March, 2011 Gowanus Canal listed on the NPL: March 2010 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Walter Mugdan Superfund Director US EPA Region 2 March, 2011

Gowanus Canal listed on the NPL: March 2010

• Historical center of industry & commerce • Manufactured gas plants, mills, cement factories, oil refineries, tanneries, paint & ink factories & chemical plants. • 1910 - almost solid w/ sewage • 1911 - tunnel & propeller were installed to flush the canal w/ seawater. • Pump was broken from ‘60 - ’99. • Last dredged in ‘75. • “Black Mayonnaise”

Gowanus - CSO & Storm Outfalls

Gowanus - other outfall locations

Si Signi nifica icant nt con ontami tamina nati tion: on: – Coal tar wastes (PAHs) – PCBs – Heavy metals ( e.g., mercury & lead) – Pesticides – Sewage solids from CSOs

Newtown creek Newtown Creek Listed: September 2010

• Historic center of industry & commerce. • NYC began dumping raw sewage into the creek in 1856. • By 1870: >50 refineries were located along banks. • By end of 19th century: lined w/ oil refineries & petrochemical plants, fertilizer & glue factories, copper- smelting & fat-rendering plants, shipbuilders, sugar refineries, hide tanning plants, canneries, sawmills, paint works & lumber & coal yards.

• Early 1900s: > 500 enterprises at peak • Crowded w/ commercial vessels, incl. large boats bringing in raw materials & fuel / taking out oil, fat, varnish, chemicals & metals. • ‘ 40s & ‘ 50s: leaks at ExxonMobil facility led to an oil spill that has been oozing for 5 decades. • ~17M gallons of oil (greater than Exxon Valdez)

Sampling Locations (for Superfund Listing)

Environmental Issues

Newtown Creek

Gowanus Canal