Lower Passaic River Restoration
Project and Newark Bay Study
Community Involvement – Session 1
Remediation of Contaminated Sediments
Presented by
Anne L. Kruger, Ph.D., Technical Advisor &
Ella Filippone, Executive Administrator
Passaic River Coalition
September 27, 2006
Passaic River Coalition
Since 1969 the Passaic River
Coalition has served as an
advisor to the citizens,
businesses, and the
governments of the Passaic
River Basin, on issues of
land and water resource
management and public
health.
Improving Water Quality Isn’t Just Our Goal
It’s Our Future!!!
Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay
Early Settlers
In 1666 a group of Puritans
from Connecticut lead by Robert
Treat disembarked at the mouth
of the Passaic River in Newark.
Early Development
Early on European Settlers
realized the importance of the
Passaic River. The location of
Newark made it ideal as a
center of trade and
commerce.
Sketch of the waterfront circa 1920
Engraving of Newark 1844
Early Development
In 1791 Alexander Hamilton
realized the power of the Great
Falls in Paterson and founded
the Society for Establishing
Useful Manufactures (SUM).
Top: Engraving of Industry at the Great
Falls mid 19th Century
Right: The Great Falls
Early Recreation
At one time
seven rowing
clubs were
located on the
river
Early Problems and Solutions
Water supplies from
the Lower Passaic
River became too
polluted to drink. By
1892 the City of
Newark was using
water from the
Pequannock River in
the Highlands, and
deaths from typhoid
dropped 70%.
Early Problems and Solutions
Surface Water Supply Intakes Today
Pomptom
River
1
Pequannock
River
2
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Rockaway
River
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Whippany
River
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1. NJDWSC Filtration Plant
Ramapo
2. Newark Pequannock
River
3 Saddle
3. Ramapo Pump Station*
5 River
4. Butler WTP
5. Point View Pump Station
6. Town of Boonton WTP
8
7. Jersey City Reservoir
9
Passaic
River 8. Wanaque South Pump Station*
9. Passaic Valley Water Commission
10. SMCMUA Clyde Potts WTP
11. NJAWC Canoe Brook
Hudson
* Reservoir Diversions
River
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Newark Bay
Courtesy Killam Associates
Early Problems and Solutions
Wastewater Dischargers
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94 NPDES Dischargers
By County
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Bergen (15)
Essex (8)
Hudson (3)
Morris (34)
Passaic (27)
Somerset (5)
Union (2)
By WMA
– WMA3 (36)
– WMA4 (20)
– WMA6 (38)
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Groundwater
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Existing Sewage Disposal
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Surface Water
NPDES Discharges
< 1 mgd
> 1 mgd
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Courtesy Killam Associates
Early Problems and Solutions
Despite these early
attempts at pollution
control, the situation in
the Passaic River
continued to get worse
and by Earth Day 1970 it
had received the
distinction of being one
of the most polluted
rivers in the United
States!
Recent Problems and Solutions
Since 1970
much has
been done
to clean up
the waters
of the
Passaic
River, and
water
flowing over
Dundee Dam
is much
cleaner
today!
Passaic River in Clifton
Looking North from Ackerman Avenue Bridge toward Dundee Dam
The Passaic River Restoration Project
The Passaic
River
Restoration
Project,
started by
the Passaic
River
Coalition, is
working to
improve the
Lower
Passaic River
Basin
The Passaic River Restoration Project
As part of the
Passaic River
Restoration
Project (PRRP)
the old Pleasure
Craft Marina of
Rutherford was
purchased, and
renovated.
The Passaic River Restoration Project
Today it is home
to the Neried
Rowing Club
The Passaic River Restoration Project
And competitive
rowing has
returned to the
Passaic River.
The Passaic River Restoration Project
In the Lower Passaic
River under the
Passaic Valley
Sewerage
Commissioners (PVSC)
and Passaic River
Coalition (PRC)
partnership tons of
debris and trash have
been removed in
clean-ups.
The Passaic River Restoration Project
With grant funds
the PVSC
purchased two
skimmer boats.
The Passaic River Restoration Project
They augment
clean-up efforts by
sweeping the river
clean of debris.
Working for a Better Future
The case involving
the Diamond Alkali
Superfund site in
Newark has
provided us with
many years of
experience trying to
resolve the issue of
tainted sediments.
Current Conditions in the Lower Passaic River:
Enjoyment of the river’s waters is very limited!
Boating is limited to small boats because of sediments.
Sediments have built up because they haven’t been
dredged.
Sediments are too contaminated to be dredged and
placed nearby on land.
There’s no place to dispose of dredged sediments.
Contaminated sediments are killing and contaminating
fish and crabs.
After 36 years of efforts the Lower Passaic River is still
far from being “fishable” and “swimmable.”
Current Conditions in the Lower Passaic River:
Debris in and atop Sediments
Current Conditions in Newark Bay:
Economy threatened because of difficulties in
dredging contaminated sediments in harbor!
Current Conditions in the Newark Bay Complex:
Dead crabs lie atop contaminated sediments.
Current Conditions in the Newark Bay Complex:
Crabs contaminated by sediments may cause cancer!
Current Conditions in the Newark Bay Complex:
People are eating crabs containing toxic levels of
dioxin!
Although fishing for crabs is prohibited,
almost half of the anglers interviewed by
NJDEP staff in 2002 reported eating blue claw
crabs from the Newark Bay Complex.
The estimated lifetime excess risk of cancer
from consuming crabs from the Newark Bay
Complex ranges from a low of 0.5% to
>100%.
Future of Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay:
How shall we work for a better future?
All these problems are caused primarily
by the contamination of river sediments
with persistent toxic compounds.
How should we clean up these
contaminated sediments?
Should the goal of the Lower Passaic
River Restoration Project (LPRRP) be to
remediate the contaminated sediments
so that the Lower Passaic River and
Newark Bay are “fishable”?
Future of Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay:
How can we help you with technical assistance?
The Passaic River Coalition has received a Technical
Assistance Grant (TAG) from the USEPA in order to
help our communities make informed decisions
regarding actions to be taken at the Diamond Alkali
Superfund site, which includes the 17-mile tidal reach
of the Lower Passaic River, as well as Newark Bay.
Today we’d like to discuss ways to take steps in the
near future to remediate some of the contaminated
sediment “hot” spots in the Lower Passaic River. Let’s
start by exploring some of what we know about this
contamination. Questions and comments are more
than welcome!
Sediment Contamination
Contamination of sediments in the
Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay
Sources has been extensively studied.
Sources of information for this report
include:
Environmental Impact Statement on the
Newark Bay Confined Disposal Facility
by US Army Corps of Engineers of
1997;
Geochemical Evaluation for Lower
Passaic River Restoration Project by
Malcolm Pirnie, presented at Project
Development Team meeting in April
2006.
Various reports from Lower Passaic
River Restoration Project Teams
(LPRRP) supported by the agency
supporters --
Selection of Sediment Contaminants
Malcolm Pirnie staff
identified sediment
contaminants that pose risks
for human health and the
ecology of the river. They
looked at a volatile organic
compound, 3 semivolatile
organic compounds, and 5
pesticides, but decided not
to study their occurrence in
detail. Chemicals chosen
for more study were --
Total Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
A dioxin compound,
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated
dibenzodioxin (2,3,7,8TCDD)
Total polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs)
Selected heavy metals,
including mercury, whose
levels peaked in the 1950s,
and lead, whose
concentrations are still
rising
Sediment Contamination: Mercury
Mercury is a heavy
metal that is toxic to
benthic organisms and
fish as well as people.
The maximum level that
would be considered
acceptable in nonresidential soils and
river sediments is 270
parts per million of soil
(ug/g) or (mg/kg). In
the Newark Bay
sediments, mercury
levels were almost 4
ug/g, as illustrated
here.
Sediment Contamination: PCBs
PCBs (polychlorinated
biphenyls) are persistent
organic compounds that
are toxic to benthic
organisms and fish as well
as people. The maximum
level of total PCBs that
would be considered
acceptable in nonresidential soils and river
sediments is 2 parts per
million of soil (mg/kg). In
the Lower Passaic River
sediments, PCB levels were
as high as 2,800 ng/g, or
2.8 mg/kg, as illustrated
here. Levels were as high
as 15 mg/kg in 1963, as
shown in the next slide.
Sediment Contamination: Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD)
Dioxin is about the most toxic
substance known to man. The
maximum level of this dioxin
(2,3,7,8-TCDD) that is
considered acceptable in river
sediments is 1 part per billion
(ug/kg) or 0.001 mg/kg. The
highest concentration shown
here is 600 pg/g (0.6 ug/kg) at
river mile 3, near the Diamond
Alkali site. The next slide
shows that many samples had
more than 0.001 mg/kg of
dioxin, especially those
deposited in the fifties and
sixties, and now buried over
four feet deep.
Sources of Dioxin in Newark Bay
Sediment Contamination
Conclusions (Geochemical Evaluation by Malcolm Pirnie):
Õ Lower Passaic River contains a massive volume
of contaminated sediments, at least 2.8 million
cubic yards and more likely 5 to 8 million cubic
yards.
Õ The river has a long history of contamination
(>70 years)!
Õ Several important contaminants (PAHs, arsenic,
mercury, and lead) were deposited many years
ago, and are more than 15 feet deep in the
sediments.
Õ Contaminant inventories are highest at River
Mile 3 to 4 in the vicinity of the 80 Lister Avenue
site (Diamond Alkali).
Sediment Contamination
Conclusions (Geochemical Evaluation by Malcolm Pirnie):
Õ Several contaminants partially originated in the
Upper Passaic River above the Dundee Dam,
including mercury, lead, cadmium, and PCBs.
Õ DDT and dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) originated in the
Lower Passaic River.
Õ PCB loadings changed from the Upper Passaic
River historically to the Lower Passaic River
currently.
Õ The Lower Passaic River is currently a relatively
minor contributor of mercury to Newark Bay.
Õ Lower Passaic River remains the major source of
dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) contamination to the
sediments of Newark Bay (>80% of load)!
Interim Remedial Options:
Proposed and evaluated by LPRRP Teams
In order to evaluate the “hot” spots of contaminated
sediments in the lower seven miles of the Passaic River, the
criteria for contaminants were -2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin): 1 ug/kg
Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH): 660 ug/kg
Lead: 600,000 ug/kg.
Then the quality of the contaminated sediments were
categorized according to how polluted they are.
“A” sediments have contaminant levels way above criteria.
“B” sediments are one order of magnitude above criteria.
“C” sediments are below the criteria.
Then the sediment quality was mapped.
Interim Remedial Options:
“Hot” Spots within Lower 7 Miles of Passaic River
Interim Remedial Options: Alternatives
No action
In situ remediation
Capping
Dredging
Dredging with capping
Interim Remedial Options: Capping
Limitations:
Contaminated sediment remains, and could be
released if disturbed or breaks through.
Possibility of sediment disruption during
placement.
Shallow water may require inconvenient
controls, such as boating restrictions.
Cap materials may alter biological community.
Cap may alter hydrological regime, and increase
flooding.
Costly long-term monitoring and maintenance is
required, and is estimated to last only 30 years.
Interim Remedial Options: Dredging
Advantages:
☺ Effectiveness at reducing health risks to people and biota
is more certain.
☺ Dredging would provide greater flexibility for future uses
of the Passaic River, Newark Bay, and their water fronts,
including better boating and fishing.
☺ Water quality goals would be achieved in less time.
☺ Contaminated sediments could be treated and used
beneficially.
Limitations:
Aquatic community and habitat might be temporarily
disrupted.
Dredging is more complex and costly.
Dredged material management (DMM) is problematic
and costly.
Interim Remedial Options:
Dredged Material Management
Type
Description of Sediment
Options for Management
A
Highly contaminated;
Newly constructed thermal
plant, or
Many orders of magnitudes
above criteria
Transport to Texas, Utah,
Nebraska, Canada?
Some contamination;
Onsite sediment washing, or
One order of magnitude
above criteria
Conventional landfill
Clean;
Disposal at beneficial
placement site, or
Below NJ non-residential
criteria
Cell disposal
B
C
Interim Remedial Options: Issues
Which alternative, capping or dredging,
should be used to clean up “hot” spots in
the lower 7 miles of the Passaic River?
What option for Dredged Material
Management for highly contaminated
sediments (Type A) should be chosen?
How should the chosen option be
financed?
What should we do next to help
implement a cost effective clean up?
Working for a Better Future
for the Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay
Passaic River Coalition
94 Mount Bethel Road
Warren, NJ 07059
(908)222-0315
www.passaicriver.org
Ella Filippone
Executive Administrator
Warren Victor
Chairman