Some people advocate pumping sand to rebuild beaches, dredging inlets and building protective groins and jetties.

Critics ask whether the Federal Government should be rebuilding storm-damaged beaches, and if so, how much it should spend on the task.

The Army Corps of Engineers has been rebuilding beaches since the 1950's.

The fund is for rebuilding and fortifying beaches and man-made coastal structures damaged by perennial erosion and storms.

The flow of sand along the South Shore naturally rebuilds beaches.

Opponents questioned whether it was wise for Congress to spend money on rebuilding beaches that would only wash away again in the next big storm.

He said that nonshore taxpayers were wearying of Federal spending to rebuild beaches and provide disaster relief for owners of damaged shore property.

After that, pumping and grooming to a height of 12 feet near the seawall will move southward to rebuild beaches hurt by storms in Ocean County.

"It's been used to rebuild beaches throughout the area."

Bernard S. Moore, the state's chief coastal engineer and a staunch advocate of rebuilding beaches, expressed alarm.