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Newark Bay is part of the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary, which is in the center of one of the most urbanized and industrialized parts of the nation. Newark Bay itself is approximately six miles long and one mile wide and is located at the confluence of the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers between the shores of Newark and Elizabeth to the west, Jersey City and Bayonne to the east, and Staten Island to the south. Newark Bay is linked to both the Upper and Lower New York Bay by the Kill Van Kull and the Arthur Kill, respectively. Port Newark, one of the nation's largest ports for containerized cargo, is located on the western shore of Newark Bay and is used to transfer goods from cargo vessels to rail and truck lines serving the area.
The industrialization and urbanization of the Newark Bay area resulted in habitat loss, sediment contamination, degraded water quality, and the need for the area to be under fish and shellfish consumption bans and advisories.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed an agreement with Occidental Chemical Corporation in 2004 to perform a Newark Bay Study under the authorities of the Superfund program. This study will assess the nature and extent of contamination in the Newark Bay area and develop cleanup plans to address those problems, as necessary. The Newark Bay study area includes Newark Bay and portions of the Hackensack River, the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull.
For information regarding the Passaic River, please visit www.OurPassaic.org
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Alerto de Cangrejos de Tenazas Azules en la Region de la Bahia de Newark
There are fish and shellfish consumption advisories in place for the Newark Bay region. Most importantly, everyone should be aware that eating blue claw crabs from this area may cause cancer and harm brain development in unborn and young children. People found catching crabs in this area can be fined by the state of New Jersey. For additional information on the Newark Bay area advisories, please call toll free 1-866-DEP-KNOW, or visit www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/njmainfish.htm.
Exposure to low levels of some contaminants in the environment may have long lasting health effects on people. Mercury, PCBs and dioxins are among the major contaminants found in some New Jersey fish in portions of the state. These contaminants can be especially harmful to women of childbearing age, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Children are also at risk of developmental and neurological problems if exposed to these chemicals.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) provide advice on consuming those species of fish in which high levels of dioxin, PCBs and mercury have been found.
Click here for the NJDHSS Woman's Guide to Eating Fish and Seafood.
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Phase II RIWP Sampling Results Released [August 2008]:
Phase II RIWP sampling was implemented from October 23, 2007 through December 14, 2007. Fifty-two sediment cores were targeted for sampling, however, two needed to be abandoned due to lack of fine-grained sediment at those locations. The sediment sample analytical results from the Phase II RIWP effort are available in Microsoft Access database format. To download and review the Phase II RIWP analytical data, click here and for the sample location map, click here.
New Newark Bay Fact Sheet released by EPA
Click here to download the March 2008 EPA fact sheet, which provides information on sampling activities completed during Phase I and Phase II of the Remedial Investigation.
Draft Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan for Comment
NOAA and USFWS announce the availability of a draft Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan for public comment. The Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan is one step in the damage assessment process. It serves to document exposure of natural resources to hazardous substances and identify anticipated procedures for evaluating natural resource injuries potentially caused by such exposure. Click here to download the plan.
Phase 2 Remedial Investigation Work Plan Approved [October 2007]:
EPA has approved the Newark Bay Phase 2 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
(RIWP) which was developed by Tierra Solutions, Inc. (TSI) in accordance
with the requirements of an EPA Administrative Order on Consent dated
February 2004. The RIWP briefly summarizes the Phase 1 sediment
sampling program (a detailed evaluation of the Phase 1 and 2 results
will be performed upon receipt of the validated Phase 2 data), it
describes the Phase 2 project quality objectives for the field work, and
it outlines the tasks to be performed during the Phase 2 sediment
investigation program. The primary purpose of Phase 2 is to
characterize sediments in select areas of Newark Bay that have had
significant accumulation of sediments since 1940. The characterization
of sediments during Phase 2 will enhance EPA's understanding of
contaminant deposition and distribution patterns over time in Newark Bay
and it will help identify upland sources of contaminants. Collection
and analysis of sediment cores began on October 23, 2007 within varied
geomorphic units in Newark Bay (e.g., navigation channels, sub-tidal
flats). Fifty-two sediment cores will be collected and analyzed for
select contaminants. Phase 2 work is generally considered to be an
extension of Phase 1 work. A Phase 3 effort will be needed in the
future to fully accomplish all of the remedial investigation goals.
The Phase 2 RIWP includes an Investigation Work Plan, Sampling and
Analysis Plan, Site Management Plan, and Quality Assurance Project Plan
(Volumes 1 & 1a), and a Health and Safety/Contingency Plan (Volume 2).
Click here to download the files that comprise the EPA-approved Phase 2
RIWP (Due to the large size of the file, downloading may take a few minutes). Click here to download a copy of the approval letter.
Click here to download the 2 sets of minor modifications that have been made to the workplan based upon observations made while implementing the field work.
Project News....
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OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL AGREES TO CONDUCT NEWARK BAY CONTAMINATION INVESTIGATION
FOR RELEASE: Friday, February 13, 2004
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that
Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC) has agreed to conduct an investigation in Newark Bay with
EPA oversight, to determine the extent of dioxin and other industrial contamination in bay sediment and
develop an appropriate cleanup plan.
Read Press Release
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