MENENDEZ/LAUTENBERG: ARMY CORPS MUST REMOVE UNEXPLODED MUNITIONS IN SURF CITY
U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) yesterday issued a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urging they remove unexploded munitions from the beaches of Surf City, New Jersey by Memorial Day weekend.
"The federal government has the responsibility to make sure the beach is not a minefield by the time Memorial Day arrives," said Senator Robert Menendez. "The Army Corps of Engineers should conduct this cleanup safely and quickly, which is vital for the community's economy and, more importantly, the safety of beachgoers."
"With warm weather on the horizon and thousands of families planning trips to the beach, these munitions must be removed and removed quickly," said Sen. Lautenberg. "The Army Corps of Engineers must take charge of the cleanup process and remove these munitions by Memorial Day."
The unexploded munitions, which date back to World War II, were found in early March during a beach replenishment project conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The beach replenishment project has been temporarily suspended while the Army Corps of Engineers continues to comb the beach for other unexploded fuses.
In their letter, which was addressed to Brigadier General Todd T. Semonite, the Senators said:
"The federal government must ensure that United States military munitions discovered on our shores are removed and disposed of properly and immediately. This responsibility includes the safe removal and disposal of these munitions, and the costs thereof, as well as a full sweep of the project area to ensure that all buried United States military ordnance and munitions have been found and disposed of properly.
"We believe that the Corps can and must take whatever steps necessary to ensure that the beach at Surf City is clear and safe before the start of the summer season on May 25, 2007. Any economic disruption during this critical time of year could have disastrous consequences for local businesses and the surrounding community. We urge you to devote whatever resources necessary to remedy conditions at Surf City as quickly as possible."