Editor's note: Tom Fote from the Jersey Coast Anglers Association e-mailed the below press release from New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife's Artificial Reef Program. The JCAA and others fought to allow subway cars, with lots of nooks and crannies for reef fish habitat, to be deployed on the artificial reefs. Some were concerned that asbestos on the cars would contaminate waters. But the amount of asbestos that could seep into the waters was reportedly less than is allowed in tap water.

SUBWAY CARS HIT BOTTOM ON ATLANTIC CITY REEF

On April 3, 2008, 44 decommissioned stainless steel subway cars were
deployed on the Atlantic City Reef site as part of the Artificial
Reef Program. The AC reef is located 8.8 nautical miles offshore of
the Absecon Inlet, has a depth range of 50 -90 feet and is four
square miles in size. Also located on the AC reef are Redbird subway
cars, concrete, reef balls, telecommunication cables, tanks, tires
and various vessels all of which total just under 65,000 cubic yards
of reef material.

Three locations were chosen to be the final resting place for these
particular subway cars. Site one consists of 15 cars, located at
DGPS coordinates 3915.600' 7414.400', in depth range of 75 * 80
feet. Site two consists of 14 cars, located at DGPS coordinates
3915.375' 7414.625', in depth range of 75 * 80 feet. The third and
final site with 15 cars is located at DGPS coordinates 3914.100'
7412.600', in depth range of 90 * 95 feet. The cars are placed in a
tight circle pattern surrounding these coordinates to better
accommodate divers.

A total of 600 decommissioned stainless steel subway cars are to be
deployed eventually, all being received from the New York
Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). Each car is approximately 60
feet in length, 10 feet in width and 11 feet in height. Prior to
deployment each car is stripped of all plastics, degradable materials
and grease to avoid contamination to the marine ecosystem. The MTA
covers all costs for the cleaning, transportation and deployment to
the artificial reef sites.

The remainders of the cars are scheduled to be deployed at the
Deepwater, Cape May, Garden State South and Shark River Reef sites.

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