Are Those Earthquake Monitors at the Jersey Shore? Sort of.
By David Madden
VENTNOR, N.J. (CBS) -- A piece of technical equipment sitting on the beach in Ventnor, NJ over the weekend turned a few heads. It was a seismic monitor -- normally used to detect earthquakes -- but this time it's being used for a less dramatic purpose.
There are a few monitors set up right now by the US Army Corps of Engineers -- the beach replenishment people. But in this case, they're on a slightly different project.
"We're expanding and repairing five outfall pipes in Atlantic City and Ventnor City as part of Hurricane Sandy repair work," explains Corps of Engineers spokesman Stephen Rochette, "so the monitors are there just to ensure that the equipment that goes over the boardwalk and the activity on the beach doesn't exceed thresholds for damages -- basically monitoring for vibrations."
That way, if someone complains, the Army has the evidence at hand. The solar-powered seismic monitors are used on every beach project, and are removed when the work is complete.