(08/28/06) PT. PLEASANT BEACH ? Residents in Point Pleasant Beach say a weekend gas leak highlights the need for some environmental intervention by town officials.

The leak occurred at the sight of the old Surf Chevrolet Dealership on Route 35. In the process of excavating a large gas tank, rain got inside the structure and caused gas to seep through tiny holes into a storm drain. That storm drain runs into the Lake of the Lilies in a residential neighborhood. Despite the incident, representatives at an environmental company say none of the gas actually reached the lake.

However, residents in Point Pleasant Beach say the gas leak highlights a greater environmental problem with the lake. According to residents, everyday rain has filled the lake with sediment contaminated by nearby roads. They want town officials to dredge Lake of the Lilies in order to clear out the pollutants.