A Jersey shore town says it won't use tropical rain forest wood to rebuild a boardwalk destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.

Belmar boardwalk after Sandy
Belmar boardwalk after Sandy (YouTube)
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Belmar Mayor Matthew Doherty announced the decision Tuesday, saying officials had decided the municipal government should avoid a protracted legal battle with environmentalists.

The town wants to have the new boardwalk completed in time for the summer tourism season. But some groups had threatened to seek an injunction that could have postponed the work for up to two months.

Belmar had awarded a $6.6 million contract last month to a company to provide ipe wood for the project.

Ipe has proven popular with coastal communities. It looks good, lasts for decades and can support the weight of a police car or fire engine, not to mention thousands of people.

 

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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