ABRIDGED HISTORY OF NRPA
NRPA was founded by Lou Figurelli. Originally from New Jersey, he was a short wave radio and telecommunications
expert, as well as an avid fisherman. Around 1977, he was displaced from Captain’s Marina in Great Kills and moved to
a donated houseboat in Lemon Creek, Princes Bay, in the shadow of Seguine Mansion. He already had a reputation as
an ardent defender of marine life and quickly befriended members of the Princes Bay Boatmen Association (PBBA) and
others in the area. The baymen and fishermen told Lou about multiple abuses in the Bay, including poaching, dumping of
contaminated soils and the mining and removal of tons of clean sand. Lou, with the help of Pete Glissmann, Steve
Gross, Jack Latanzio and attorney Steve Zuntag collected thousands of dollars, one dollar at a time, to file Articles of
Incorporation, forming the Natural Resources Protective Association of Staten Island, Inc. Their goal was to educate
themselves and other citizens about the hazards which threatened the marine environment.
1978-1982
NRPA joins Groups against Garbage (GAG) along with Clean Ocean Action (COA), to force the NYC Dept. of Sanitation
to make a better effort to stop hazardous floatable debris (including medical waste) from entering the Arthur Kill water-
way at Fresh Kills dump.
1983-1987
Lou and divers Jim Palucci and Norm Conduit conduct underwater investigations into the locations where the Army
Corps of Engineers and the Port Authority of NY/NJ had proposed dumping contaminated dredge spoils into deep, un-
derwater areas called “borrow pits”. The evidence they collected convinced a New York State judge to issue an injunc-
tion against dumping the dredge material into the pits. The injunction, requiring all parties to agree on the science of the
proposed actions, stands to this day. NRPA also forced NYCDEP to accelerate the construction of sewer connections, to
stop the dumping of thousands of gallons of raw sewage into the Bay. Lou and his team worked closely with elected
officials including Elizabeth Connelly, Eric Vitaliano, Robert Straniere and Guy Molinari as well as advocates Joel Kupfer-
man Esq., Clean Ocean Action, the Staten Island Register and Protectors of Pine Oak Woods to keep the Bay protect-
ed.
1988-1992
Lou's health started to fail. With the help of Ralph Pastore and Kerry Sullivan, along with Dick Manning and the SI Tuna
Club they pressured the Army Corps to stop allowing contaminated sediments to be released into the Bay. NRPA, COA
and NRDC worked on land based disposal of contaminated sediments. In 1990, the first annual New Year’s Day Beach
Walk is held at Great Kills, Gateway National Recreation Area, a tradition that continues every year.
1993-1997
Many people including John Malizia, Jim Scarcella, Tony Rose of SI Sport Divers, Jim Kelly of Save the Bay and NY/NJ
Baykeeper are outraged when the Corps suggests building a “Dredge Containment Island” in the center of the Bay.
NRPA leads the charge against the destruction of bay habitat and former Congressman Vito Fossella, former NY Gover-
nor George Pataki and former Governor Christine Whitman of NJ tell the Corps to find other solutions to dredge spoil
disposal.
1998-2002
NRPA continues to stay active, reviewing and documenting marine life, Ida Sanoff joins the fight against the dumping in
Jamaica Bay and tracks floatable debris. NRPA becomes involved in the remediation of the old Pennsylvania and Foun-
tain Avenue landfills in Brooklyn. The Coalition Against Water Disposal is formed to unite local groups opposed to
dumping dredge spoils in NYC waters. Chuck Perry of Protectors of the Pine Oak Woods works with Kerry, Jim, Tony
and Noreen Somma, to document the Bay life in the borrow pits. The North Shore Waterfront Conservancy is formed.
2003-2007
The NRPA is approached about supporting “wind turbines” for Lower NY Bay. After discussions the project is tabled.
NRPA continues to do beach clean ups and supports Kayak Staten Island. A “discovery hike” and clean up is held at
Graniteville Swamp Forest. Richie Chan joins NRPA and provides much needed organizational support.
2008-2012
The NRPA, with help from then Councilman Andrew Lanza and Councilman Jim Oddo, received grants for cleanups and
equipment. Working with PPOW and The Trust for Public Land, Pouch Camp is saved. Partnership for Parks recogniz-
es NRPA as an important partner in keeping parks and beaches clean. Assemblywoman Nicole Maliotakis, Chris Wil-
liams and Ellen Pratt of PPOW are recognized for their work to preserve open space.
2013- 2017
NRPA continues to be a force, cleaning New Dorp Beach with Dominic Cenatiempo, helping with the Callaloo Patch
community garden with Keith Jacobsen, working with NYCDEP on Bluebelts, working with SWIM, PPOW, Bay Terrace
Improvement Group, NYC H2O, Baykeeper, COA and our elected officials to make our waters and harbor estuary a
better place.
