Permit issued to remove foul-smelling seaweed

Stonington — The state has given the Lords Point Association a temporary permit to remove foul-smelling seaweed from neighborhood beaches.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection also said it would review immediately a permit application from Stonington borough to remove similarly stinky seaweed from its shore.

"The odor associated with this seaweed has become a serious quality of life issue in Stonington and it needs to be removed as soon as possible," Daniel Esty, DEEP commissioner, said in a news release. "The temporary authorization we issued today will allow for the removal to begin immediately. ...We will continue to work with Stonington and the Lords Point Association to study ways to permanently address the problem."

After removal, the seaweed will be dried and taken to a nearby farm to be used for agricultural purposes, the news release said.