Army Corps ready to scan LBI beach for explosives
By DONNA WEAVER Staff Writer, (609) 978-2015
Published: Saturday, March 31, 2007

SURF CITY — The news media converged Friday afternoon at 12th Street and the beach for a news conference with beach replenishment project manager Keith Watson.
The discovery of World War II era military munitions on the beaches earlier this month contributed to the delay of the beach-replenishment project's completion, a spokesman for the corps said last week. An electromagnetic scan of the beaches will be conducted to be sure there are no other munitions.

“About 1.5 miles will be scanned. We will do whatever is necessary to clear the beaches,??? Watson said.

Most of the munitions were found in four or five different areas, but the bulk of the fuses were discovered between 17th and 24th Streets, according to Watson.

“A number of additional fuses have been found this week. The total number we have found is about 30, Watson said.

“In earnest, on Tuesday the scan will start. After that it is scheduled to take two more weeks dependent on the weather,??? Watson said. “Again, that all depends on how much we find. We'll need to reacquire and dig up any ordnance and contact the proper organization to dispose of it.???
 

Following the press conference, the news media moved nine blocks south to North Third Street for a demonstration of the magnetic scanning device. For the first time in almost one month, the orange fence was lifted so cameramen and reporters could get a glimpse of the device.

Members of the media were not permitted to cross a line drawn in the sand by a corps engineer. They stood behind a new split-rail fence along the walkway and watched as a golf cart-like vehicle pulled high-tech metal detectors across the sand.

Walls said the vehicle is hooked up to a towed array of magnotometers, about four or five devices. Watson said Friday the towed array will be able to cover about five feet at one time.

This is the first time the Philadelphia District Corps has discovered ordnance, according to Walls. But this is not the first time a discovery like the one is Surf City has been made on the East Coast, Watson said.

Walls again said Friday that the goal is to have the beaches open by Memorial Day, but the safety of the public is the corps' priority.

Watson said even though the munitions are more than 50 years old they could have the potential to explode. The munitions are nine inches long and two inches in diameter.

“We have to treat them all as dangerous no matter how long they've been under the water,??? Watson said.

According to a newsletter Walls distributed Friday, many of the items found were nonexplosive. But a number of the items have been determined to be potentially dangerous. The Army's Fort Monmouth 754th Ordnance Company and the State Police Bomb Unit were called in to assess the items.

An ordnance-disposal expert determined the items containing explosives had the potential to cause loss of limb and/or eyesight and, under the right circumstances, loss of life.

When pressed for a timetable by the crowd of news reporters, Watson said he was not sure.

“It would all be speculation at this point, I can't make that guess. It's really going to depend on if we find anything else out there,??? Watson said.

To e-mail Donna Weaver at The Press:

DWeaver@pressofac.com