Weather does not foil Gov.’s day at the beach

SHERRY CONOHAN Mrs. Max—Celia Maybaum—gets a hug from Gov. James E. McGreevey after serving him a hot dog at Max’s, her restaurant in Long Branch.

McGreevey stops at Shore to tout benefits

of beach replenishment

By Sherry conohan

Staff Writer

MONMOUTH BEACH — During a soggy Labor Day visit to the Shore, Gov. James E. McGreevey touted the state’s $25 million contribution to beach replenishment this year and took a tough stand against ocean dumping.

Speaking under the cover of an outdoor passageway at the Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club, out of the reach of a softly blowing rain, the governor said beach replenishment was important not only because it protects against flooding and storm damage but also because it provides recreational activities for families.

But, he said, the Jersey Shore is also the "economic engine" for the entire state.

"Replenishment is the focus of this administration," he declared. "Our replenishment efforts will increase recreational space adjacent to the New Jersey Shore’s 127 miles of shoreline."

McGreevey called that an investment in "eco-tourism." In 2001, he said by way of example, the Shore reported $16.6 billion in travel-related spending.

"Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright alone had 325,000 visits contributing to the economic well-being of the Jersey Shore and the vitality of the area," he said.

To ensure the highest quality of ocean water for the beaches, the governor said, he and Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr., D-N.J., who accompanied him on his visit to the Monmouth County beach, were taking a "clear unequivocal stand" against ocean dumping, particularly the dumping of materials containing amounts of PCBs above the threshold Pallone has proposed to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"As the state of New Jersey and local communities and the federal government continue to make a substantial investment in shore replenishment and flood protection, we cannot allow irresponsible mud dumping that would sacrifice the quality of ocean water adjacent to the Jersey Shore," he said.

Both McGreevey and Pallone took a bead on continued dumping at the Mud Dump, six miles off Sea Bright.

Pallone said he had a commitment from Christine Todd Whitman, the former governor of New Jersey who is now the head of the EPA, to implement the standard Pallone proposed. That standard would allow only 113 PCBs per billion parts. However, Pallone expressed disappointment that she had not made it a rule before Labor Day.

Pallone said he and Rep. Christopher Smith, R-4, were going to jointly introduce legislation in the next week to make that threshold the standard law.

"It usually is protective of other heavy metals as well," he said.

Pallone said he is hopeful that, with the new standard in place and with the federal funds intended to help move contaminated materials uplands, dumping six miles off the coast will stop.

"New Jersey is irrevocably committed to not permit increased dumping," the governor added. "We cannot compromise. We will not compromise as to the 113 standard."

Pallone also used the occasion to point out that beach replenishment has worked.

"A lot of people were skeptical and said it will wash away — there’s no point in doing it," he noted. "It’s been a tremendous success. Most of the sand has stayed in place. There are a couple of areas where we have to go back every five or six years and replenish, and that’s what this is. This is the second phase of replenishment."

The beach-building initiative has moved to this borough now that the last piping plover, an endangered species, has fledged. The replenishment started just north of the Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club and is working north to Sea Bright. That work is expected to take two weeks. Then the Army Corps of Engineers will work south from the beach club for two weeks to the Long Branch border before moving to Sea Bright, starting at Tradewinds Beach Club.

John Sasson, New Jersey area engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, said the work will move south from Tradewinds and fill in to Monmouth Beach before moving up to the Highlands bridge area.

Army Corps of Engineers officials said 200,000 cubic yards of sand have already been moved in the borough.

McGreevey noted that in the Monmouth Beach project, 2 million cubic yards of sand are being replaced, with the federal government paying 65 percent of the cost, which he gave as "upwards of approximately $14 million"; the state paying 25 percent, or $3.675 million; and the local government, 9 percent.

Mayor James P. McConville III and Borough Commissioner William C. Barham were on hand, along with Freeholder Director Harry Larrison Jr.

McGreevey recognized the efforts of Pallone to keep the funding formula at 65 percent federal and 35 percent state and local in the face of the federal administration’s attempts to reverse it.

"That shifting of the financial burden to the state of New Jersey would have been cost prohibitive," the governor said.

McConville said it was significant that McGreevey had come to the borough to talk about the project.

"It’s fantastic," he said. "It shows he’s very supportive of the beach replenishment project — both he and Pallone. We’re thrilled."