Review: Errors in DEP application on beach paths

Last Updated on Saturday, September 08, 2012 09:18 am Written by Cindy Nevitt Saturday, September 08, 2012 01:00 am

OCEAN CITY – Two weeks after the state Department of Environmental Protection informed Junetta N. Dix Consulting Inc. of Linwood that its modification permit for two northend beach access paths contained deficiencies, the consultant resubmitted the entire Coastal Area Facility Review Act, CAFRA package.

The Gazette’s review of the 30-page document, provided by the city clerk’s office in response to an Open Public Records Act request, shows that Junetta N. Dix’s submission of Sept. 5 still contains inaccuracies.

Stenton Place and St. James Place, the two beaches upon which the city poured concrete in February without obtaining necessary approval from the DEP, are repeatedly misidentified in photo captions in one of the application’s appendices. In one instance, the location of the project is inaccurately identified as Fairfield Township, Cumberland County.

“We have it and we are in the process of reviewing it,” DEP spokesperson Bob Considine said Friday morning when asked about the inaccuracies in the consultant’s report.

In the Sept. 5 cover letter of the resubmitted application, the consultant – whom the city paid $1,582 to handle the “permit after the fact” process and paperwork – writes, “Some of the captions on the photographs were incorrect and have been corrected.”

"Communication is very important," said 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeVlieger in a phone conversation late Friday afternoon, responding to a request for comment from the city.

DeVlieger, who was elected in May and took office in July, said he is aware of the DEP violations although they occurred in his ward before his tenure. "Our relationship with the DEP is very important. I would like to see that rectified as soon as possible."

Junetta N. Dix and city business administrator Mike Dattilo could not be reached for comment.

The DEP served the city with a notice of violation on Feb. 21 after inspecting the beach access ramps on Feb. 15. At the time, the DEP asked the city for a response as soon as possible, and said its options were to remove the concrete or apply for a permit after the fact.

The DEP reinspected the ramps on July 25 and sent an Aug. 2 letter requesting action.

Junetta N. Dix, who informed the DEP on March 6 that it was the city’s intention to file the modification to its CAFRA permit within 30 days, took almost six months to file the paperwork. Doing so also included a payment of $3,549 to the DEP Division of Land Use for the CAFRA permit. The construction of the beach access ramps cost $4,150, according to Dix’s permit application.

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