DEP Says State Fines Not Likely for Squan Residents' Sand Removal

Though Manasquan has a deadline tomorrow for residents to move sand off property and back onto the beachfront, the state says it not threatening to fine anyone who cannot comply.

A Friday announcement to Manasquan residents directed residents who have sand displaced from the massive Hurricane Sandy storm surge to move the sand from their property back onto the beach front by the end of day Jan. 30, Wednesday.

The message warned that summons could be applied to those who deposited sand after the deadline or in the wrong area, such as the emergency beach accessway.

State Department of Environmental Protection Spokesperson Bob Considine said that regulations do exist but that the DEP itself is not threatening fines for those who break them.

Considine told Manasquan-Belmar Patch that "while there are certain regulations on the books regarding sand movement, the DEP does not consider this business-as-usual in our post-Sandy world."

Considine said municipalities and residents should be working together depending on the specific considerations for that town's cleanup.

"Of course, the DEP would like people to work with their municipalities on cleanups, but the DEP certainly is not threatening fines at this juncture," he said.

The complete text of the borough announcement can be found here.