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
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