Pilot study to characterize ordnance contamination within the Sea Bright, New Jersey, Sand Borrow Site / by Joan Pope ... [et al.] ; prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Abstract

Preface The field study and analysis described in this report were performed by the U.S.. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station's (WES's) Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC) and Geotechnical Laboratory (GL) for the U.S. Army Engineer (USAE) District, New York. A Pilot Study was designed and conducted off the north New Jersey shore at the approved sand borrow site for the Sea Bright Beach Erosion Control Project during September 1995 to test and evaluate various technologies for characterizing ordnance contamination. USAE Division, Huntsville, reviewed and approved the pilot study safety plan. USAE District, New York, provided survey vessel support. The U.S. Coast Guard Station at Sandy Hook provided dockage, logistical support, and an operation base. Rangers at the Fort Hancock National Park and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team members at Fort Monmouth and Earle Naval Air Station provided valuable input on the nature and history of ordnance use and finds in the study area. CERC coordinated the overall study, analysis, and reporting. GL coordinated the magnetometer data collection and data analysis. CR Environmental provided the research vessel with Global Positioning System (GPS) position controls used for the magnetometer survey, Edgetech conducted the side-scan sonar and X-star surveys, and Geometries furnished and operated the magnetometer. Additional magnetic data processing was conducted by Messrs. Douglas DeProspo, Erick Cleary, and Thomas Bell of Arete Engineeering Technologies Corporation (AETC). USAE District, New York, personnel responsible for project oversight include Mr. Joseph Zaraszczak and Ms. Lynn Bocamazo.

Dredging in Sediments Containing Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC)

“…Various naval and army artillery and experimental rounds were tested along with proof firing of barrels for government acceptance. This (Pope et al 1996b). …”

“…Figure 34 shows the borrow area in relation to battery positions. Note that the entire borrow area is within the quoted firing fans and range potential for most classes of artillery tested at Fort Hancock (Pope et al 1996b). …”

“…Maddrell (2001) reported that the magnetometer survey was able to clear the areas with no delays to dredging, and that the overall survey cost was at some $5 million, or about 1 percent of the final total dredging project contract cost of $450 million in 1997 prices. Pope et al (1996b) also field-tested and used underwater video cameras, side scan sonar, a sweep frequency subbottom profilers X-star, and a cesium vapor magnetic gradiometer for investigating the MEC contamination in a sand borrow site (used for beach nourishment) off the coast of New Jersey. The X-star had limited use in determining if there are hard object targets (could be MEC, stones, or even wood) buried in the sediments.…”

“…The project is scheduled to be constructed in four phases as individual contracts are awarded per section of beach and designated area within the borrow area (i.e., contracts 1A, 1B, 2, and 3). Fifty years of beach nourishment are programmed into this project (Pope et al 1996b). …”

“…From a pilot study on MEC characterization within the borrow site, Pope et al (1996b) reports that coastal fortifications and military posts have been located at the northern end of Sandy Hook, NJ, since the mid-1700s (Figure 34). This strategic location guards the major navigation routes into New York Harbor.…”