Status of the Niagara River (New York) RAP Niagara River Remedial Action Plan Implementation Committee Session February 15, 2012
Overview Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Strategic Planning Reassessing sources of contamination
Niagara River Area of Concern (U.S. Section)
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding: 2010 - $475 million 2011 - $300 million 2012 - $300 million? Current priorities: Restoring AOCs Reducing phosphorus loadings Preventing introductions of invasive species
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
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
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
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
Strategic Planning Sources of contamination: Contaminated sediments Hazardous waste sites Other nonpoint sources Wastewater discharges Sewer overflows Groundwater Inflow from Lake Erie
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
Contaminated Sediment Projects completed at 14 locations Pursuing federal funding for new assessments
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
Niagara River Watershed and Greenway Communities
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
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 1989 1987-88 Toxic Substance Discharges From Point Sources to the Niagara River 1990 The Niagara River Toxics Management Plan 1991 1989-90 Toxic Substance Discharges From Point Sources to the Niagara River 1994 Niagara River Remedial Action Plan 1995 1993-94 Toxic Substance Discharges From Point Sources to the Niagara River
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?
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
Reassessment of Sources of Contamination Combine existing and new data Incorporate advances in groundwater modeling Analyses include all priority pollutants
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
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
Contact Information Mark Filipski Niagara River AOC Coordinator NYSDEC 270 Michigan Avenue Buffalo, New York 14203 716-851-7130 mdfilips@gw.dec.state.ny.us