Contact Page

Contact Us
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Risk Assessment

The USEPA, along with its partner agencies from the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project, will use sediment, water, and biota data collected under "Sampling Activities" to describe how much risk the contaminants in the bay pose to human health and the environment now and in the future under various remediation scenarios. Data gathering to support the development of the human health and ecological risk assessments was conducted from 2014 through 2016, as documented on the Sampling Activities webpage.

risk Final Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment [August 2020]: The Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment (BERA) was finalized and approved in August 2020. Click here to download the BERA main text, here for Volume 1 of the attachments, and here for Volume 2 of the attachments.

Final Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment [December 2019]: The purpose of the baseline human health risk assessment (BHHRA) is to provide risk managers with an understanding of the potential current and future risks to human health and the environment that may be posed by a site in the absence of remediation or exposure controls, and the uncertainties associated with the assessment, and to inform the public regarding risks. Click here to download the BHHRA report and here for the appendices.

Reconnaissance Survey Report [April 2015]: To prepare for risk assessment data collection, a one-week reconnaissance survey was conducted in Newark Bay during the fall of 2013 to observe and document shoreline land use and habitat features, identify intertidal areas and subtidal flats appropriate for collecting crabs and clams (bivalves), and test different types of sampling equipment. Click here to download the report of findings.

Problem Formulation Document [June 2013]: Click here to download the Baseline Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment Problem Formulation Outline for the Newark Bay Study Area. The Problem Formulation Document establishes the overall goals, breadth, and focus of the Baseline Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments and defines the questions that need to be addressed during the evaluations.

Final Screening-Level Ecological Risk Assessment [December 2008]: In order to identify the potential for contaminants within the Newark Bay Study Area to adversely affect ecological receptor populations and to determine whether additional ecological evaluation is necessary, a screening-level ecological risk assessment (SLERA) was performed. This SLERA includes a conceptual site model, the contaminants of potential ecological concern, and a preliminary exposure assessment performed using conservative assumptions. Click here to download the SLERA. Click here to download the attachments and appendices to the SLERA.

Pathways Analysis Report [March 2018]:   This report provides an overview of how the human health and ecological risk assessments will be conducted. Click here to download the report.