Project Specifics

Newtown Creek in Brooklyn and Queens, New York, a large sediment megasite, is almost four miles long and was one of the busiest hubs of industrial activity in the area in the mid-1800s.

More than 50 industrial facilities were located along its banks, including oil refineries, petrochemical plants, fertilizer and glue factories, sawmills, and lumber and coal yards, and numerous industrial facilities still operate along the creek. As a result of the extensive historical industrial activity along the creek, the creek is currently considered one of the nation’s most polluted waterways.

Geosyntec was retained by National Grid to provide professional services, technical expertise, and creative strategies related to the investigation and cleanup of the Creek. We are serving as their primary technical consultant, directly supporting their efforts as part of the larger PRP group in the development of field investigation programs, data analyses, data interpretation, and remedial strategies. The goal is to have the remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) result in a Record of Decision (ROD) from USEPA for the Creek that is based on sound science and protective of the environment.

Geosyntec Scope of Services

Geosyntec has supported National Grid through the completion of the Phase 1 and 2 field investigations. We are currently supporting the finalization of the remedial investigation (RI) report and a field investigation to support the feasibility study (FS) work. Major elements of the field efforts have included surface water and sediment sampling, point source discharge sampling (storm sewers, combined sewers, and other discharges), groundwater sampling, sampling and toxicity testing of ecological resources such as fish and crab, and sampling in selected background areas outside of the site.

Once the RI has been completed, it will identify the nature and extent of contamination throughout the site and the potential human and ecological risks posed by the contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) such as PAHs, copper, and PCBs, as well as dioxins/furans that were also identified in the risk assessments. The FS will then evaluate reasonable remedial alternatives to address the identified risks. Geosyntec is serving as National Grid’s technical representative on all aspects of both the RI and the FS.

Notable Accomplishments

Geosyntec is providing extensive technical analysis of existing datasets for Newtown Creek, combined with forward-looking strategic optimization of future investigations, which will inform the identification of reasonable remedial alternatives for further consideration. The benefit of our efforts on behalf of National Grid is expected to result in the issuance of a comprehensive RI/FS that will be used by USEPA to prepare a Record of Decision which incorporates a well-thought out, efficient, and cost-effective remedy for the site.

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