Status of the Niagara River (New York) RAP

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1 Status of the Niagara River (New York) RAP Niagara River Remedial Action Plan Implementation Committee Session February 15, 2012

2 Overview Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Strategic Planning Reassessing sources of contamination

3 Niagara River Area of Concern (U.S. Section)

4 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding: $475 million $300 million $300 million? Current priorities: Restoring AOCs Reducing phosphorus loadings Preventing introductions of invasive species

5 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Benefits for the Niagara River: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assessments Fish tumor study Lake Sturgeon and Lake Trout populations and reproduction Additional NYSDEC staff Accelerated Buffalo River dredging

6 Strategic Planning EPA requested specific plans from all U.S. AOCs Support measurement of progress Basis for distributing future funding New York AOC managers produced Stage 2 RAP Addenda

7 Strategic Planning Impairment Status Changes Likely Impaired to Impaired Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations RAP: insufficient evidence of AOC-related cause Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive Problems RAP: no direct evidence; likely due to contaminant levels in fish

8 Strategic Planning Beneficial Use Impairments: Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations Fish Tumors and Other Deformities Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive Problems Degradation of Benthos Restrictions on Dredging Activities Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat

9 Strategic Planning Sources of contamination: Contaminated sediments Hazardous waste sites Other nonpoint sources Wastewater discharges Sewer overflows Groundwater Inflow from Lake Erie

10 Hazardous Waste Sites 31 sites identified in the 1994 RAP Additional 13 sites identified later 36 of 44 sites have all actions completed, remainder under way

11 Contaminated Sediment Projects completed at 14 locations Pursuing federal funding for new assessments

12 Strategic Planning Examples of actions to address loss of habitat: Protect existing habitat areas Promote softening of shoreline Create/restore habitat Priorities to be based on a Niagara Habitat Conservation Strategy

13 Niagara River Watershed and Greenway Communities

14 Reassessment of Sources of Contamination NYSDEC initiative with EPA support Assess waste sites, point sources, and primary tributaries Update previous studies GLRI funding through 2011 EPA grant Primary goal advance the removal of BUIs

15 Reassessment of Sources of Contamination 1984 Report of The Niagara River Toxics Committee 1985 Preliminary Evaluation of Chemical Migration to Groundwater and the Niagara River from Selected Waste-Disposal Sites 1988 Potential Contaminant Loadings to the Niagara River from U.S. Hazardous Waste Sites Toxic Substance Discharges From Point Sources to the Niagara River 1990 The Niagara River Toxics Management Plan Toxic Substance Discharges From Point Sources to the Niagara River 1994 Niagara River Remedial Action Plan Toxic Substance Discharges From Point Sources to the Niagara River

16 Reassessment of Sources of Contamination Need for Reassessment Slowing rate of decline in contaminant levels Some levels still exceed NY standards Removing some BUIs may require further reductions Need to address additional sources?

17 Reassessment of Sources of Contamination Goals Confirm that point sources are no longer significant Determine whether waste sites are still a source of contaminants Estimate contaminant loadings from primary tributaries

18 Reassessment of Sources of Contamination Combine existing and new data Incorporate advances in groundwater modeling Analyses include all priority pollutants

19 Reassessment of Sources of Contamination Focus on priority toxics that still exceed standards: PCBs Benzo(b/k)fluoranthene Hexachlorobenzene Benzo(a)pyrene ppddt/ppdde Dieldrin Mirex Chrysene/Triphenylene Dioxins/Furans

20 Reassessment of Sources of Contamination Final report will: Evaluate long-term trends Explain the impact of findings on status of BUIs Recommend additional analyses if necessary Recommend adjustments to strategic plans

21 Contact Information Mark Filipski Niagara River AOC Coordinator NYSDEC 270 Michigan Avenue Buffalo, New York

Chapter 4 Watershed Goals and Objectives

Chapter 4 Watershed Goals and Objectives Eight (8) long-term watershed goals have been developed by the NEW Watershed Advisory Group (WAG) after consideration of discussions held during monthly watershed