Park Visitor Discovers Unexploded Military Ordnance at Sandy Hook

SANDY HOOK, NJ - Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area was closed Saturday morning after unexploded military ordnance washed ashore on Sandy Hook's beaches.

A visitor to the park found the live military ammunition washed up Wednesday at Beach F, Sandy Hook's fishing beach. It was identified as a mortar, which is used to fire shells. A photo of the mortar has been provided by the National Park Service.

As a precaution, and because there may have been unexploded shells inside the mortar, the U.S. Naval Weapons Station Earle’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team executed a controlled detonation Saturday morning. If you felt the ground shaking and noise coming from Sandy Hook Saturday morning, that would be the detonation, the U.S. Navy said. The noise may be louder and travel farther during overcast weather.

"The ordnance was detonated on site Saturday morning," park spokeswoman Daphne Yun said. As a safety precaution, Sandy Hook was closed to the public until 1 p.m. Saturday. It has since reopened.

It is not uncommon for unexploded ordnance to be found at Sandy Hook because it was once a U.S. Army ammunition proving ground. In fact, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team at Earle routinely respond to reports of ordnance washing ashore at the park.

“Unexploded ordnance are not uncommon at Gateway’s Sandy Hook Unit. Not only was Fort Hancock an active military base until 1974, but this site was also the proving ground of the U.S. Army from 1874 until 1919,” said Jen Nersesian, Gateway’s superintendent. “Public safety is our first concern, which is why we are closing the park during the detonation.”

Photo of the mortar discovered Jan. 4 provided by Daphne Yun/National Park Service