An Alabama company will undertake a massive cleanup and debris removal effort in Barnegat Bay following Superstorm Sandy.
State authorities have removed more than 1,000 boats since the storm hit, but the remains of many others, plus debris resulting from everything from destroyed homes to derelict vessels previously undetected pose a threat to navigation as the spring boating season draws near.
Three companies were awarded contracts to clear New Jersey's waterways of debris, hopefully before spring arrives. Donjon Marine will be responsible for the northern portion of the state, from the New York border to Raritan Bay. CrowderGulf, of Theodore, Alabama, will be responsible for the central portion of the state, from the Navesink River in Monmouth County to the southern tip of Island Beach State Park in Ocean County, including Barnegat Bay and its tributaries. The southern portion of the state, all areas south of Barnegat Inlet including the Delaware Bay region, will be handled by AshBritt Inc., of Florida.
"As a result of Sandy, there is a significant amount of debris and sand in waterways across the state," the state Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement. "A large volume of debris has been identified."
The area with the worst structural damage was identified as northern Barnegat Bay, near the area where a 20 foot-deep inlet formed near Herbert Street in Mantoloking.
In all, 58 buildings and eight cars were washed into the bay, a state report said.
Even away from the area immediately adjacent to Mantoloking, "considerable sunken vessels and concentrations of other debris, such as trees, docks, furniture, and light outdoor structures in waterways" have been identified, the report said.
About 20 boats still remain in a virtual marine graveyard off Route 70 in Brick in a former supermarket parking lot turned into a DEP debris removal site following the storm.
Crews will use SONAR and other technologies to scan the bottom of Barnegat Bay and its tributaries, including the Manasquan River, of debris. Then, after the debris is hauled onto barges and then trucks for final removal, the channels will be dredged to remove excess sand brought into the waterways.
"The goal is to ensure that lesser impacted waterways can be open as much as possible for recreational use by the summer, and that some other waterways can be opened for restricted use, providing safety for the boating public, especially in Barnegat Bay," the DEP's statement said.
The department said it will handle 75 percent reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the cleanup effort gets underway.
Ashbritt received a NO BID contract from Gilmore and Gov Tubby There bid was double what others charged but they will kick in millions to the republicon Super Pac money that could have went to the ppl most effected Greed is Good Wonder if Happy Gilmore has went to visit Mike Ritacco?
I hope youre not trying to say Gilmore didn't give them a no bid contract that cost the taxpayers more then double read man read is Bushs war in Iraq paid for yet?
"is Bushs war in Iraq paid for yet?" The same one that 95% of the Dem Senate voted for??? Please refrain from being too intellectually dishonest when attempting to post one-line zingers...... makes you look foolish - piney (lol)
Iraq didn't have WMD s I did like the photo op of Bush in his fly boy suit mission accomplished? lol Maybe it was the one he was issued before he went AWOL
You never know what you might hit. I never even thought about the shifting sands.
Now our most important asset is going to left to them to clean ? Is this madness ever going to end .... I say hire local baymen give us the equipment and we can get it done better Quicker and Kinder to the Areas these guys have no business being in our bays . and Lagoons . Like see that contract . No wonder they didnt clean what they could of they knew they would be double dipping . These guys wont even get out there trucks there going to go out in the bay in February ??? Hire locals
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Towns that employed debris-removal contractors other than a state-hired Florida firm achieved savings that, when totaled, amount to millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Florida-based AshBritt Inc. charged towns $21.25 per cubic yard to gather roadside debris and bring it to a collection site within 15 miles. That was nearly double the $11.70 asking price of another Florida company, Bergeron, and other firms, records show put down the republicon Kool aide and remove your head from your ass
Did you read the article in which Ash Britt was handed a NO BID Contract that fleeced the taxpayers or did your Chirstie pom poms hit you in the eye
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