Though Public Works announced earlier this week that work had started at Hull Bay to stem the flow of effluent from a broken sewer pipe into the bay, that work was stopped Thursday.
A resident called the Coastal Zone Management Office to report that a bulldozer was being operated on the beach. The resident, Dawn Buckley, was concerned that the bulldozer was operating without a plan, according to Friday's Daily News.
The paper reported that Jim Casey of the Environmental Protection Agency said permits are required to use a bulldozer on the
beach.
It was not clear if the dozer, operated by E.D. Plumbing, which was hired by Public Works to fix the damaged pipe, had the required permit. It was also unclear why work stopped — because of lack of permits or because the work was finished.
Planning and Natural Resources had ordered the repair work done at Hull Bay but PNR Commissioner Dean Plaskett could not be reached Friday for clarification.
Public Works said its long-term plans include extending the pipe out to sea 1,800 feet. Area residents, who are circulating a petition, say the pipe will only go out 40 feet, leaving effluent headed toward the beach and the reef.
Hull Bay residents have complained for years about the harmful effects of raw sewage going directly into Hull Bay. However, the problem has never been fixed properly or permanently, area residents say.