control structure to protect the exposed electric transmission cable feeding power to the Fire Island Pines Substation facility. 

Because the land is owned by the Fire Island National Seashore and the Nature Conservancy, PSEG Long Island is actively working with these stakeholders on a permanent solution to erosion in the substation area. However, given the critical nature of the current conditions, this temporary erosion control structure is necessary to stabilize the area and protect infrastructure. 

Project Specifics 

PSEG Long Island will be installing a protective structure that comprises a U-shaped perimeter of stacked 3x3x3-foot sand filled geotextile bags along the bay side of the Fire Island Pines substation. The structure will be supported on an underlayment of geogrid, an engineered product designed to provide necessary structural stability and reinforcement to soil and other natural layers. The interior space will be filled and the protective structure completely covered with beach-compatible sand. 

To facilitate the installation of these protective measures, existing debris (i.e., driftwood) along the beach within the footprint of the proposed protective measures will be removed and properly disposed. All other debris along the shoreline will remain as to not impact the natural protection.

Route
The total project will cover approximately 1,800 square feet with 560 cubic yards of fill. The contractor performing the work will access the area via barge/landing craft or from the crest of the bluff. 

Timeline
Construction is expected to begin in late October 2023 with an anticipated completion date of December 2023. This constitutes the first phase of the overall erosion control project, as PSEG Long Island works with Fire Island National Seashore and The Nature Conservancy on a permanent solution. The work scheduled is tide-dependent, with crews potentially starting their operations on the barge at 4:00 a.m. and concluding no later than 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see the questions below.

• Will there be tree trimming?
  There will be no tree trimming associated with this work. 
• Will there be any power outages?
  There will be no outages related to this work. 
• Do you have permission to do this work? 
  PSEG Long Island has secured all necessary approvals.
• Whom can I contact for more information?
  f you have further questions or, are unable to access the documents electronically and would like to request hard copies, please call PSEG Long Island Customer Service at 1-800-490-0025 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. If you would like to leave feedback about this project, please take our survey at https://www.psegliny.com/inthecommunity/currentinitiatives/reliabilityprojects or email ExternalAffairsLI@pseg.com.

 
As always, customer and employee safety is our primary concern. Please be cautious when travelling near our construction work zones.

Posted date: October 25, 2023