Region 2 serving the people of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2/9/2018

Lower Passaic River Study Area

17-mile Remedial Investigation/

Feasibility Study

Update for Community

Advisory Group

February 8, 2018

.. -~i..., ... - -O­D<-•----

Region 2 serving the people of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2/9/2018

Diamond Alkali Superfund Site Overview:

– 80-120 Lister Avenue

– Lower 8.3 miles of the Lower Passaic River

– Newark Bay Study Area

– 17-Mile Lower Passaic River Study Area

Lower Passaic River

Swd)'Area (Operable Unit)

Lower8.3 Mll&s

(Operable Unit)

80-120 Lister Avenue Facility

(Operable Unit)

Newark Bay Study Area

(Operable Unit) (partially shown)

Region 2 serving the people of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2/9/2018

Timeline Refresher

2004 to 2007: EPA RI/FS sampling of 17-miles

2007: CPG agrees to take over on-going 17-Mile RI/FS

2008 to 2014: CPG conducts RI sampling

2014 to now: data evaluations, analysis, report prep

RI Field Investigations Included:

• Bathymetry Surveys• Water Column

Sampling • Sediment Sampling• Biological Sampling

RI = Remedial InvestigationFS = Feasibility Study

CPG= Cooperating Parties Group

imeline e resher

Region 2 serving the people of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2/9/2018

Conceptual Site Model (CSM)

A CSM is an important tool used in the Superfund process to identify:

- sources, - receptors, - pathways, - and to understand

& support site decisions

Source: Modified from U.S. EPA - Contaminated Sediment Remediation Guidance for Hazardous Waste Sites, December 2005

Volatilization

Tidal Fluctuallon

Preindustrial Riverbed

Flow from above Dundee Dam

Precipitation/ Atmospheric

Deposition

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Gomdwaler

Region 2 serving the people of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2/9/2018

Contaminant concentrations in the Lower Passaic River are largely driven by variations in sediment type and depositional/erosional history

Primary Contaminants of Potential Concern (“COPC”):• 2,3,7,8- TCDD (dioxin)• PCBs• Total DDx (pesticide) • PAHs• Mercury

Greatest concentration of COPCs are generally found in fine-grained sediments

Based on the RI sampling, and building on the conceptual site model described in EPA’s Record of Decision for the lower 8.3 miles, we learned…

2,3,7,8-TCDD

(ng/kg)

All Depths Surface (0 to 6 in.)

Max Min Max Min Mean

RM0 to 17.4 9,410,000 0.01 51,100 0.12 1,813

Upper 9 Miles 57,176 0.01 51,100 0.42 2,248

Total PCBs(mg/kg)

All Depths Surface (0 to 6 in.)

Max Min Max Min Mean

RM0 to 17.4 132.9 0.00 33.9 0.002 2.5

Upper 9 Miles 35.3 0.00 33.9 0.002 3.1

N W+E __ ....,.,.,,, s

Rock and Coarse gravel

Gravel and Sand

Sand

Silt and Sand

Silt

High concentrations of 2,3,7,8 – TCDD, PCBs, total DDx and to a lesser extent Mercury are found in fine-grained sediment.

Spatial Pattern of surface sediment 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentrations in relation to fine sediment content (Source: LPRSA Draft RI Report, 12/17 (Anchor QEA, in preparation)

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All of the contaminants remain at high concentrations in the river because of legacy sources.

Contaminants such as PAHs, mercury and to some extent PCBs are also influenced by upstream, downstream and/or watershed sources, while dioxin is not.

Spatial Pattern of surface sediment mercury concentrations in relation to fine sediment content (Source: LPRSA Draft RI Report, 12/17 (Anchor QEA, in preparation)

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Region 2 serving the people of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2/9/2018

Density gradients combined with tides

contribute to residual flow shown

Newark Bay

Dundee Dam

Tidal Exchange with Newark

Bay

Net Transport “In” Near Bottom

Net Transport “Out” Near Surface

Vertical movement and Diffusion

Example of Water Circulation in the Lower Passaic River

> c:::::> -----1t---n---t--------

-- -- ~:--=~--==-- < <-----n

Region 2 serving the people of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2/9/2018

We also learned:

• Contaminated sediments may serve as a source to the water column, and therefore other areas of the river, when concentrations in the sediments are higher than the concentrations found on particles in the water column

• Contaminated sediments can be a source through resuspension from tidal influences or high flow events such as storms

Region 2 serving the people of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2/9/2018

Bathymetry Evaluation – Erosion and Deposition over time

Source: LPRSA Draft RI Report, 12/17 (Anchor QEA, in preparation

, 2007 - 2008 Bathymetry Chong __ • ___ 2_oos • 2010 Bathymelry Change - - - ~r ~

Legend:

- Su breach Boundary Bathymetry Change (feet)

--Navigational Channel ->S D -1 - -0.S ·-. -2 - S D -2 - -1

CJ Shorel ine -1 - 2 --S - -2

D 0.5 - 1 -<-5 --0.S · 0 .5

2011 • 201 2 Bothymetry Change

Bathymetric Change Categories

- Depositional from 2007 to 2012

- No Change/ Temporarily Depositional

- Erosion and Deposi tion

- Erosional from 2007 to 2012

E:SI > 1.5 feet of Erosion

NOTE(S) : Positive bathymetry mange indicates deposition denoted in blue. Negative numbers indicate erosion denoted in red. Shoal bathymetry derived from single beam data for 2007, 2011 and 2012.

Figure is modified from U.S. EPA – Contaminated Sediment Remediation Guidance for Hazardous Waste Sites, December 2005

Conceptual Site Model

Precipitation/ Exchange will Atmospheric \ I, Newa!l(Bay Deposition }fl

Ecological ! Point Sources (CSO's, Exposure municipal --~ ~ ___'.__:.d..::::L-d-===:J ::,__ _ facilities, in

Tidal Fluctuation

Preindustrial Riverbed

Flow from above Dundee Dam

' • ,, dis , etc.)

, Limits of Tidal ' , Fluctuation

'

Region 2 serving the people of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2/9/2018

Summary of Human Health Risk Assessment Conclusions

Human health risks are driven primarily by ingestion of dioxin and PCBs in fish or crabs

• Some of these risks are also elevated in background fish and crabs

• Fish ingestion risks were estimated assuming a mixed fish diet of: common carp, white perch, American eel, catfish, and largemouth/smallmouth bass

• Maximum total Reasonable Maximum Exposure (“RME”) cancer risk of 4x10-3

• Acceptable range is 1 x10-4 to 1x10-6

• Noncancer hazard of 200• Hazard index less than or equal to 1

Region 2 serving the people of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2/9/2018

Ecological Risk

Revised Draft Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment submitted 12/17

Preliminary findings currently under review by EPA:

• Benthic invertebrates (including crabs and mussels) are at risk from elevated dioxins, PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, and metals in sediment.

• Fish (omnivores, invertivores, and piscivores) are at risk through fish tissue, fish eggs, dietary dose, and surface water exposure to dioxins, PCBs, pesticides, and metals in surface water.

• Birds (sandpiper, heron, and kingfisher) are at risk through dietary dose and egg tissue exposure to dioxins, PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, and metals in sediment.

• Mammals (river otter and mink) are at risk through dietary dose exposure to dioxins, and PCBs in sediment.

Next Steps….Feasibility Study –CPG to continue working on draft submissions.

Preliminary Assessment andSite Inspection

National Priority List Ranking and Listing

Remedial

Investigation

Feasibility Study

Proposed Plan Record of Decision

Remedial DesignRemedial Action

Construction Completion

O&M, Deletion

CommunityInvolvement

and Reuse

Superfund Process