NYSDEC Oversight

The NYSDEC provides oversight of activities conducted by the major responsible parties at various Greenpoint petroleum remediation sites in Brooklyn, New York. NYSDEC’s subcontractor (Ecology and Environment Engineering P.C.) conducts weekly field oversight of PRP activities to assist NYSDEC in developing a better understanding of the day to day investigation and remedial activities that occur in the Greenpoint area and report any pertinent issues to NYSDEC’s project manager.

The following sections summarize recent activities observed at the various Greenpoint remediation sites in Brooklyn, New York.

Date of Oversight Observation: December 1, 2011

Former ExxonMobil Terminal

Description of Activities

  1. EEEPC and Roux personnel collected groundwater treatment system effluent water samples for visual comparison to Newtown Creek samples.  The effluent sample appeared pale yellow, but both samples appeared clear. 
  2. EEEPC personnel observed a contractor repairing the entrance gate to the Terminal property.
  3. EEEPC personnel observed the progress of the sewer construction work to connect the ExxonMobil Terminal properties to the New York City sewer system. 
  4. EEEPC personnel was informed by Roux personnel that part of routine maintenance, air stripper #3 is being acid washed today. 
  5. EEEPC personnel was informed by Roux personnel a carbon change out of the on-site treatment system was performed on November 21st.
  6. EEEPC personnel was informed by Roux personnel that the quarterly well gauging event has been re-scheduled for December 7th and has EEEPC assistance to access some NYSDEC wells in the area.

Planned Activities

  1. Routine onsite treatment plant maintenance.
  2. Continuation of sewer connection construction work.
  3. Well gauging activities on December 7th.

 

ExxonMobil Off-Site Plume Area

Description of Activities

  1. EEEPC personnel observed the drilling of a temporary monitoring well in the vicinity of RW-F to evaluate the possibility of relocating the recovery well to achieve better influence towards Newtown Creek. 
  2. Roux personnel informed EEEPC that the off-site oxidation equipment is being switch from a flame-ox mode to a more energy efficient cat-ox mode.  The SVE and Off-site treatment systems are currently offline on November 29th to make the change and expect to be back online by the end of today. 
  3. Roux personnel informed EEEPC that a new dumpster enclosure is being built at the off-site treatment facility.

Planned Activities

  1. Routine off-site groundwater treatment plant maintenance.
  2. Offsite process tanks are scheduled to be cleaned out and inspected the week of December 12th.       

BP Terminal

Description of Activities

  1. EEEPC personnel observed repairs to the containment boom along the bulkhead adjacent to the BP Terminal. 
  2. EEEPC personnel was informed by Antea that routine O&M activities (such as well gauging and nitrogen bottle change out) are being performed today.
  3. EEEPC personnel was informed by Antea that an evaluation to move the above ground piping behind wells ARW-10, ARW-12 and ARW-13 is being performed.
  4. EEEPC personnel was informed by Antea that a nitrogen leak between ARW-10 and ARW-11 has been repaired.
  5. EEEPC personnel was informed by Antea that methane screening was performed at the BP Terminal property on November 17th.

Planned Activities

  1. Routine treatment system maintenance and product gauging.  

 

Former Paragon Oil Terminal/Apollo Street Creek Parcels

Description of Activities

  1. EEEPC was informed by SAIC personnel that the new oil-water separator installation is now complete. 
  2. EEEPC was informed by SAIC personnel that routine treatment system maintenance is taking place this week.
  3. EEEPC was informed by SAIC personnel that the tree impacting containment boom SE-1 is scheduled to be removed next week.
  4. EEEPC was informed by SAIC personnel that a Cad-Ox unit will be installed and connected to the previously installed vapor extraction piping for the recovery wells.

Planned Activities

  1. Routine treatment system maintenance.
  2. Tree removal the week of December 5th.
  3. Cad-Ox installation the week of December 5th.

 

Newtown Creek Observations
Former Paragon Terminal Bulkhead
EEEPC observed conditions inside the 1-foot globe boom areas 1 to 3 and Newtown Creek.  Globe boom areas 4 and 5 were not visible today.  No sheen is visible in any of the 1-foot globe boom areas or the area between the 1-foot globe and 2-foot fence booms. Containment boom area SE1 is still submerged due to an uprooted tree that fell into Newtown Creek.  SAIC personnel informed EEEPC that the tree is scheduled to be removed next week.

 

Meeker Avenue Bulkhead
ExxonMobil Off-site treatment system was not operating at the time of this inspection (due to system upgrades being made), so no effluent was being discharged at the end of Meeker Avenue.  No sheen or sediment plumes were observed in the area of the outfall.  This observation was made about 10 minutes after a 4.0' AMSL high tide.