Oil Spill Study for the Newtown Creek Site
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NEWTOWN CREEK/GREENPOINT OIL SPILL STUDY BROOKLYN, NEW YORK September 12, 2007 Table of Contents Executive Summary: Section 1: Introduction........................................................................................................ ...... ........................1 Legislative History.................................................................... .......................................................1 Area Characterization and Spill History................................ ...........................................................2 Spill Related Health Effects............................................................ .................................................4 Section 2: USCG 1979 Report Review............................................................ .................................................5 Mitigation of Seeps Review................................................................. ............................................5 Extent & Mitigation of Free Product Plume Review.......................... .............................................6 Extent & Mitigation of Dissolved Product Plume Review............. ....... ..........................................7 Section 3: Vapor Intrusion Document..................................................................... ..........................................7 Section 4: Natural Resource Damages Assessment (NRDA) Document................ .......................... ...............8 Section 5: EPA Recommendations.................................................... .............................................. .................8 REAC........................................................................................................................ ......... ..............8 Vapor Intrusion................................................................................................. ..............................10 NRDA...................................................................................................................................... .......11 Chapter 1: REAC Report............................................................................................................................................... 13 Summary...................................................................................................................................................... 17 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 21 Geraghty & Miller Report.......................................................................................................................... 23 Newtown Creek Seeps................................................................................................................................. 24 Free Product Plume................................................................................................................................... .. 28 Dissolved Product Plume.......................................................................................................................... .. 40 Conclusions............................................................................................................................................... .. 41 Recommendations..................................................................................................................................... .. 43 References................................................................................................................................................. .. 45 Appendix................................................................................................................................................... .. 48 Tables........................................................................................................................................................ .. 53 Figures...................................................................................................................................................... ... 58 Chapter 2: Vapor Intrusion............................................................................................................................................ 67 Figures......................................................................................................................................................... 72 Figure 1 - Vapor Pathways into Buildings....................................................................................... ........... 73 Figure 2 - Site Plan...................................................................................................................................... 74 Figure 3 - Preliminary Phase IV Commercial Soil Vapor (Benzene Concentrations)................................ 75 Figure 4 - Preliminary Phase IV Commercial Soil Vapor (Methane Concentrations)................................ 76 Figure 5 - Benzene Concentrations in Soil Vapor (Jan 2007)..................................................................... 77 Figure 6 - Methane Concentrations in Soil Vapor(Jan 2007)................................................................ ..... 78 Figure 7 - Greenpoint Residential Vapor Intrusion Study Area.................................................................. 79 Chapter 3: Natural Resource Damage Assessment...................................................................................... .................81 Executive Summary Section 1: Introduction, Legislative & Historical Background A. Introduction: This study was compiled by a team of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientists, biologists, engineers, hydrogeologists, geologists, risk assessors, attorneys and EPA contractor geologists and engineers. The study is based upon a review of both public and private sector organizations. Methodologies, models, sampling data, and other pertinent information from all discovered sources were reviewed and considered in making the recommendations of this study. In order to produce the study in a timely manner, EPA conducted no additional sampling. Instead, EPA focused on the reviews of existing documents and previously collected sampling data. A conscious decision was made to limit the scope of the study to the Newtown Creek oil spill and its petroleum based impacts on the Greenpoint community. Because of the more than 140+ years of heavy industry in the area of Newtown Creek, it would not be feasible in one year to evaluate potential health risks from a large number and wide variety of possible industrial contamination. The oil seepage into the Creek seems to be only one of many pollution issues impacting Newtown Creek. A potentially more significant issue that appears to be having a major effect on the Creek is the ongoing discharge from the New York City-Newtown Creek municipal wastewater treatment system, the combined sewer overflows and the consequent zero oxygen levels. This in concert with a stagnated water flow in the Creek will only exacerbate the Creek's future ability to recover. Plans to upgrade the New York City-Newtown Creek municipal wastewater treatment system to secondary treatment are currently underway pursuant to an enforcement agreement between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP). In order to address the combined sewer overflow issues, a Watershed/Waterbody Facility Plan will be submitted by NYCDEP to NYSDEC shortly which will lay out the City's long term abatement program for managing the source of the contamination. B. Legislative History: The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006" (Public Law No. 109-241)" was signed by the President on July 11, 2006. Section 410 of the legislation set forth a requirement for EPA to conduct, within one year of enactment, a study of the public health and safety concerns relating to the Newtown Creek oil spill. Section 410 (originally introduced as H.R. 109-889, and referred to below as “H.R. 889”) was authored by Representative Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn and Queens) and Representative Nydia Velazquez (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens). Newtown Creek and the Greenpoint community are part of their districts. [See “Conference Report on H.R. 889, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006” (remarks by Representative Weiner), 152 Cong. Rec. H4527-28, June 26, 2006.] SEC. 410. NEWTOWN CREEK, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK. (a) Study- Of the amounts provided under section 1012 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall conduct a study of public health and safety concerns related to the pollution of Newtown Creek, New York 1 City, New York, caused by seepage of oil into Newtown Creek from 17,000,000 gallons of underground oil spills in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York. (b) Report- Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report containing the results of the study to the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. To meet this legislative mandate, EPA looked at the following main issues: • Review of the 1979 USCG Report; • Mitigation of seeps into Newtown Creek; • Extent and mitigation of the free product plume; • Extent