The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on a proposed early cleanup action for the Newtown Creek Superfund Site, located in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City. This initiative focuses on the East Branch of Newtown Creek and is part of the larger effort to clean up the entire site.
Public comments on the plan are welcome for 30 days starting August 28, 2024. The EPA will hold a hybrid public meeting at Chatroom at Elsewhere, 599 Johnson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, on September 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the proposal. Virtual attendance requires prior registration.
“This draft proposal is a significant milestone in our long-term commitment to restoring the health of Newtown Creek and its surrounding communities. We strongly encourage the public to participate and share their feedback on the proposal to help shape the future of this vital cleanup effort,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This proposal would allow us to begin reducing risks now in a portion of the Creek. It will also help EPA gain valuable experience for future cleanup efforts across Newtown Creek as we continue our detailed study of the creek and assess the best cleanup options.”
The proposed interim cleanup plan is estimated to cost nearly a quarter of a billion dollars. It aims to address immediate risks while allowing for further assessment and potential additional work if needed after completion.
Key components of the proposed plan include:
- **Dredging Contaminated Sediment**: Removing contaminated sediment to enable protective caps without reducing water depths.
- **Deeper Dredging and In-Situ Stabilization (ISS)**: Conducting deeper dredging in specific areas and stabilizing sediment using ISS, which involves mixing materials like cement into contaminated sediment.
- **Installing Sealed Bulkheads**: Temporarily installing sealed bulkheads to prevent contaminated water from seeping from the shoreline into the creek.
- **Off-site Removal**: Transporting dredged materials to appropriate locations or facilities.
- **Activity Restrictions and Fish Consumption Advisories**: Implementing restrictions to protect the cap and continuing fish consumption advisories by New York State.
- **Monitoring Program**: Establishing a robust monitoring program to ensure long-term effectiveness.
This early action is part of an ongoing strategy addressing extensive contamination at Newtown Creek, designated as a Superfund site in 2010. The site spans 3.8 miles with several tributaries affected by contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and heavy metals.
Written comments on the proposed interim cleanup plan can be submitted to Caroline Kwan, Remedial Project Manager at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007 or via email at kwan.caroline@epa.gov.
For more information about this project or to view the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Newtown Creek Superfund site profile page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on social media platforms for updates.
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