WW I Explosives, Munitions Found On Two NY, NJ Beaches To Be Removed

January 13, 2009 8:51 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - A recent beach replenishment project resulted in munitions and explosives dating to World War I being deposited on beaches of two municipalities in Long Island, NY and NJ, government officials are paying $13.6 million to have them removed.

About 1,100 munitions and explosives were found on the Surf City and Ship Bottom beaches prior to the summer of 2007. They were reportedly deposited there during a 2006-2007 beach replenishment project.

More of those items have been found since, but now, government officials have hired a firm to find and remove all them.

U.S. Defense Department officials say the Philadelphia district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded West Chester, PA-headquartered Weston Solutions Inc., a $13.6 million contract to find and remove all of the remaining munitions and explosives from the two beaches.

Weston is an employee company with worldwide operations. Among other things, it performs property redevelopment and environmental restoration services such as environmental and munitions remediation, according to a statement on its Web site.