The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an extension of the public comment period for the proposed early cleanup action at the Newtown Creek Superfund Site in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City. Initially set to conclude on September 27, the new deadline is now October 28. A public meeting was held on September 18 to outline the proposed plan.
The interim cleanup action, with an estimated cost of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars, involves several key steps:
- Dredging contaminated sediment to allow for protective caps without reducing water depths.
- Conducting deeper dredging and using In-situ Stabilization (ISS) in specific areas to lock in harmful substances.
- Temporarily installing sealed bulkheads as barriers to prevent contamination from seeping into the creek.
- Transporting dredged materials off-site.
- Restricting activities in the creek and continuing fish consumption advisories issued by New York State.
- Implementing a robust monitoring program to ensure long-term effectiveness.
"This early cleanup action is part of a broader strategy to address the extensive contamination at Newtown Creek," EPA stated. The site, named a Superfund site in 2010, spans 3.8 miles and includes several tributaries with contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and heavy metals present in the creek sediment. The overall comprehensive cleanup plan for Newtown Creek is still under development and expected to take several more years.
Written comments on the proposed interim cleanup plan can be submitted to Caroline Kwan, Remedial Project Manager at EPA via mail or email.
Further details about the proposed plan are available on the Newtown Creek Superfund site profile page.
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