Munitions found on beach so far: 900
By DONNA WEAVER Staff Writer, (609) 978-2015
Published: Wednesday, May 2, 2007

The official number of munitions found on Surf City and Ship Bottom beaches has increased to 900, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said late Tuesday afternoon.
“We're up to 900 now. It's looking like when these munitions were dumped after World War II, they were dumped in mass quantities,” said Khaalid Walls.

The majority of munitions that were recently found on the beaches in Surf City are about 4 inches long and are being found in cassettes or caches, according to Walls. 

But the discovery of approximately 700 more munitions than last week's total of 200 will not affect the reopening of the beaches, Walls said.

“We're still on target to be opened for Memorial Day. This should not set us back,” said Walls

The discovery of military munitions on the beaches in March contributed to the delay of the beach-replenishment project's completion in Surf City. Additional beaches in Ship Bottom, which were part of the area where the project tapered off, were closed earlier last month.

A document on the state Department of Environmental Protection Web site indicated that beaches on the edges of the project could be reopened by now. On Friday, Walls said it wasn't clear if portions of the beach might reopen before Memorial Day.

Surf City Mayor Leonard T. Connors would only offer a mantra Tuesday evening of his perspective on the beaches reopening.

“The beaches will be open for Memorial Day,” Connors said several times during a phone interview. “This is coming from the mayor of Surf City.”

Like Walls, Connors said he does not believe the discovery of several hundred more munitions will cause a setback in the reopening of the beaches.

“They're doing exactly what they set out to do and the beaches will be clean and open before Memorial Day. I am absolutely confident; the beaches will be opened,” Connors said.

There is also confidence in Ship Bottom as officials look forward to reopening seven streets closed in addition to Surf City beaches last month. On Tuesday evening, Mayor William Huelsenbeck was shocked to learn of the new number of munitions discovered. 

“They found 900 all together? I don't know how they could find 700 more in one week. A week ago Friday they told me they were at 188,” said Huelsenbeck.

But Huelsenbeck said the new discovery should not affect Ship Bottom beaches. Huelsenbeck added that he spoke with a corps engineer onsite who said the beaches will be reopened soon. 

“I think pretty much Ship Bottom is done and we're just waiting for paperwork. We only had about 36 inches of sand in this,” said Huelsenbeck.

He said the borough is still working on procedures to put in place in the event that munitions are found this summer on the beaches — because it is always a possibility, Huelsenbeck said. 

At last week's Borough Council meeting, Huelsenbeck said that even if the beaches are cleared and open before Memorial Day, beach-goers may not be able to dig in the sand or use metal detectors. Huelsenbeck explained this was a restriction he had discussed with the corps.

“The corps has not mentioned a digging ban on the beaches,” Huelsenbeck said Tuesday evening. “As of Friday it looks like the beaches will be opened as normal.”
 
 

To e-mail Donna Weaver at The Press:

DWeaver@pressofac.com