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February 2, 2007

Beach cleanup planned to address trash problem

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Outraged by decades-old trash washing up on South County beaches and frustrated by what they view as an inadequate response, the Rhode Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and concerned citizens plan to do something about it tomorrow.

A beach cleanup is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Deep Hole fishing area, off Matunuck Beach Road.

Since mid-January, reams of fishing lines, rubber boots, hoses and thousands of pop-top beer cans have washed up on beaches spanning from the Charlestown Breachway to Snug Harbor. The debris is linked to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging operation to clear sand and silt from channels in the Point Judith Harbor of Refuge.

Under local pressure to help renourish storm-stripped beaches, the Army Corps agreed to dump the dredged material in about 15 feet of water off Matunuck. And while sediment is washing in, with it comes trash, some dating to the last dredging 30 years ago.

By contract, the contractor, Newborn Construction Inc., of Center Moriches, N.Y., is required to remove the debris, Walsh said. Three workers have been assigned to pick up the trash, which some fear will be washing in with the waves for years to come.

Frustrated by the pace and thoroughness of the work, the Surfrider Foundation initiated tomorrow's beach cleanup at a community forum Thursday night.

The Surfrider Foundation plans to charge Newborn Construction Inc. for trash bags, gloves, a Dumpster and tipping fees.

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 2:10 PM | Permalink

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