United States 

Environmental Protection 

Agency 

1200 PennsylvaniaAvenue,N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20460 March 2010 

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

Support Document for the 

Revised National Priorities List 

Final Rule – Gowanus Canal
Support Document for the 

Revised National Priorities List 

Final Rule 

Gowanus Canal 

March 2010 

Site Assessment and Remedy Decisions Branch 

Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation 

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Washington, DC 20460

 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................iii

Introduction................................................................................................................................................iv

Background of the NPL...........................................................................................................................iv

Development of the NPL..........................................................................................................................v

Hazard Ranking System ...........................................................................................................................v

Other Mechanisms for Listing.................................................................................................................vi

Organization of this Document...............................................................................................................vii

Glossary..................................................................................................................................................vii

1. List of Commenters and Correspondence ....................................................................................1

2. Site Description .............................................................................................................................62

3. Summary of Comments................................................................................................................63

3.1 Support for Listing and General Opposition Comments ...............................................................66

3.2 Evaluation of Other Pathways .......................................................................................................68

3.3 Request for Extension....................................................................................................................69

3.4 Extent of Site .................................................................................................................................69

3.5 Non-listing Activities.....................................................................................................................71

3.6 Site-specific Risk ...........................................................................................................................76

3.7 Alternatives to Listing....................................................................................................................79

3.8 Superfund and Combined Sewer Overflow ...................................................................................85

3.9 Executive Order 12866 ..................................................................................................................86

3.10 Regulatory Flexibility Act .............................................................................................................90

3.11 Economic Impacts of Listing.........................................................................................................90

3.12 Proper Notice .................................................................................................................................92

3.13 USACE Activities..........................................................................................................................93

3.14 Possible Impacts of Delaying Listing ............................................................................................93

3.15 HRS Concept .................................................................................................................................94

3.16 Consideration of Fish Advisory .....................................................................................................96

3.17 Use of Surface Water or Fish Tissue Samples...............................................................................98

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

3.18 Likelihood of Release ..................................................................................................................101

3.18.1 QA/QC Protocols ............................................................................................................................101

3.18.1.1 Use of QA/QC Samples..............................................................................................................101

3.18.1.2 Chain-of-Custody........................................................................................................................102

3.18.1.3 Sample Integrity..........................................................................................................................104

3.18.2 Screening Benchmarks....................................................................................................................106

3.18.3 Sample Moisture Content................................................................................................................108

3.19 Contaminated Sediment Source...................................................................................................109

3.20 Unallocated Sources.....................................................................................................................115

3.20.1 Identification of an Unallocated Source ..........................................................................................115

3.20.2 Waste Quantity based on Unallocated Source.................................................................................117

3.21 Volume Estimate Reflecting Bioavailability ...............................................................................121

3.22 HRS Source Characterization (Hazardous Substances/Hazardous Waste)..................................123

3.23 Inclusion of PCBs in the HRS Evaluation ...................................................................................127

3.24 Waste Characteristics: Inclusion of Benzo(a)pyrene and PAHs in HRS Evaluation...................131

3.25 Background Location...................................................................................................................134

3.26 Likelihood of Release: Other Data Sets......................................................................................137

3.27 Waste Characteristics: Bioaccumulation ....................................................................................140

3.28 Human Food Chain Fishery: Evidence of Consumption .............................................................144

3.29 Targets: Fishery Production.........................................................................................................147

3.30 Targets: Fishery in Upper New York Bay ...................................................................................148

3.31 Resources.....................................................................................................................................151

3.32 Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component – Environmental Threat Scoring 

Methodology.........................................................................................................................................152

4. Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................155

Attachment 1 Record of Meetings Regarding Proposed NPL Listing of Gowanus Canal 

Attachment 2 USACE Sampling and Analysis Plan 

Attachment 3 Background Samples and Release Samples from the GEI Analysis 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

 iii 

Executive Summary 

Section 105(a)(8)(B) of CERCLA, as amended by SARA, requires that the EPA prepare a list of national 

priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or 

contaminants throughout the United States. An original National Priorities List (NPL) was promulgated 

on September 8, 1983 (48 FR 40658). CERCLA requires that EPA update the list at least annually. 

This document provides responses to public comments received on the Gowanus Canal site, proposed on 

April 9, 2009 (74 FR 16162). This site is being added to the NPL based on an evaluation under EPA’s 

Hazard Ranking System (HRS) in a final rule published in the Federal Register in March 2010 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

Introduction 

This document explains the rationale for adding the Gowanus Canal site in Brooklyn, New York, to the 

National Priorities List (NPL) of uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and also provides the responses to 

public comments received on this site. The EPA proposed this site on April 9, 2010 (74 FR 16162). 

This site is being added to the NPL based on an evaluation under the Hazard Ranking System (HRS) in a 

final rule published in the Federal Register in March 2010. 

Background of the NPL 

In 1980, Congress enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 

(CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. Sections 9601 et seq. in response to the dangers of uncontrolled hazardous waste 

sites. CERCLA was amended on October 17, 1986, by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization 

Act (SARA), Public Law No. 99-499, stat., 1613 et seq. To implement CERCLA, EPA promulgated the 

revised National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), 40 CFR Part 300, on 

July 16, 1982 (47 FR 31180), pursuant to CERCLA Section 105 and Executive Order 12316 (46 FR 

42237, August 20, 1981). The NCP, further revised by EPA on September 16, 1985 (50 FR 37624) and 

November 20, 1985 (50 FR 47912), sets forth guidelines and procedures needed to respond under 

CERCLA to releases and threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. On 

March 8, 1990 (55 FR 8666), EPA further revised the NCP in response to SARA. 

Section 105(a)(8)(A) of CERCLA, as amended by SARA, requires that the NCP include 

criteria for determining priorities among releases or threatened releases throughout the 

United States for the purpose of taking remedial action and, to the extent practicable, take 

into account the potential urgency of such action, for the purpose of taking removal 

action. 

Removal action involves cleanup or other actions that are taken in response to emergency conditions or 

on a short-term or temporary basis (CERCLA Section 101). Remedial action is generally long-term in 

nature and involves response actions that are consistent with a permanent remedy for a release (CERCLA 

Section 101). Criteria for placing sites on the NPL, which makes them eligible for remedial actions 

financed by the Trust Fund established under CERCLA, were included in the HRS. EPA promulgated the 

HRS as Appendix A of the NCP (47 FR 31219, July 16, 1982). On December 14, 1990 (56 FR 51532), 

EPA promulgated revisions to the HRS in response to SARA, and established the effective date for the 

HRS revisions as March 15, 1991. 

Section 105(a)(8)(B) of CERCLA, as amended, requires that the statutory criteria provided by the HRS be 

used to prepare a list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous 

substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States. The list, which is Appendix B of 

the NCP, is the NPL. 

An original NPL of 406 sites was promulgated on September 8, 1983 (48 FR 40658). At that time, an 

HRS score of 28.5 was established as the cutoff for listing because it yielded an initial NPL of at least 400 

sites, as suggested by CERCLA. The NPL has been expanded several times since then, most recently on 

November 4, 2009 (74 FR 57085). The Agency also has published a number of proposed rulemakings to 

add sites to the NPL. The most recent proposal was on September 23, 2009 (74 FR 48504). 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

Development of the NPL 

The primary purpose of the NPL is stated in the legislative history of CERCLA (Report of the Committee 

on Environment and Public Works, Senate Report No. 96-848, 96th Cong., 2d Sess. 60 [1980]). 

The priority list serves primarily informational purposes, identifying for the States and 

the public those facilities and sites or other releases which appear to warrant remedial 

actions. Inclusion of a facility or site on the list does not in itself reflect a judgment of the 

activities of its owner or operator, it does not require those persons to undertake any 

action, nor does it assign liability to any person. Subsequent government actions will be 

necessary in order to do so, and these actions will be attended by all appropriate 

procedural safeguards. 

The NPL, therefore, is primarily an informational and management tool. The identification of a site for 

the NPL is intended primarily to guide EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation to 

assess the nature and extent of the human health and environmental risks associated with the site and to 

determine what CERCLA-financed remedial action(s), if any, may be appropriate. The NPL also serves 

to notify the public of sites EPA believes warrant further investigation. Finally, listing a site may, to the 

extent potentially responsible parties are identifiable at the time of listing, serve as notice to such parties 

that the Agency may initiate CERCLA-financed remedial action. 

CERCLA Section 105(a)(8)(B) directs EPA to list priority sites among the known releases or threatened 

release of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants, and Section 105(a)(8)(A) directs EPA to 

consider certain enumerated and other appropriate factors in doing so. Thus, as a matter of policy, EPA 

has the discretion not to use CERCLA to respond to certain types of releases. Where other authorities 

exist, placing sites on the NPL for possible remedial action under CERCLA may not be appropriate. 

Therefore, EPA has chosen not to place certain types of sites on the NPL even though CERCLA does not 

exclude such action. If, however, the Agency later determines that sites not listed as a matter of policy 

are not being properly responded to, the Agency may consider placing them on the NPL. 

Hazard Ranking System 

The HRS is the principle mechanism EPA uses to place uncontrolled waste sites on the NPL. It is a 

numerically based screening system that uses information from initial, limited investigations -- the 

preliminary assessment and site inspection -- to assess the relative potential of sites to pose a threat to 

human health or the environment. HRS scores, however, do not determine the sequence in which EPA 

funds remedial response actions, because the information collected to develop HRS scores is not 

sufficient in itself to determine either the extent of contamination or the appropriate response for a 

particular site. Moreover, the sites with the highest scores do not necessarily come to the Agency's 

attention first, so that addressing sites strictly on the basis of ranking would in some cases require 

stopping work at sites where it was already underway. Thus, EPA relies on further, more detailed studies 

in the remedial investigation/feasibility study that typically follows listing. 

The HRS uses a structured value analysis approach to scoring sites. This approach assigns numerical 

values to factors that relate to or indicate risk, based on conditions at the site. The factors are grouped 

into three categories. Each category has a maximum value. The categories are: 

• likelihood that a site has released or has the potential to release hazardous substances into the 

environment; 

• characteristics of the waste (toxicity and waste quantity); and 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

• people or sensitive environments (targets) affected by the release. 

Under the HRS, four pathways can be scored for one or more threats as identified below: 

• Ground Water Migration (Sgw) 

- drinking water 

• Surface Water Migration (Ssw) 

The following threats are evaluated for two separate migration components, overland/flood 

migration and ground water to surface water. 

- drinking water 

- human food chain 

- sensitive environments 

• Soil Exposure (Ss) 

- resident population 

- nearby population 

- sensitive environments 

• Air Migration (Sa) 

- population 

- sensitive environments 

After scores are calculated for one or more pathways according to prescribed guidelines, they are 

combined using the following root-mean-square equation to determine the overall site score (S), which 

ranges from 0 to 100: 

4

S + S + S + S = S

2

a

2

s

2

sw

2

gw

If all pathway scores are low, the HRS score is low. However, the HRS score can be relatively high even 

if only one pathway score is high. This is an important requirement for HRS scoring because some 

extremely dangerous sites pose threats through only one pathway. For example, buried leaking drums of 

hazardous substances can contaminate drinking water wells, but – if the drums are buried deep enough 

and the substances not very volatile – not surface water or air. 

Other Mechanisms for Listing 

There are two mechanisms other than the HRS by which sites can be placed on the NPL. The first of 

these mechanisms, authorized by the NCP at 40 CFR 300.425(c)(2), allows each State and Territory to 

designate one site as its highest priority regardless of score. The last mechanism, authorized by the NCP 

at 40 CFR 300.425(c)(3), allows listing a site if it meets the following three requirements: 

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the U.S. Public Health Service 

has issued a health advisory that recommends dissociation of individuals from the release; 

• EPA determines the site poses a significant threat to public health; and 

• EPA anticipates it will be more cost-effective to use its remedial authority than to use its 

emergency removal authority to respond to the site. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

Organization of this Document 

The following section contains EPA responses to site-specific public comments received on the proposal 

of the Gowanus Canal site on April 9, 2009 (74 FR 16162). The site discussion begins with a list of 

commenters, followed by a site description, a summary of comments, and Agency responses to each 

comment. A concluding statement indicates the effect of the comments on the HRS score for the site. 

Glossary 

The following acronyms and abbreviations are used throughout the text: 

Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials 

ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

BAZ Biologically active zone 

BCF Bioconcentration factor 

°C Degrees Celsius 

CARP Contamination Assessment and Reduction Project 

CBID Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats 

CCMP Comprehensive conservation and management plan 

CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 

1980, 42 U.S.C. Sections 9601 et seq., also known as Superfund 

CFR Code of federal regulations 

CGNA Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association 

CLP EPA Contract Laboratory Program 

CRP Community relations plan 

CSM Conceptual site model 

CSMA Court Street Merchants Association, Inc. 

CSO Combined sewer overflow 

CWA Clean Water Act 

D.C. Cir U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 

DCP Department of City Planning 

EDC Economic Development Corporation 

EP Equilibrium partitioning 

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, also USEPA 

ERM Effect Range-Median sediment criteria 

FR Federal register 

FROGG Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

FS Feasibility study 

HEP Hudson Estuary Program 

HRS Hazard Ranking System, Appendix A of the NCP 

HRS score Overall site score calculated using the Hazard Ranking System; ranges from 0 to 

100 

HWQ Hazardous waste quantity 

LAB Linear alkyl benzene 

logkow n-octanol-water partition coefficient 

μg/kg Microgram per kilogram 

mg/kg Milligram per kilogram 

mgd Million gallons per day 

MGP Manufactured gas plant 

MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

MSL Mean Sea Level 

NAPL Non-aqueous phase liquid 

NCP National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, 40 C.F.R. 

Part 300 

NPL National Priorities List, Appendix B of the NCP 

NRDC Natural Resources Defense Council 

NYC DEP New York City Department of Environmental Protection 

NYS DEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 

OIRA Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs 

OMB Office of Management and Budget 

OSWER USEPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

PAH Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 

PCB Polychlorinated biphenyl 

PPE Probable point of entry 

PRP Potentially responsible party 

QA Quality assurance 

QC Quality control 

RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 

RI Remedial investigation 

SA Superfund alternative 

SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act 

SBREFA Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

 ix 

SPT Standard penetration test 

SQL Sample quantitation limit 

SVOC Semi-volatile organic compounds 

TAG Technical assistance grant 

TCLP Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure 

TOC Total organic carbon 

ULURP Uniform land use review procedure 

URRI Urban Rivers Restoration Initiative 

USACE U.S. Army Corp of Engineers 

USFDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

USPS U.S. Postal Service 

VCA Voluntary cleanup agreement 

VOC Volatile organic compound 

WRDA Water Resource Development Act of 2000 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

1. List of Commenters and Correspondence 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0005 Comment, dated April 15, 2009, from Deanna Zammit, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0006 Comment, dated April 10, 2009, from Maureen Flaherty, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0007 Comment, dated April 15, 2009, from E. Georg, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0008 Comment, dated April 15, 2009, from S. Clausen, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0009 Comment, dated April 15, 2009, from J. Hicks, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0010 Comment, dated April 15, 2009, from Anonymous 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0011 Comment, dated April 16, 2009, from J. Hatheway, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0012 Comment, dated April 17, 2009, from R. Rothblatt, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0013 Comment, dated April 17, 2009, from Jonathan 

Schwartz, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0014 Comment, dated April 17, 2009, from M. Regenbogen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0015 Comment, dated April 15, 2009, from D. Munhall, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0016 Comment, dated April 12, 2009, from Jay Sinrod, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0017 Comment, dated April 15, 2009, from Leonard Barszap, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0018 Comment, dated April 16, 2009, from Anonymous 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0019 Comment, dated April 23, 2009, from Deirdre 

Lockwood, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0020 Comment, dated April 20, 2009, from Katia Kelly, 

Public Commenter 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0021 Comment, dated April 21, 2009, from Becky Hersch, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0022 Comment, dated April 23, 2009, from A. Sloat, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0023 Comment, dated April 24, 2009, from Anthony Deen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0024 Comment, dated April 21, 2009, from M. Hedge, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0024.1 Comment attachment, dated April 21, 2009, from M. 

Hedge, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0025 Comment, dated April 22, 2009, from Jim Protos, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0026 Comment, dated April 23, 2009, from Anonymous 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0027 Comment, dated April 22, 2009, from Anonymous 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0028 Comment, dated April 24, 2009, from Anthony Deen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0029 Comment, dated April 24, 2009, from Robbin Slade, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0030 Comment, dated April 26, 2009, from Chris McVoy, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0031 Comment, dated April 26, 2009, from John Golden, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0032 Comment, dated April 27, 2009, from Dave Abraham, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0033 Comment, dated April 26, 2009, from Lauren Deen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0034 Comment, dated April 27, 2009, from Ben Schrank, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0035 Comment, dated April 27, 2009, from Jim Protos, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0036 Comment, dated April 29, 2009, from Dan Sacher, 

Public Commenter 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0037 Comment, dated April 30, 2009, from R. Levy, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0038 Comment, dated May 02, 2009, from Maryann Young, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0039 Comment, dated May 02, 2009, from Ben Sigelman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0040 Comment, dated May 03, 2009, from S. Jones, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0041 Correspondence, dated May 04, 2009, from Terry Jeng, 

memorandum authorizing extension of the comment 

period for EPA-HQ-SFUND-0063. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0042 Comment, dated May 01, 2009, from Leslie Shipman, 

Director of Programs, National Book Foundation 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0043 Comment, dated May 04, 2009, from Michael 

Heimbinder, Executive Director, HabitatMap, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0044 Comment, dated May 12, 2009, from Steve Gelmis, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0045 Comment, dated May 16, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0046 Comment, dated April 30, 2009, from Phil Zulli, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0047 Comment, dated April 30, 2009, from Mr. & Mrs. 

Gerald Miller, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0048 Comment, dated April 29, 2009, from Lauren Hlavenka, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0049 Comment, dated April 27, 2009, from Robert Puca, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0050 Comment, dated April 27, 2009, from Edgar L. Freud, 

P.E., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0051 Comment, dated May 04, 2009, from Colleen O’Neal, 

Ph.D., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0052 Comment, dated May 03, 2009, from Patricia Perlo, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0053 Comment, dated May 02, 2009, from Debra, Christopher 

& Rachel Lyon, Public Commenters 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0054 Comment, dated May 02, 2009, from Frank Shifreen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0055 Comment, dated April 30, 2009, from Beverly 

DiCovello, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0056 Comment, dated April 30, 2009, from Chris Mark, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0057 Comment, dated April 23, 2009, from Matt Gearhart, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0058 Comment, dated April 23, 2009, from Evan Kessler, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0059 Comment, dated April 23, 2009, from John Karian, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0060 Comment, dated April 23, 2009, from Sulaiman Beg, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0061 Comment, dated April 23, 2009, from Jason Stefanik, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0062 Comment, dated April 23, 2009, from Jean & Scott 

Farson, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0063 Comment, dated April 27, 2009, from Laura Bassett, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0064 Comment, dated April 27, 2009, from Carol Milano, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0065 Comment, dated April 25, 2009, from Maryann Young, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0066 Comment, dated April 24, 2009, from Mike Horan, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0067 Comment, dated April 24, 2009, from Summer Sheridan, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0068 Comment, dated April 24, 2009, from Andy Seestedt, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0069 Comment, dated May 25, 2009, from L. McTernan, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0069.1 Comment attachment, dated May 25, 2009, from L. 

McTernan, Public Commenter 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0069.2 Comment attachment, dated May 25, 2009, from L. 

McTernan, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0070 Comment, dated May 23, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0071 Comment, dated May 08, 2009, from Susan Quilligan, 

dlandstudio llc 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0072 Comment, dated May 07, 2009, from Lisa Kersavage, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0073 Comment, dated May 27, 2009, from M. Varous, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0074 Comment, dated April 30, 2009, from Andrew Solomon, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0074.1 Comment attachment, dated April 30, 2009, from 

Andrew Solomon, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0075 Comment, dated June 02, 2009, from M. Maugenest, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0076 Comment, dated June 02, 2009, from Jeffery Broesche, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0077 Comment, dated June 05, 2009, from J. Garcia, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0078 Comment, dated June 06, 2009, from Charles Danner, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0079 Comment, dated June 04, 2009, from O. BertramNothnagel, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0080 Comment, dated May 27, 2009, from Mass Comment 

Campaign titled “I support the EPA’s designation of the 

Gowanus District as a Superfund Site ...” sponsoring 

organization unknown (30) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0081 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from M. Bordman & M. 

Karwowski, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0081.1 Comment attachment, dated May 26, 2009, from M. 

Bordman & M. Karwowski, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0082 Comment, dated May 27, 2009, from Eli Janney, Public 

Commenter 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0082.1 Comment attachment, dated May 27, 2009, from Eli 

Janney, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0083 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from Katrina Balling, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0083.1 Comment attachment, dated May 26, 2009, from Katrina 

Balling, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0084 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from Kathryn Roake, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0084.1 Comment attachment, dated May 26, 2009, from 

Kathryn Roake, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0085 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from Leah Stern, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0085.1 Comment attachment, dated May 26, 2009, from Leah 

Stern, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0086 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from A. Murphy, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0086.1 Comment attachment, dated May 26, 2009, from A. 

Murphy, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0087 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from Marilyn Oliva, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0087.1 Comment attachment, dated May 26, 2009, from 

Marilyn Oliva, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0088 Comment, dated May 22, 2009, from Brandy Anderson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0088.1 Comment attachment, dated May 22, 2009, from Brandy 

Anderson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0089 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Judy Pantano, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0089.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from Judy 

Pantano, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0090 Comment, dated May 17, 2009, from Maggie Orstein, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0090.1 Comment attachment, dated May 17, 2009, from Maggie 

Orstein, Public Commenter 

 6 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0091 Comment, dated May 29, 2009, from Laurel Dick, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0091.1 Comment attachment, dated May 29, 2009, from Laurel 

Dick, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0092 Comment, dated May 27, 2009, from Marilyn Gold, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0092.1 Comment attachment, dated May 27, 2009, from 

Marilyn Gold, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0093 Comment, dated May 28, 2009, from Mitri Tadros, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0093.1 Comment attachment, dated May 28, 2009, from Mitri 

Tadros, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0094 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from Lesley A. Unruh, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0094.1 Comment attachment, dated May 26, 2009, from Lesley 

A. Unruh, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0095 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Scott Whittle, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0095.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from Scott 

Whittle, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0096 Comment, dated May 23, 2009, from Sarah Lichtman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0096.1 Comment attachment, dated May 23, 2009, from Sarah 

Lichtman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0097 Comment, dated May 18, 2009, from Alex Davidson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0097.1 Comment attachment, dated May 18, 2009, from Alex 

Davidson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0098 Comment, dated May 23, 2009, from Danielle Lehtinen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0098.1 Comment attachment, dated May 23, 2009, from 

Danielle Lehtinen, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0099 Comment, dated May 18, 2009, from Nicholas Mabry, 

Public Commenter 

 7 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0099.1 Comment attachment, dated May 18, 2009, from 

Nicholas Mabry, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0100 Comment, dated May 18, 2009, from James G. Johnson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0100.1 Comment attachment, dated May 18, 2009, from James 

G. Johnson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0101 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from M. Feinsilber, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0101.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from M. 

Feinsilber, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0102 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from David Shimoni, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0102.1 Comment attachment, dated May 26, 2009, from David 

Shimoni, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0103 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Myrel Glick, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0103.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from Myrel 

Glick, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0104 Comment, dated May 18, 2009, from Cecil Holland Jr., 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0104.1 Comment attachment, dated May 18, 2009, from Cecil 

Holland Jr., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0105 Comment, dated May 18, 2009, from Barry Grossman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0105.1 Comment attachment, dated May 18, 2009, from Barry 

Grossman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0106 Comment, dated May 25, 2009, from Jen McCulloch, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0106.1 Comment attachment, dated May 25, 2009, from Jen 

McCulloch, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0107 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Michelle 

O’Donnell, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0107.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from 

Michelle O’Donnell, Public Commenter 

 8 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0108 Comment, dated May 21, 2009, from W. Christian 

Burgess, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0109 Comment, dated May 22, 2009, from Crista Giuliani, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0110 Comment, dated May 21, 2009, from Sarah Woodside 

Gallagher, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0111 Comment, dated May 24, 2009, from Katherine 

Schwarz, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0111.1 Comment attachment, dated May 24, 2009, from 

Katherine Schwarz, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0112 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from N. Pantano, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0112.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from N. 

Pantano, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0113 Comment, dated May 22, 2009, from BarBara Menkes, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0114 Comment, dated May 23, 2009, from Brian Fink, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0115 Comment, dated May 25, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0116 Comment, dated May 24, 2009, from Rose Rabin, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0116.1 Comment attachment, dated May 24, 2009, from Rose 

Rabin, Public Commenter 

 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0117 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Linda Mariano, 

Representative, Friends and Residents of Greater 

Gowanus (FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0117.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from Linda 

Mariano, Representative, Friends and Residents of 

Greater Gowanus (FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0118 Comment, dated May 21, 2009, from Margo 

Bettencourt, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0118.1 Comment attachment, dated May 21, 2009, from Margo 

Bettencourt, Public Commenter 

 9 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0119 Comment, dated May 24, 2009, from Frances, Salvatore 

and Robert Fevola, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0119.1 Comment attachment, dated May 24, 2009, from 

Frances, Salvatore and Robert Fevola, Public 

Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0120 Comment, dated May 28, 2009, from Dan Miner, Chair, 

Sierra Club New York City 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0120.1 Comment attachment, dated May 28, 2009, from Dan 

Miner, Chair, Sierra Club New York City 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0121 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from Leah K. Clarkson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0121.1 Comment attachment, dated May 26, 2009, from Leah 

K. Clarkson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0122 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from John M. Kirby, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0123 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Deidre Hoguet, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0123.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from Deidre 

Hoguet, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0124 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Greg Johnson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0124.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from Greg 

Johnson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0125 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from Allin Chung, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0126 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from Helen Missale, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0127 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from T. McMahon, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0128 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from Bill Appel, Acting 

Executive Director, Gowanus Canal Community 

Development Corporation 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0129 Comment, dated June 10, 2009, from Byron Woollen, 

Public Commenter 

 10 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0130 Comment, dated June 10, 2009, from M. Kotik, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0131 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from Laura McKenna, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0132 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0133 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Esmèe (no 

surname provided), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0133.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from Esmèe 

(no surname provided), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0134 Comment, dated May 27, 2009, from I. Donald Weston, 

Chair, Urban Design Committee, Brooklyn Chapter AIA 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0134.1 Comment attachment, dated May 27, 2009, from I. 

Donald Weston, Chair, Urban Design Committee, 

Brooklyn Chapter AIA 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0135 Comment, dated May 12, 2009, from Scott Konzelmann, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0135.1 Comment attachment, dated May 12, 2009, from Scott 

Konzelmann, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0136 Comment, dated May 11, 2009, from Frances Chapman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0136.1 Comment attachment, dated May 11, 2009, from Frances 

Chapman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0137 Comment, dated May 11, 2009, from Amy MillerKrezelak, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0137.1 Comment attachment, dated May 11, 2009, from Amy 

Miller-Krezelak, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0138 Comment, dated May 07, 2009, from Cheryl Powell, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0138.1 Comment attachment, dated May 07, 2009, from Cheryl 

Powell, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0139 Comment, dated May 11, 2009, from A. Rosner, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0139.1 Comment attachment, dated May 11, 2009, from A. 

Rosner, Public Commenter 

 11 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0140 Comment, dated May 11, 2009, from Gina Vutera, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0140.1 Comment attachment, dated May 11, 2009, from Gina 

Vutera, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0141 Comment, dated May 12, 2009, from Cheryll A. Lynn, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0141.1 Comment attachment, dated May 12, 2009, from Cheryll 

A. Lynn, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0142 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Phoebe Legere, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0143 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Desiree Belsito 

Esq., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0144 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from Daniel Bowman 

Simon, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0145 Comment, dated May 16, 2009, from Steven Paul Mark, 

Attorney at Law 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0146 Comment, dated May 11, 2009, from Daniel Polano, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0146.1 Comment attachment, dated May 11, 2009, from Daniel 

Polano, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0147 Comment, dated May 30, 2009, from Rita Raftery, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0148 Comment, dated May 28, 2009, from Anthony P. Cappo, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0149 Comment, dated May 27, 2009, from Sara M. Ingram, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0150 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from William J. 

Gorman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0151 Comment, dated June 04, 2009, from Margaret 

Maugenest, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0152 Comment, dated June 01, 2009, from Lily Hou, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0153 Comment, dated May 30, 2009, from Rita Raftery, 

Public Commenter 

 12 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0154 Comment, dated May 28, 2009, from Anthony P. Cappo, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0155 Comment, dated May 27, 2009, from Sara M. Ingram, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0156 Comment, dated May 26, 2009, from William J. 

Gorman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0157 Comment, dated May 08, 2009, from Vincent Fiore, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0157.1 Comment attachment, dated May 08, 2009, from 

Vincent Fiore, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0158 Comment, dated May 23, 2009, from Rachel Kueny, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0158.1 Comment attachment, dated May 23, 2009, from Rachel 

Kueny, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0159 Comment, dated May 28, 2009, from Gary Winkel, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0159.1 Comment attachment, dated May 28, 2009, from Gary 

Winkel, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0160 Comment, dated May 16, 2009, from H. Dilmanian, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0160.1 Comment attachment, dated May 16, 2009, from H. 

Dilmanian, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0161 Comment, dated May 23, 2009, from David Gordan, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0161.1 Comment attachment, dated May 23, 2009, from David 

Gordan, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0162 Comment, dated May 06, 2009, from Lucy Koteen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0162.1 Comment attachment, dated May 06, 2009, from Lucy 

Koteen, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0163 Comment, dated June 01, 2009, from Muzza Eaton, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0163.1 Comment attachment, dated June 01, 2009, from Muzza 

Eaton, Public Commenter 

 13 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0164 Comment, dated May 20, 2009, Bob Zuckerman, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0164.1 Comment attachment, dated May 20, 2009, Bob 

Zuckerman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0165 Comment, dated May 13, 2009, from Marisa Singer, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0165.1 Comment attachment, dated May 13, 2009, from Marisa 

Singer, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0166 Comment, dated May 28, 2009, from Franklin Siegel, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0166.1 Comment attachment, dated May 28, 2009, from 

Franklin Siegel, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0167 Comment, dated May 18, 2009, from Jane B. Freidson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0167.1 Comment attachment, dated May 18, 2009, from Jane B. 

Freidson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0168 Comment, dated June 01, 2009, from Pearl Abbott, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0168.1 Comment attachment, dated June 01, 2009, from Pearl 

Abbott, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0169 Comment, dated June 01, 2009, from Liam Veuve, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0169.1 Comment attachment, dated June 01, 2009, from Liam 

Veuve, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0170 Comment, dated June 01, 2009, from Lesley & Michael 

Brovner, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0170.1 Comment attachment, dated June 01, 2009, from Lesley 

& Michael Brovner, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0171 Comment, dated June 01, 2009, from Martha L. Doggett, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0171.1 Comment attachment, dated June 01, 2009, from Martha 

L. Doggett, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0172 Comment, dated June 01, 2009, from Ellen Freeberg, 

Public Commenter 

 14 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0172.1 Comment attachment, dated June 01, 2009, from Ellen 

Freeberg, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0173 Comment, dated June 01, 2009, from David Whitlock, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0173.1 Comment attachment, dated June 01, 2009, from David 

Whitlock, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0174 Comment, dated June 13, 2009, from David Congdon, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0175 Comment, dated June 10, 2009, from Byron Woollen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0176 Comment, dated June 11, 2009, from Jane Janiak, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0177 Comment, dated June 12, 2009, from Erick Cransford, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0178 Comment, dated June 12, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0179 Comment, dated June 12, 2009, from Marc Fouerteh, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0180 Comment, dated June 12, 2009, from Kenneth Freeman, 

President, Park Slope Civic Council 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0181 Comment, dated June 11, 2009, from Ofer Cohen, 

Managing Director, TerraCRG 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0182 Comment, dated June 15, 2009, from Babette Krolik, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0183 Comment, dated June 12, 2009, from Lloyd Jagai, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0184 Comment, dated June 15, 2009, from David P. Jaffe, 

General Manager, Advanced Jaf Holding LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0185 Comment, dated June 04, 2009, from Tom Gilroy, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0185.1 Comment attachment, dated June 04, 2009, from Tom 

Gilroy, Public Commenter 

 15 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0186 Comment, dated April 22, 2009, from Joseph and Linda 

Mariano, Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus 

(FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0186.1 Comment attachment, dated April 22, 2009, from Joseph 

and Linda Mariano, Friends and Residents of Greater 

Gowanus (FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0186.2 Comment attachment, dated April 22, 2009, from Joseph 

and Linda Mariano, Friends and Residents of Greater 

Gowanus (FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0186.3 Comment attachment, dated April 22, 2009, from Joseph 

and Linda Mariano, Friends and Residents of Greater 

Gowanus (FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0186.4 Comment attachment, dated April 22, 2009, from Joseph 

and Linda Mariano, Friends and Residents of Greater 

Gowanus (FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0187 Comment, dated June 16, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0188 Comment, dated June 16, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0189 Comment, dated June 03, 2009, from Mia MacDonald, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0189.1 Comment attachment, dated June 03, 2009, from Mia 

MacDonald, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0190 Comment, dated June 21, 2009, from John Englund, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0191 Comment, dated June 20, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0192 Comment, dated June 11, 2009, from Joan Guido, Vice 

President Operations, FORO Marble Co., Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0192.1 Comment attachment, dated June 11, 2009, from Joan 

Guido, Vice President Operations, FORO Marble 

Co.,Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0193 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from M. Maugenest, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0194 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

 16 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0195 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0196 Comment, dated June 23, 2009, from M. Denton, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0197 Comment, dated June 23, 2009, from M. Lindley, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0198 Comment, dated June 02, 2009, from Annette Previti, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0198.1 Comment attachment, dated June 02, 2009, from 

Annette Previti, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0199 Comment, dated June 02, 2009, from Andrew Brown, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0199.1 Comment attachment, dated June 02, 2009, from 

Andrew Brown, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0200 Comment, dated June 04, 2009, from Diane D. 

Buxbaum, MPH, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0200.1 Comment attachment, dated June 04, 2009, from Diane 

D. Buxbaum, MPH, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0201 Comment, dated June 24, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0202 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from Hash Reichardt, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0203 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Elizabeth 

Dickman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0204 Comment, dated June 27, 2009, from Reade Kem, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0205 Comment, dated June 26, 2009, from Richard I. Ulman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0206 Comment, dated June 24, 2009, from David Von 

Spreckelsen, Toll Brothers, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0206.1 Comment attachment, dated June 24, 2009, from David 

Von Spreckelsen, Toll Brothers, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0207 Comment, dated June 26, 2009, from Lily Hou, Public 

Commenter 

 17 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0208 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Ron Moelis, Chief 

Executive Officer, L+M development Partners, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0208.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Ron 

Moelis, Chief Executive Officer, L+M development 

Partners, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0209 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from Isaac Katan, Katan 

Developers LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0210 Comment, dated June 21, 2009, from Beth O’Neill, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0211 Comment, dated June 20, 2009, from Michael Sivak, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0212 Comment, dated June 18, 2009, from Rachelle Therrien, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0213 Comment, dated June 18, 2009, from JoAnne Dally, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0214 Comment, dated June 18, 2009, from Frederic Gindrey, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0215 Comment, dated June 26, 2009, from Victoria Beerman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0216 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from Steve Damato, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0217 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Ned Vizzini, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0218 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Jeffery Schiff, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0219 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Wrolf Courtney, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0220 Comment, dated June 27, 2009, from Gennaro BrooksChurch, Eco Brooklyn Inc. – Green Real Estate, 

Renovation 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0221 Comment, dated June 27, 2009, from Lucy Koteen, 

President, Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats 

(CBID) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0222 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from Scott McNabb, 

Public Commenter 

 18 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0222.1 Comment attachment, dated June 09, 2009, from Scott 

McNabb, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0223 Comment, dated June 08, 2009, from David Deloatch, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0223.1 Comment attachment, dated June 08, 2009, from David 

Deloatch, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0224 Comment, dated June 08, 2009, from Sarah Ferguson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0224.1 Comment attachment, dated June 08, 2009, from Sarah 

Ferguson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0225 Comment, dated June 06, 2009, from A. Haft, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0225.1 Comment attachment, dated June 06, 2009, from A. 

Haft, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0226 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from Jennifer 

Capobianco, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0226.1 Comment attachment, dated June 09, 2009, from 

Jennifer Capobianco, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0227 Comment, dated June 08, 2009, from S. Felton, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0227.1 Comment attachment, dated June 08, 2009, from S. 

Felton, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0228 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from Rob Kaye, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0228.1 Comment attachment, dated June 09, 2009, from Rob 

Kaye, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0229 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0230 Comment, dated June 28, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0231 Comment, dated June 28, 2009, from Judith Thompson, 

President, Carroll Gardens Plan 2030, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0232 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from Kelsey Jones, 

Public Commenter 

 19 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0232.1 Comment attachment, dated June 09, 2009, from Kelsey 

Jones, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0233 Comment, dated June 08, 2009, from G. Kelly, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0233.1 Comment attachment, dated June 08, 2009, from G. 

Kelly, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0234 Comment, dated June 09, 2009, from Jacob Molyneux, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0234.1 Comment attachment, dated June 09, 2009, from Jacob 

Molyneux, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0235 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Kristen Ellis, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0236 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Linda Halpern 

Campbell, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0237 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Renee Kaufman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0238 Comment, dated June 16, 2009, from Martin Rowe, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0238.1 Comment attachment, dated June 16, 2009, from Martin 

Rowe, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0239 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Ilene Jaroslaw, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0240 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Doris C. & Leo 

Hoenig, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0241 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Lucy Koteen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0242 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Bekah Wilcox, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0243 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from June Muller, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0244 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Dan Avallone, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0245 Comment, dated June 15, 2009, from Daniel 

Schottenfeld, Public Commenter 

 20 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0245.1 Comment attachment, dated June 15, 2009, from Daniel 

Schottenfeld, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0246 Comment, dated June 15, 2009, from I. Slyke, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0246.1 Comment attachment, dated June 15, 2009, from I. 

Slyke, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0247 Comment, dated June 10, 2009, from D. H. Burchfield, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0247.1 Comment attachment, dated June 10, 2009, from D. H. 

Burchfield, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0248 Comment, dated June 16, 2009, from Thomas Weaver, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0248.1 Comment attachment, dated June 16, 2009, from 

Thomas Weaver, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0249 Comment, dated June 16, 2009, from Lana Hoerburger, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0249.1 Comment attachment, dated June 16, 2009, from Lana 

Hoerburger, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0250 Comment, dated June 16, 2009, from Nancy Wolf, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0250.1 Comment attachment, dated June 16, 2009, from Nancy 

Wolf, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0251 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Timothy B. Rosser, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0252 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Kathleen and 

Douglas Newton, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0253 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Dana Ivey, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0254 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Ursula Hahn, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0255 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from J. Murray, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0256 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from Cynthia Gonzalez, 

Chairwoman, Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. 

 21 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0257 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0258 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Mark Zimet, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0259 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Joanne B. Wright, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0260 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Dan Cayer, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0261 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Leslie Casey, 

Ph.D., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0262 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Joan Erskine, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0263 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Dr. Meredith Linn, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0264 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Dr. Joseph R. 

Parrish, Jr., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0265 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Jose E. Llufrio, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0266 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Kirsten Shaw, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0267 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Jenene G. Garey, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0268 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Erica Bell, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0269 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0270 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Sam Zalutsky, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0271 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0272 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from O. Foote, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0273 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

 22 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0274 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Elliott Phear, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0275 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Elizabeth Bagot, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0276 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Laura Edidin, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0277 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Ben Schrank, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0278 Comment, dated July 04, 2009, from M. Menger, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0279 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from K. Duffy-Acevedo, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0280 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from R. Brown, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0281 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from J. Anker, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0282 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Edward R. Stewart, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0283 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0284 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from B. Chezar, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0285 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Ashley Murray, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0286 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Barbara Wally, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0287 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0288 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from G. Sutton, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0289 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Joseph J. Seebode 

on behalf of Aniello L. Tortora, Colonel, U.S. Army, 

District Engineer, United States Army Corps of 

Engineers, New York District 

 23 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0289.1 Comment attachment, dated July 06, 2009, from Joseph 

J. Seebode on behalf of Aniello L. Tortora, Colonel, 

U.S. Army, District Engineer, United States Army Corps 

of Engineers, New York District 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0290 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from E. Bogaty, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0291 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Jeff Schwartz, 

Liberty Industrial Gas & Welding Supply 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0292 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0293 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from J. Loyd, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0294 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Nick Lembo, 

Monadnock Construction, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0295 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0296 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Owen Foote, 

Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0297 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0298 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Mass Comment 

Campaign titled “I believe that the most effective way to 

achieve a clean Gowanus in accordance with the high 

environmental and safety standards that are a part of the 

EPA’s Superfund National Priorities List program” 

sponsoring organization unknown (12) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0299 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Frances Dirks FNP, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0300 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from A. Lynn, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0301 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0302 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Allison Prete, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0303 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from K. McLaughlin, 

Public Commenter 

 24 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0304 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Eric McClure, 

Campaign Coordinator, Park Slope Neighbors 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0305 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from L. Sedia, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0306 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Ronald R. 

Engleman Jr., PE, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0307 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Tara. E. Tarpey, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0308 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from S. Neal, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0309 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0310 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Andrew Cohen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0311 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Stephan von 

Muehlen, Mare Liberum Collective, EnergyHub Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0312 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Mark Kolman, 

Executive Director, Selectively Evolving Environments, 

Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0313 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from A. Ichikawa, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0314 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Devorah 

Greenspan, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0315 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from A. Salazar, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0316 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from James Bewley, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0316.1 Comment attachment, dated June 22, 2009, from James 

Bewley, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0317 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from Robert B. Snyder, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0317.1 Comment attachment, dated June 22, 2009, from Robert 

B. Snyder, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0318 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from James V. Vogel, 

East Pacific Block Association 

 25 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0318.1 Comment attachment, dated July 06, 2009, from James 

V. Vogel, East Pacific Block Association 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0319 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from E. Carleton, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0319.1 Comment attachment, dated June 22, 2009, from E. 

Carleton, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0320 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Lizzie Olesker, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0321 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Warren Cohen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0322 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Brad Lander, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0323 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Dan Torop, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0324 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Eric McClure, 

Campaign Coordinator, Park Slope Neighbors 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0325 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Richard Cantor and 

Andrea Lilienthal, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0326 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Eric McClure, 

Campaign Coordinator, Park Slope Neighbors 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0327 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Bethany Hatheway, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0328 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Hugh Kimball, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0329 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Tina Levy, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0330 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Cynthia Vos-Wein, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0331 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Ros Morley, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0332 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from J. Doh, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0333 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

 26 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0334 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Peter Pierce, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0335 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from David von 

Spreckelsen, The ELM Group on behalf of Toll 

Brooklyn, LP 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0335.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from David 

von Spreckelsen, The ELM Group on behalf of Toll 

Brooklyn, LP 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0336 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from L. Cirando, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0337 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from H. Thomason, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0338 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from David Jou, Ugly 

Duckling Presse 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0339 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Jessamyn 

Waldman, Hot Bread Kitchen 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0340 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Noah Walley, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0341 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from WFM Properties 

Brooklyn, LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0342 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Marlene Donnelly 

and Benjamin Ellis, Friends & Residents of Greater 

Gowanus (FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0343 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Edward Morris, 

The Canary Project 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0344 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from K. Developers, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0345 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Katie Taber, 

Division 13 Productions 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0346 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from S. Snider, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0347 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0348 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from S. Buschkuhl, 

Public Commenter 

 27 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0349 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from R. Davis, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0350 Comment, dated June 17, 2009, from Mass Comment 

Campaign titled “As property owners of a thriving 

business along the Gowanus Canal...” sponsored by 

PMC (5) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0351 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from C. Hiebert, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0352 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from A. Kendall, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0353 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from P. West, Public 

Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0354 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from L. Beeferman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0355 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Judith Ornstein, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0356 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from J. Cooper, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0357 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from S. London, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0358 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Juris Cimbulis, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0359 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Charles F. Willard, 

Director, Site Investigation and Remediation, National 

Grid 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0359.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Charles 

F. Willard, Director, Site Investigation and Remediation, 

National Grid 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0360 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from C. Mackellar, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0361 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from J. Presant, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0362 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from R. Brittain, Public 

Commenter 

 28 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0363 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from P. Ficks, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0364 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from A. Krasnow, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0365 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from N. Ginzel, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0366 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from D. Mecum, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0367 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0368 Comment, dated June 05, 2009, from Jordan Zinovich, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0368.1 Comment attachment, dated June 05, 2009, from Jordan 

Zinovich, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0369 Comment, dated June 15, 2009, from Vanessa Twyford, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0369.1 Comment attachment, dated June 15, 2009, from 

Vanessa Twyford, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0370 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Christopher Len, 

Esq., Staff Attorney, NY/NJ Baykeeper 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0371 Comment, dated June 16, 2009, from Oronzo Sardone, 

Bay Ridge Iron Restoration Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0371.1 Comment attachment, dated June 16, 2009, from Oronzo 

Sardone, Bay Ridge Iron Restoration Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0372 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Andrew Jackson, 

The Hudson Companies, Inc. on behalf of Gowanus 

Green 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0372.1 Comment attachment, dated July 07, 2009, from Andrew 

Jackson, The Hudson Companies, Inc. on behalf of 

Gowanus Green 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0373 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from C. Bullard, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0374 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from J. Fain, Public 

Commenter 

 29 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0375 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from K. Cusack, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0376 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from S. Moore, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0377 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from J. Jean Austin, 

Brooklyn Bridge Realty Ltd. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0378 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from S. Johnson and L. 

Caruso, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0379 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Gary G. Reilly, 

Esq., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0380 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0381 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0382 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from J. Weber, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0383 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from H. Zook, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0383.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from H. 

Zook, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0384 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from S. Retig, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0384.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from S. 

Retig, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0385 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Kari Zolesak, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0385.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Kari 

Zolesak, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0386 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Cally Rieman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0386.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Cally 

Rieman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0387 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Benjamin Horn, 

Public Commenter 

 30 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0387.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from 

Benjamin Horn, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0388 Comment, dated June 19, 2009, from Janice Badalutz, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0388.1 Comment attachment, dated June 19, 2009, from Janice 

Badalutz, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0389 Comment, dated June 16, 2009, from Paul J. Morra, 

Crusader Candle Co., Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0389.1 Comment attachment, dated June 16, 2009, from Paul J. 

Morra, Crusader Candle Co., Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0390 Comment, dated June 24, 2009, from William P. & 

Jeanette B. Jeanes, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0390.1 Comment attachment, dated June 24, 2009, from 

William P. & Jeanette B. Jeanes, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0391 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Jean Austin, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0391.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Jean 

Austin, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0392 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from C. Roberts, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0392.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from C. 

Roberts, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0393 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from K. Kivland, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0394 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Mass Campaign 

titled “The plan the Bloomberg administration has 

hastily slapped together...” sponsoring organization 

unknown (4) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0395 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from D. Juliet, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0396 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from S. Lynen, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0397 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from C. Ascenzo, Public 

Commenter 

 31 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0398 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Cas Holloway, City 

of New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0398.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Cas 

Holloway, City of New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0398.2 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Cas 

Holloway, City of New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0399 Comment, dated June 12, 2009, from Joan Guido, Vice 

President Operations, Foro Marble Co., Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0399.1 Comment, dated June 12, 2009, from Joan Guido, Vice 

President Operations, Foro Marble Co., Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0400 Comment, dated June 13, 2009, from Koen (surname 

illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0400.1 Comment attachment, dated June 13, 2009, from Koen 

(surname illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0401 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from E. Williams, et al. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0401.1 Comment attachment, dated July 07, 2009, from E. 

Williams, et al. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0402 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Barrie Olsen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0403 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Peter W. 

Zimmermann, Principal, Environmental Liability 

Management, LLC. (ELM) on behalf of Toll Brooklyn, 

LP 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0403.1 Comment attachment, dated July 07, 2009, from Peter 

W. Zimmermann, Principal, Environmental Liability 

Management, LLC. (ELM) on behalf of Toll Brooklyn, 

LP 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0404 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0405 Comment, dated June 15, 2009, from Kendah El-Ali, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0405.1 Comment attachment, dated June 15, 2009, from Kendah 

El-Ali, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0406 Comment, dated June 24, 2009, from Jonathan Edward 

Cross, Public Commenter 

 32 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0406.1 Comment attachment, dated June 24, 2009, from 

Jonathan Edward Cross, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0407 Comment, dated June 24, 2009, from Eric Jenes, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0407.1 Comment attachment, dated June 24, 2009, from Eric 

Jenes, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0408 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from S. Blachman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0408.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from S. 

Blachman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0409 Comment, dated June 24, 2009, from N. Sazvatore, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0409.1 Comment attachment, dated June 24, 2009, from N. 

Sazvatore, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0410 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from G. Wagoner, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0410.1 Comment attachment, dated June 22, 2009, from G. 

Wagoner, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0411 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from E. Rubenstern, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0411.1 Comment attachment, dated June 22, 2009, from E. 

Rubenstern, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0412 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from L. Siry, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0412.1 Comment attachment, dated June 22, 2009, from L. Siry, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0413 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from Aaron Padwee, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0413.1 Comment attachment, dated June 22, 2009, from Aaron 

Padwee, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0414 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from M. Fuentes, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0414.1 Comment attachment, dated July 07, 2009, from M. 

Fuentes, Public Commenter 

 33 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0415 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from G. Antoine, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0415.1 Comment attachment, dated July 07, 2009, from G. 

Antoine, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0416 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Nick and Tina 

Cinalli, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0416.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Nick 

and Tina Cinalli, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0417 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Vincent Mazzone, 

President, Court Street Merchants Association, Inc. 

(CSMA) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0417.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Vincent 

Mazzone, President, Court Street Merchants 

Association, Inc. (CSMA) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0418 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from M. Takabayashi, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0418.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from M. 

Takabayashi, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0419 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from E. Shinozaki, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0419.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from E. 

Shinozaki, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0420 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from K. Mak, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0420.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from K. 

Mak, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0421 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Lorraine Vasquez, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0421.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from 

Lorraine Vasquez, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0422 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Steve Geiger, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0423 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Alexandra 

Hoffman, Public Commenter 

 34 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0424 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Rose Marie Foglia, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0425 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from Susan Sporer, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0425.1 Comment attachment, dated June 22, 2009, from Susan 

Sporer, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0426 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from George Slessinger, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0426.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from George 

Slessinger, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0427 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Alan & Cynthia 

Lantz, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0428 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Stephan de Sève, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0429 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Anonymous Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0430 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Michael Dimen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0430.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, from 

Michael Dimen, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0431 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Michael Bennett, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0431.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, from 

Michael Bennett, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0432 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from John C. 

Markowitz, M.D., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0432.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, from John C. 

Markowitz, M.D., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0433 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Sarah Woodside 

Gallagher, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0433.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, from Sarah 

Woodside Gallagher, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0434 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Carol Carson, 

Public Commenter 

 35 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0434.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, from Carol 

Carson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0435 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Barbara Seiger, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0436 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Sabine Aronowsky, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0437 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Irene Van Slyke, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0438 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from N. Mancino, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0438.1 Comment attachment, dated June 22, 2009, from N. 

Mancino, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0439 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Gretchen 

MacKenzie, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0439.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from 

Gretchen MacKenzie, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0440 Notes from June 19, 2009 meeting between EPA and 

New York City Officials and Consultants regarding the 

Gowanus Canal Proposed Superfund Site 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0441 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Kevin K. Johnson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0441.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Kevin 

K. Johnson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0442 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Gary Keir, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0442.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Kevin 

K. Johnson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0443 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Glenn Fleischman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0443.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Glenn 

Fleischman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0444 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Susan Weltman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0444.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Susan 

Weltman, Public Commenter 

 36 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0445 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Paul Sheridan, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0445.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Paul 

Sheridan, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0446 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Dan Avallone, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0446.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Dan 

Avallone, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0447 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Clint Padgitt, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0447.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Clint 

Padgitt, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0448 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Lisa North, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0448.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Lisa 

North, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0449 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Ilene Jaroslaw, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0449.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Ilene 

Jaroslaw, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0450 Attendees List, Agenda and Handouts from June 19, 

2009 meeting between EPA and New York City 

Officials and Consultants regarding the Gowanus Canal 

Proposed Superfund Site 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0451 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Mass Comment 

Campaign titled “I support the City of New York’s 

Alternative Plan...” Sponsored by Clean Gowanus Now! 

(13) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0452 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Mass Comment 

Campaign titled “I am convinced that it will take an allinclusive, EPA supervised, total remediation of the 

canal...” sponsoring organization unknown (21) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0453 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Gladys S. Brown, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0453.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Gladys 

S. Brown, Public Commenter 

 37 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0454 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from David Burney, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0454.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from David 

Burney, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0455 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Arlene Kramer 

Richards, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0455.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Arlene 

Kramer Richards, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0456 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Lisa Wilsher, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0456.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Lisa 

Wilsher, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0457 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Marcia Robinson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0457.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Marcia 

Robinson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0458 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Jerry Greenward, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0458.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from Jerry 

Greenward, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0459 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Philip Scafuri, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0459.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from Philip 

Scafuri, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0460 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Bette Stoltz, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0460.1 Comment attachment, dated July 06, 2009, from Bette 

Stoltz, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0461 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Bill Munks, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0461.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from Bill 

Munks, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0462 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Jobco Incorporated 

 38 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0462.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from Jobco 

Incorporated 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0463 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Jillian Flynn, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0463.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Jillian 

Flynn, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0464 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from David Palughi, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0464.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from David 

Palughi, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0465 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Joanne B. Wright, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0465.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Joanne 

B. Wright, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0466 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from William Gillen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0466.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from William 

Gillen, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0467 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Enid Braun, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0468 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Stephen Nosal, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0469 Comment, dated July 8, 2009, from Triada Samaras, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0469.1 Comment attachment, dated July 8, 2009, from Triada 

Samaras, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0470 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Jeanne A. Grifo, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0471 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Michelle de la Uz, 

Executive Director, Fifth Avenue Committee, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0472 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Roberta F. & James 

S. Vaughan, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0473 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Behzad Amiri, 

Public Commenter 

 39 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0474 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Alison Cohen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0475 Comment, dated July 09, 2009, from Margaret L. Seely, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0476 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Andrew Jackson, 

the Hudson Companies, Inc. on behalf of David Kramer, 

Hudson Third LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0476.1 Comment attachment, dated July 07, 2009, from Andrew 

Jackson, the Hudson Companies, Inc. on behalf of David 

Kramer, Hudson Third LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0477 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Margaret 

Maugenest & Kevin Duffy, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0477.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from 

Margaret Maugenest & Kevin Duffy, Public 

Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0478 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from E. Krantz on behalf 

of KINGSPB LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0478.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from E. 

Krantz on behalf of KINGSPB LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0479 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Tom Gray on 

behalf of Bill de Blasio, Assistant Majority Leader, The 

Council of the City of New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0479.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Tom 

Gray on behalf of Bill de Blasio, Assistant Majority 

Leader, The Council of the City of New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0479.2 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Tom 

Gray on behalf of Bill de Blasio, Assistant Majority 

Leader, The Council of the City of New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0480 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Lauren Elvers 

Collins, Acting Executive Director, Gowanus Canal 

Conservancy 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0481 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Kimiye Corwin, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0482 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Aileen Renner, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0483 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Sherie Helstien, 

Public Commenter 

 40 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0484 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Enid Braun, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0485 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Brian Minahan, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0486 Comment, dated July 03 2009, from Janet Li, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0487 Comment, dated July 05, 2009, from Ellen Hoyt, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0488 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Roy W. Sloane, 

The Cobble Hill Association, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0489 Comment, dated June 27, 2009, from Charles F. Vadala, 

Jr., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0490 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Judith A. Francis, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0491 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from Joseph Martin 

Carasso, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0492 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from Brian Machida, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0493 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from Shira Margulies, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0494 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from Lauryn Slotnick, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0495 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from Joan Bredthauer, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0496 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from Mary Ellen Smith, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0497 Comment, dated July 05, 2009, from Enid Braun, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0498 Comment, dated July 05, 2009, from Joseph Quirk, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0499 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Peter Needle, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0500 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Jane Potenzo, 

Public Commenter 

 41 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0501 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Cheryl Krauss, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0502 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Alice Henkin, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0503 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Mary Prlain, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0504 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from George Forss, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0505 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Lauren Young, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0506 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Anne Cavallaro, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0507 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Ludger K. Balan, 

Executive, Environmental Program Director, The Urban 

Divers Estuary Conservancy 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0508 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Daniel Tinneny, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0508.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Daniel 

Tinneny, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0509 Comment, dated June 26, 2009, from Angelo (surname 

illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0509.1 Comment attachment, dated June 26, 2009, from Angelo 

(surname illegible), Public Commente 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0510 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Philip Ameduri, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0510.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Philip 

Ameduri, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0511 Comment, dated June 26, 2009, from (name illegible), 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0511.1 Comment attachment, dated June 26, 2009, from (name 

illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0512 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Tony Manesio, 

Public Commenter 

 42 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0512.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Tony 

Manesio, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0513 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Nick (surname 

illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0513.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Nick 

(surname illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0514 Comment, dated June 26, 2009, from Robert (surname 

illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0514.1 Comment attachment, dated June 26, 2009, from Robert 

(surname illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0515 Comment, dated June 26, 2009, from Scott Farson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0515.1 Comment attachment, dated June 26, 2009, from Scott 

Farson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0516 Comment, dated June 26, 2009, from L. Chellberg, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0516.1 Comment attachment, dated June 26, 2009, from L. 

Chellberg, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0517 Comment, dated June 26, 2009, from J. Farson, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0517.1 Comment attachment, dated June 26, 2009, from J. 

Farson, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0518 Comment, dated June 18, 2009, from Ari Biernoff, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0518.1 Comment attachment, dated June 18, 2009, from Ari 

Biernoff, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0519 Comment, dated June 18, 2009, from Carol Towey, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0519.1 Comment attachment, dated June 18, 2009, from Carol 

Towey, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0520 Comment, dated June 23, 2009, from Salvatore J. Scotto, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0520.1 Comment attachment, dated June 23, 2009, from 

Salvatore J. Scotto, Public Commenter 

 43 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0521 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Steve Pav, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0522 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Adam Eisenstat, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0523 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Rose Murphy, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0524 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Anne D. Bernstein, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0525 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Jay A. Lubow, 

Senior Principal, Applied Design Initiative, LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0526 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Cynthia P. 

Simmons, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0527 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Leslie Shipman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0528 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Jillian Mulvihill, 

Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0529 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Joan Griffiths 

Vega, Public Commenter 

 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0530 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Neal Rosenstein, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0531 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Vesna Bricelj, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0532 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Michael Pfeffer, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0533 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Russ Feinberg, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0534 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Brad Lander, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0535 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from David Hecht, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0536 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Kathleen Zbylut, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0537 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Paula Z. Segal, 

Public Commenter 

 44 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0538 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Judith E. Fletcher, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0539 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Laura Shippey, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0540 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Lucy De Carlo, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0541 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Win Clevenger, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0542 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Joshua Fontaine, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0543 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Erin Keating, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0544 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Robert Durante, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0545 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Christopher 

Messina, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0546 Comment, dated July 04, 2009, from Adam Armstrong, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0547 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Kathryn Cervino, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0548 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Margaret 

Maugenest, Friends and Residents of the Greater 

Gowanus (FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0549 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Sybil Hannah, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0550 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Lezllie Dalton, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0551 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from David Lundell, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0552 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Dr. James M. 

Cervino, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0553 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Adam J. Schwartz, 

The Academy of Urban Planning 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0554 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Edward S. 

Sawchuk, P.C., Attorney, Vichar Inc. 

 45 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0555 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Nimita Shah, 

Senior Project Manager, Toll Brothers, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0556 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Alison Lincoln, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0557 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Peter Pierce, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0558 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Kristina 

Wollschlaeger, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0559 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Adam Gottlieb, 

Public Commenter 

 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0560 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Maria Pagano, 

President, Carrol Gardens Neighborhood Association 

(CGNA) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0561 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Marty Kahn, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0562 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Scott Avram, 

Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0563 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Martha Cid, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0564 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from David Yassky, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0565 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Joan Faulkner, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0566 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Mikel Brown, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0567 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Michelle Perreault, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0568 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Norman Cox, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0569 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Steven Miller, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0570 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Daniel Kianmahd, 

Toll Brothers 

 46 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0571 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Wylie Goodman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0572 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Margaret 

Maugenest, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0573 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Lois Marie Gibbs, 

Campaign Coordinator, Center for Health, Environment 

& Justice (CHEJ) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0574 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Nancy and Marino 

Mazzei, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0575 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Maria Pagano, 

President, Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association 

(CGNA) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0576 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Amy Holman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0577 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Josh Skaller, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0578 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Betty Lester, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0579 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from John Gullixson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0580 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Yuwadee 

Tantipech, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0581 Comment, dated July 2, 2009, from Lori Hoepner, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0582 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Eric McClure, 

Treasurer, Park Slope Civic Council 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0582.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Eric 

McClure, Treasurer, Park Slope Civic Council 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0583 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from M. Feldmann, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0584 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from David Briggs and 

Anthony Deen, Gowanus by Design 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0584.1 Comment attachment, dated July 06, 2009, from David 

Briggs and Anthony Deen, Gowanus by Design 

 47 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0585 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Lenny Siegel, 

Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental 

Oversight 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0586 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Bill & Kathy 

Appel, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0586.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Bill & 

Kathy Appel, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0587 Comment, dated July 7, 2009, from Lois Martinez, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0587.1 Comment attachment, dated July 7, 2009, from Lois 

Martinez, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0588 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Cody HealeyConelly, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0588.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from Cody 

Healey-Conelly, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0589 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Nathan F. Elbogen, 

Managing Director, LMS Realty Associates LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0589.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Nathan 

F. Elbogen, Managing Director, LMS Realty Associates 

LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0590 Comment, dated June 24, 2009, from Ron Moelis, Chief 

Executive Officer, L + M Development Partners 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0590.1 Comment attachment, dated June 24, 2009, from Ron 

Moelis, Chief Executive Officer, L + M Development 

Partners 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0591 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from G. Martin, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0591.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from G. 

Martin, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0592 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from F. Mario, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0592.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from F. 

Mario, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0593 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from S. Fountel, Public 

Commenter 

 48 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0593.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from S. 

Fountel, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0594 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from A. Waye, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0594.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from A. 

Waye, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0595 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Marc Fouerto, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0595.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Marc 

Fouerto, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0596 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Jacqueline Austin, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0596.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from 

Jacqueline Austin, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0597 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from S. Maraio, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0597.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from S. 

Maraio, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0598 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Vito (surname 

illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0598.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Vito 

(surname illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0599 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from E. Menesier, 

Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0599.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from E. 

Menesier, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0600 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from J. Benet, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0600.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from J. 

Benet, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0601 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Sophia Fouerte, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0601.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Sophia 

Fouerte, Public Commenter 

 49 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0602 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Joseph Cagliano, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0602.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Joseph 

Cagliano, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0603 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Jeff Wyner, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0603.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Jeff 

Wyner, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0604 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Eileen O’Dowd, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0604.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Eileen 

O’Dowd, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0605 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Carmen Robello, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0605.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from 

Carmen Robello, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0606 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from (name illegible), 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0606.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from (name 

illegible), Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0607 Comment, dated June 25, 2009, from Andra Grants, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0607.1 Comment attachment, dated June 25, 2009, from Andra 

Grants, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0608 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Karla Roberts, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0609 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from Shira Margulies, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0609.1 Comment attachment, dated July 03, 2009, from Shira 

Margulies, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0610 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Phaedra Amelia 

Thomas, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0610.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Phaedra 

Amelia Thomas, Public Commenter 

 50 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0611 Comment, dated Jun 20, 2009, from Joseph Igneri, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0611.1 Comment attachment, dated Jun 20, 2009, from Joseph 

Igneri, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0612 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Derek Bupp, NYC 

Property Care, LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0612.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Derek 

Bupp, NYC Property Care, LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0613 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Lori Hoepner, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0613.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Lori 

Hoepner, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0614 Comment, dated July 04, 2009, from Eric Miller, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0614.1 Comment attachment, dated July 04, 2009, from Eric 

Miller, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0615 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Ben Schrank, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0615.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Ben 

Schrank, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0616 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from Michael Salvatore, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0616.1 Comment attachment, dated July 03, 2009, from Michael 

Salvatore, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0617 Comment, dated June 24, 2009, from Michael Pontone, 

SBC Realty Group, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0617.1 Comment attachment, dated June 24, 2009, from 

Michael Pontone, SBC Realty Group, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0618 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Barbara Charton, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0618.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Barbara 

Charton, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0619 Comment, dated July 03, 2009, from Jason Murry, 

Public Commenter 

 51 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0619.1 Comment attachment, dated July 03, 2009, from Jason 

Murry, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0620 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Eric Bluestone, 

Member, et al., Bluestone Gowanus Green Partners LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0620.1 Comment attachment, dated July 07, 2009, from Eric 

Bluestone, Member, et al., Bluestone Gowanus Green 

Partners LLC 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0621 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Carl Hum, 

President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0621.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Carl 

Hum, President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of 

Commerce 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0622 Comment, dated April 15, 2009, from Lucy DeCarlo, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0622.1 Comment attachment, dated April 15, 2009, from Lucy 

DeCarlo, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0623 Comment, dated April 09, 2009, from Kirsten DrabinGray, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0623.1 Comment attachment, dated April 09, 2009, from 

Kirsten Drabin-Gray, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0624 Comment, dated June 27, 2009, from Betsy Okner, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0624.1 Comment attachment, dated June 27, 2009, from Betsy 

Okner, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0625 Comment, dated April 17, 2009, from Lynne Beltran, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0625.1 Comment attachment, dated April 17, 2009, from Lynne 

Beltran, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0626 Comment, dated April 22, 2009, from B. Katleman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0626.1 Comment attachment, dated April 22, 2009, from B. 

Katleman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0627 Comment, dated April 23, 2009, from Cynthia P. 

Simmons, Esq., Public Commenter 

 52 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0627.1 Comment attachment, dated April 23, 2009, from 

Cynthia P. Simmons, Esq., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0628 Comment, dated April 30, 2009, from Manuela Paul, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0628.1 Comment attachment, dated April 30, 2009, from 

Manuela Paul, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0629 Comment, dated June 23, 2009, from Cyrille Phipps, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0629.1 Comment attachment, dated June 23, 2009, from Cyrille 

Phipps, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0630 Comment, dated June 11, 2009, from Michael King, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0630.1 Comment attachment, dated June 11, 2009, from 

Michael King, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0631 Comment, dated June 02, 2009, from Lucy DeCarlo, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0631.1 Comment attachment, dated June 02, 2009, from Lucy 

DeCarlo, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0632 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Anna Ellis & 

Aaron Nester, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0633 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Mark Shames, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0634 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Michael Salvatore, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0635 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Peter McGuire, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0636 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Ashley Murray, 

President, Liberty Industrial Gas and Welding Supply, 

Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0637 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Amy Sirot, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0638 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Jeff Miles, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0639 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from David E. Sharps, 

President, The Waterfront Museum 

 53 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0640 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Malia Murray, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0641 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Joel Levenson, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0642 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Judith A. Francis, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0643 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Lauren Young, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0644 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Jeffrey Schwartz, 

Chief Financial Officer, Liberty Industrial Gas & 

Welding Supply, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0645 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Job Mashariki, 

Executive Director, Black Veterans for Social Justice, 

Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0646 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Amy Rogoway, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0647 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Roy W. Sloane, 

The Cobble Hill Association, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0648 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Gennaro BrooksChurch, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0649 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from John Hatheway, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0650 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Devorah 

Greenspan, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0651 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Elizabeth Lind, 

The South Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0652 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from E. Spicer & A. 

Pugliese, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0652.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from E. 

Spicer & A. Pugliese, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0653 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Jo Anne Simon, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0653.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Jo 

Anne Simon, Public Commenter 

 54 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0654 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from C.H. Mackellar, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0654.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from C.H. 

Mackellar, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0655 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Michael Slattery, 

Senior Vice President, Real Estate Board of New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0655.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Michael 

Slattery, Senior Vice President, Real Estate Board of 

New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0656 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Elizabeth Stein, 

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0656.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from 

Elizabeth Stein, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0657 Comment, dated June 01, 2009, from Jocelyn Wills, 

Associate Professor, History Department & Center for 

Worker Education, Brooklyn College, City University of 

New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0657.1 Comment attachment, dated June 01, 2009, from Jocelyn 

Wills, Associate Professor, History Department & 

Center for Worker Education, Brooklyn College, City 

University of New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0658 Comment, dated June 24, 2009, from D. Pearlman, C. 

Lyon, & R. Lyon, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0658.1 Comment attachment, dated June 24, 2009, from D. 

Pearlman, C. Lyon, & R. Lyon, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0659 Comment, dated June 01, 2009, from Sharon Lamazor, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0659.1 Comment attachment, dated June 01, 2009, from Sharon 

Lamazor, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0660 Comment, dated June 17, 2009, from Robert Durante, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0660.1 Comment attachment, dated June 17, 2009, from Robert 

Durante, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0661 Comment, dated June 17, 2009, from George Magnifico, 

Public Commenter 

 55 
Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0661.1 Comment attachment, dated June 17, 2009, from George 

Magnifico, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0662 Comment, dated June 21, 2009, from Beth O’Neill, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0662.1 Comment attachment, dated June 21, 2009, from Beth 

O’Neill, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0663 Comment, dated June 23, 2009, from Ken Lindley and 

Clay Schudel, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0663.1 Comment attachment, dated June 23, 2009, from Ken 

Lindley and Clay Schudel, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0664 Comment, dated June 23, 2009, from Sheila Glenn, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0664.1 Comment attachment, dated June 23, 2009, from Sheila 

Glenn, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0665 Comment, dated May 19, 2009, from David DesRoches, 

Senior Survey Researcher, Mathematica Policy 

Research, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0665.1 Comment attachment, dated May 19, 2009, from David 

DesRoches, Senior Survey Researcher, Mathematica 

Policy Research, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0666 Comment, dated June 24, 2009, from Julia Duvall, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0666.1 Comment attachment, dated June 24, 2009, from Julia 

Duvall, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0667 Comment, dated June 11, 2009, from George H. Zachos, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0667.1 Comment attachment, dated June 11, 2009, from George 

H. Zachos, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0668 Comment, dated June 26, 2009, from Eymund Diegel, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0668.1 Comment attachment, dated June 26, 2009, from 

Eymund Diegel, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0669 Comment, dated April 30, 2009, from George H. 

Zachos, Public Commenter 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0669.1 Comment attachment, dated April 30, 2009, from 

George H. Zachos, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0670 Comment, dated May 03, 2009, from Velmanette 

Montgomery, New York Senator 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0670.1 Comment attachment, dated May 03, 2009, from 

Velmanette Montgomery, New York Senator 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0671 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, Daniel Squadron, 25th

District, New York State Senate 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0671.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, Daniel 

Squadron, 25th District, New York State Senate 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0672 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Tom Angotti, 

Director, Center for Community Planning & 

Development, Hunter College 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0672.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, from Tom 

Angotti, Director, Center for Community Planning & 

Development, Hunter College 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0673 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Lucy DeCarlo, 

Rita Miller, & Triada Samaras, Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0673.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, from Lucy 

DeCarlo, Rita Miller, & Triada Samaras, Public 

Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0674 Comment, dated June 15, 2009, from Deborah 

Buscarello, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0675 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from N. Hendricks, 

Public Commenters 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0676 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Judith A. Francis, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0677 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Christopher Len, 

Staff Attorney, New York/New Jersey Baykeeper 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0678 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Eric A. Goldstein, 

Senior Attorney and Carolyn Kelly, Legal Intern, 

Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (NRDC) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0679 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Steel Neal, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0680 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Marcelo Frydman, 

Public Commenter 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0681 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Nancy A. Mintz, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0682 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from R. Okon, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0683 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Gabriel Hunter, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0684 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from B. Cosgrhue, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0685 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Ken Baer, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0686 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Gary LaBarbera, 

President, Building and Construction Trades Council of 

Greater New York 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0687 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from T. Urban, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0688 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Warren Cohen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0689 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Keren Ludwig, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0690 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Jill Berman, Ed. 

D., Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0691 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Henry C. Kita, 

Senior Vice President, Building Trades Employers’ 

Association 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0692 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Ellen Rios, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0693 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from A. Wheeler, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0694 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from S. Steplas, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0695 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Janet E. Hassett, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0696 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Felicity Erwin, 

Public Commenter 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0697 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from R. Tolentino, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0698 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Eleanor O. Preiss, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0699 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Nancy Stehle, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0700 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Sonia Barlow, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0701 Comment, dated July 05, 2009, from Annie Leist, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0702 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Thomas Alberty, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0703 Comment, dated July 02, 2009, from Michael Salvatore, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0703.1 Comment attachment, dated July 02, 2009, from Michael 

Salvatore, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0704 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Jamie Mirabella, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0705 Comment, dated May 08, 2009, from Robin L. Simmen, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0705.1 Comment attachment, dated May 08, 2009, from Robin 

L. Simmen, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0706 Comment, dated May 08, 2009, from Joseph Szladek, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0706.1 Comment attachment, dated May 08, 2009, from Joseph 

Szladek, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0707 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Joshua S. Verleun, 

Esq., Riverkeeper, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0707.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Joshua 

S. Verleun, Esq., Riverkeeper, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0707.2 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Joshua 

S. Verleun, Esq., Riverkeeper, Inc. 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0707.3 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Joshua 

S. Verleun, Esq., Riverkeeper, Inc. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0708 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Raul Rothblatt, 

Executive Director, Four Borough Neighborhood 

Preservation Alliance 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0708.1 Comment attachment, dated July 07, 2009, from Raul 

Rothblatt, Executive Director, Four Borough 

Neighborhood Preservation Alliance 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0709 Comment, dated July 07, 2009, from Devorah 

Greenspan, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0709.1 Comment attachment, dated July 07, 2009, from 

Devorah Greenspan, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0710 Comment, dated July 10, 2009, from Gregory 

Bezkorovainy, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0711 Comment, dated July 06, 2009, from Linda Mariano, 

Archivist, Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus 

(FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0711.1 Comment attachment, dated July 06, 2009, from Linda 

Mariano, Archivist, Friends and Residents of Greater 

Gowanus (FROGG) 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0712 Comment, dated July 15, 2009, from Alejandro Santo 

Domingo, Managing Director, Quadrant Capital 

Advisors 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0713 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Norman Siegel, 

Civil Rights Lawyer and Candidate for New York City 

Public Advocate 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0713.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Norman 

Siegel, Civil Rights Lawyer and Candidate for New 

York City Public Advocate 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0714 Comment, dated July 10, 2009, from David 

Prestigiacomo, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0715 Comment, dated July 09, 2009, from Jacqueline Lew, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0716 Comment, dated June 23, 2009, from Mark Kolman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0716.1 Comment attachment, dated June 23, 2009, from Mark 

Kolman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0717 Comment, dated July 08, 2009, from Liz Conley, Public 

Commenter 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0717.1 Comment attachment, dated July 08, 2009, from Liz 

Conley, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0718 Comment, dated July 01, 2009, from Jay C. Shames, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0718.1 Comment attachment, dated July 01, 2009, from Jay C. 

Shames, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0719 Comment, dated June 28, 2009, from Mark Shames, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0719.1 Comment attachment, dated June 28, 2009, from Mark 

Shames, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0720 Comment, dated June 22, 2009, from Mark Fridman, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0720.1 Comment attachment, dated June 22, 2009, from Mark 

Fridman, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0721 Comment, dated June 29, 2009, from Anthony Gozzo, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0721.1 Comment attachment, dated June 29, 2009, from 

Anthony Gozzo, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0722 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Maria Reca, Public 

Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0722.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, from Maria 

Reca, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0723 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Debra Scotto, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0723.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, from Debra 

Scotto, Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0724 Comment, dated June 30, 2009, from Theresa Spinelli, 

Public Commenter 

EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0724.1 Comment attachment, dated June 30, 2009, from 

Theresa Spinelli, Public Commenter 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

2. Site Description 

The Gowanus Canal site is located in Brooklyn (Kings County), New York, and consists of the 

contaminated sediments in the Canal. The Gowanus Canal is a brackish, tidal arm of the New York-New 

Jersey Harbor Estuary extending for approximately 1.5 miles through Brooklyn, New York. The 100-

foot-wide canal runs southwest from Butler Street to Gowanus Bay and Upper New York Bay. The 

adjacent waterfront is primarily commercial and industrial, currently consisting of concrete plants, 

warehouses, and parking lots. Surrounding land use also includes residential neighborhoods. The 

Gowanus Canal is the receiving water body for storm water from approximately 6 square miles of urban 

land and combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges during storm events. Figure 1 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal shows the site location. 

The Gowanus Canal was built in the 19th century to allow access for industrial needs by bulkheading and 

dredging a tidal creek and wetland that had previously been fished for large oysters. After its completion 

in the 1860s, the Canal quickly became one of the nation’s busiest industrial waterways, home to heavy 

industry including manufactured gas plants (MGP), coal yards, cement makers, soap makers, tanneries, 

paint and ink factories, machine shops, chemical plants, and oil refineries. The Canal was also the 

repository of untreated industrial wastes, raw sewage, and runoff for decades, resulting in it becoming one 

of New York’s most polluted waterways. 

Upon construction, the Gowanus Canal was a semi-stagnant body of water due to its narrow width and 

long reach from the Bay, which limited tidal movement. In 1911, the Gowanus Flushing Tunnel was 

constructed to bring water into the head of the Canal from the Buttermilk Channel in New York Harbor 

and increase the movement of water within the Canal. In the 1950s and 1960s, the city’s economy moved 

away from manufacturing, and the Gowanus Canal went from being a busy commercial canal to a heavily 

polluted waterway surrounded by a dilapidated waterfront. The Gowanus Flushing Tunnel stopped 

operating in approximately 1960 when the propeller drive shaft was disabled. The Gowanus Flushing 

Tunnel was repaired and reactivated in April 1999. The City of New York is planning to reduce the 

combined sewer overflow into the Canal; and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) has 

investigated the site and has developed possible approaches for remediating the Canal sediments. 

Numerous past investigations of varying scope have been conducted within and around the Gowanus 

Canal. Some of the studies focused on contamination on specific properties, while others focused on the 

contaminated sediments within the Canal. Analytical results for the April-May 2003 USACE sampling 

event show that contaminated sediments are located throughout the Gowanus Canal, from location GC03-30 at the head of the Canal to location GC-03-07 (shown on Figure 1 of the HRS documentation 

record at proposal) approximately 1.5 miles downstream. 

The HRS site evaluation at proposal was based on the identification of the contaminated sediments in the 

Canal as a source. There are several hazardous substances affecting the Canal sediments, including 

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, metals, and 

volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The origin of these hazardous substances in the contaminated 

sediments has not been identified due to the presence of too many past and present possible sources. As a 

result, the source(s) of all the contamination in any particular location in the Canal cannot be determined. 

The waste quantity for the site was based on the estimated volume of contaminated sediments in the 

Canal, and was estimated using the results of a sampling event by KeySpan in 2005 and 2006 during 

which the Canal was sampled at various depths. Only samples that met observed release criteria were 

used to delineate the volume of contaminated sediments. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

Despite pollution problems, some city dwellers use the Gowanus Canal for recreational purposes such as 

canoeing, diving, and swimming. People also use the Canal for fishing and crabbing for human 

consumption. The Canal itself and the downstream waters are part of the New York-New Jersey Estuary, 

designated by EPA as an “Estuary of National Significance” under the National Estuary Program. 

Downstream of the Canal are the Gateway National Recreation Area—Jamaica Bay Unit, habitat areas for 

multiple federal and state endangered species, and a unique biotic community, the Lower Hudson River 

Estuary. 

3. Summary of Comments 

More than 1,300 commenters submitted comments on the proposed listing of the Gowanus Canal site. 

Some of the submittals were petitions; others were post cards, emails, and short letters. Only a small 

number contained multiple policy and technical comments. 

More than 1,000 commenters expressed support of the listing, including Valmanette Montgomery, New 

York Senator; Daniel Squadron, 25th District, New York State Senate; Brad Lander, candidate for New 

York City Council from the 39th District in Brooklyn; Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID); 

Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus (FROGG); The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy; Carroll 

Gardens Neighborhood Association (CGNA); Center for Public Environmental Oversight; New 

York/New Jersey Baykeeper; and Riverkeeper, Inc. Many commenters indicated support for the listing 

contingent on the commitment to other activities. A few commenters indicated that they supported 

listing if necessary but not until all other options had been exhausted or until ongoing studies had been 

completed. 

Fewer than 200 commenters submitted comments opposed to the proposed listing. These commenters 

included the City of New York and Toll Brothers City Living (Toll Brothers). Other commenters, 

including Bill de Blasio, Assistant Majority Leader; The Council of the City of New York; and the 

USACE indicated general support for cleanup activities at the site regardless of the method. Mr. de 

Blasio questioned Superfund’s effectiveness. The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) expressed 

willingness to work with EPA on EPA’s continuing response efforts associated with the Canal. 

Both the City of New York’s and Toll Brothers’ comments were extensive and dealt with the need for 

NPL status for the Gowanus Canal and the accuracy of the HRS score for the site. The City of New 

York’s comments included a critique of the HRS score performed by HydroQual Environmental 

Engineers & Scientists (HydroQual). Toll Brothers also submitted a critique of the HRS evaluation, 

which had been performed by The ELM Group. 

The City of New York stated that it shared the same goal with EPA, “a comprehensive cleanup of the 

Gowanus Canal, including the cessation of any ongoing discharges of hazardous materials from upland 

properties.” But the City opposed adding the site to the NPL because doing so “would be inconsistent 

with the Superfund listing criteria, and unwarranted at this time because EPA has not considered viable 

alternatives to a Superfund listing that would achieve the same result—protection of public health and the 

environment—sooner and more efficiently than Superfund.” The City proposed “an Alternative Cleanup 

Plan, using EPA’s Superfund Alternative (‘SA’) approach that would cooperatively engage Potentially 

Responsible Parties (‘PRPs’), and continue the already established partnership in the Canal between the 

City and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (‘Army Corps’).” The City claimed that “its alternative plan 

will get the Canal clean sooner and more efficiently than Superfund, and avoid the well-known stigma 

that may come from a Superfund designation in a dense, vital and developing New York City 

neighborhood.” 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

The City of New York also asserted that a “Superfund listing is unwarranted because EPA has not 

adequately considered alternatives that would achieve the same result.” The City claimed that proposing 

the site for the NPL runs contrary to EPA’s often-stated policy to use Superfund only as a last resort.” It 

commented that EPA never consulted with the City prior to the proposed rulemaking, and that “it appears 

that EPA did not consider the potential of the City’s and the Army Corps’ ongoing cleanup efforts...as an 

alternative to Superfund,” and gave several rationales why it considered its alternative more appropriate 

than placing the site on the NPL. 

The City of New York also submitted a set of questions to which the City requested responses prior to the 

rulemaking and as part of the designation in the event EPA adds the Gowanus Canal site to the NPL. The 

City requested that the questions be addressed in “EPA’s responsiveness Summary for the Public 

Comments on the NPL.” These questions concerned mainly how EPA would work cooperatively with 

the City, State, and private groups in the Superfund process. 

HydroQual submitted a technical review of the HRS evaluation (included as Appendix A of the City’s 

comments) and concluded that “a technically defensible calculation result for an HRS score for the 

Gowanus Canal site below 28.5, the National Priority List (NPL) threshold was identified” and that there 

“are also valid reasons other than HRS score alone to delay or defer adding the Gowanus Canal to the 

NPL.” HydroQual commented: 

• The identification of the Canal sediments as an HRS source resulted in a “much higher hazardous 

waste quantity factor as a component of the Canal’s HRS score,” and instead it should have been 

identified as an unallocated source; the estimate of waste quantity was based on an assumption that 

because hazardous substances were found in sediments that this qualified all the sediments as 

hazardous material; and using an alternative waste quantity factor developed considering the 

sediment as an unallocated source would result in an HRS site score of 15. 

• The identification of contaminated sediments as a source negated the proposed listing because sources 

of the contamination are known. 

• The threat posed by the contamination in the Canal to fisheries has already been addressed by New 

York State. 

• Use of downstream sediment samples as background samples for the Canal shows that the 

contamination does not pose a threat to downstream water bodies. 

• “Alternatives to listing on the NPL may lead to a faster cleanup” and a “review of the NPL finds 

many sites with long delays of implementation of remedial action.” 

Toll Brothers commented that a critical component for it and “other reasonable people is that the cleanup 

be done in a timely fashion.” It stated that “[w]e have looked into EPA’s record with Superfund sites and 

have concluded that a Superfund designation of the Canal will not result in a timely cleanup.” It stated 

“[t]he EPA has stated that collecting money from PRPs is something that can be accomplished after the 

cleanup commences, but because the EPA has no money to begin the cleanup, this is a false premise and 

the EPA’s public statement regarding this point has been disingenuous.” Toll Brothers presented a 

rationale for why it felt that it would take an extremely long time to obtain the money necessary to 

remediate the site through the Superfund process and, “in the mean time PRPs will be doing everything 

they can to avoid getting stuck with the bill, delaying cleanup interminably.” 

Toll Brothers claimed that “EPA’s stated goal is simply to dredge the sediment at the bottom of the 

Canal,” and that EPA does not plan to address the raw sewage that runs into the Canal during combined 

sewer overflow (CSO) events. Toll Brothers argued that CSO discharges should be a focus of the 

cleanup. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

Toll Brothers argued that the City was addressing the CSO issue and that placing the site on the NPL 

would only delay the City of New York’s plans and those of the private sector. It noted that banks and 

insurance companies had indicated that the prospects of getting loans and insurance policies that would 

enable development along the Canal would be very difficult to impossible to obtain if the Canal were 

placed on the NPL. 

Toll Brothers commented that it would be a real tragedy to destroy the revitalization of the Canal by the 

City and private companies that was about to occur. It concluded that it urged EPA to not list the site and 

to allow the City to proceed with its alternative plan, and if the City is not be able to reach the EPA’s 

goals the EPA reserves the right to list the Canal at any time. Toll brothers asserted that the City should 

be given the chance to succeed. 

The ELM Group submitted comments on the HRS score for the site on behalf of Toll Brooklyn, LP. It 

commented that the HRS score was based on the assumption that benzo(a)pyrene and polychlorinated 

biphenyls (PCBs) in the Canal sediments are taken up by fish and invertebrates, which are subsequently 

eaten by humans, posing an unacceptable health risk. The ELM Group identified “significant 

shortcomings related to the HRS scoring and supporting documentation utilized by USEPA, which 

ultimately resulted in an overly conservative risk assessment for the Gowanus Canal.” The Elm Group 

identified these shortcomings as: 

• Use of an analytical data set riddled with data quality issues. 

• Disregard of available reports that clearly conclude that the fish population in the Gowanus Canal is 

not distinct from the fish population in the Upper New York Bay, that these fish are exposed to 

contaminants throughout their home range, that EPA also disregarded available fish tissue data that 

refutes the level of risk implied by the HRS bioaccumulation factor value, that other reports not 

reviewed by EPA indicate that contaminant concentrations in fish tissue are lower than many other 

locations in the Estuary, and that designation of the Canal is unlikely to address concerns regarding 

contaminant concentrations in fish and invertebrates since organisms found in the Canal will also be 

exposed to contaminated sediments elsewhere in their home range. 

• Recent fish surveys conducted in the Canal by the USACE yielded low catch rates, indicating a 

general lack of a productive fishery, and that additionally EPA provided no compelling evidence of 

actual fish consumption from the Canal. Therefore the risk posed by fish from the Canal is limited in 

nature. 

• The inclusion of sediments at depth in the canal in the waste quantity estimate for the site is without 

scientific basis. Fish and invertebrates are only exposed to surface sediments, so no risk is posed by 

deep sediments and these sediments should be excluded from the HRS calculation. This would reduce 

the volume of contaminated sediments “more than 7-fold.” 

• The PCB concentrations for the site, when properly compared to New York State sediment cleanup 

criteria, do not exceed the criteria and therefore PCBs should not be considered in the HRS 

calculation. 

• That benzo(a)pyrene is derived primarily from CSOs and former manufactured gas plants (MGPs). 

Since CSOs are generally not addressed by the CERCLA process, but more properly addressed 

through existing City plans and clean up of the MGPs is already being conducted under the New York 

State Cleanup Program, Superfund listing will not provide any additional benefit or result in faster 

cleanup of the benzo(a)pyrene impacts. 

• Classifying the source as type other instead of “unallocated source” would significantly change the 

hazardous waste quantity and HRS score calculation, and could result in a score lower than the 

minimum qualifying score of 28.50. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

The ELM Group stated that, in summary, the “HRS score significantly overestimates risk to the 

environment and human population in the vicinity of the Gowanus Canal.” 

The USACE stated that it “strongly advocates the cleanup of the Gowanus by any available statutory 

means and stands ready to provide technical assistance.” It pointed out that the “Corps has a historic role 

in the Gowanus through its navigation and channel maintenance authorities, and more recent ecosystem 

restoration.” USACE initiated a cost-shared feasibility study in 2002 with the City of New York under 

the Water Resource Development Act of 2000 (WRDA). It also signed with EPA a Memorandum of 

Understanding to facilitate cooperation between the two agencies in addressing activities pursuant to the 

CWA, RCRA, CERCLA and the WRDA. It also noted that the Gowanus Canal is designated as one of 

eight pilot projects for the purpose of coordinating urban river cleanup and restoration in the Urban Rivers 

Restoration Initiative (URRI). 

The USACE also stated that “[s]hould the Gowanus not be designated a Federal Superfund site, the Corps 

(with non-Federal sponsor support) will continue to pursue a project using 312B environmental dredging 

authority.” 

Riverkeeper, Inc. submitted comments in favor of listing stating “Superfund designation is the only way 

to achieve an efficient and manageable cleanup of the canal and the city’s alternative is not feasible. 

Without Superfund, the tools and funding would be lost, and few advantages (if any) gained.” In support 

of their statements, Riverkeeper, Inc., cited Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (whose district contains 

Gowanus Canal) who questioned the likelihood of funding for the City’s alternative plan. 

A number of parties suggested in their comments that the City’s alternative approach to cleanup be used 

at the Gowanus Canal site. The Agency had numerous discussions with the City of New York and other 

stakeholders regarding the City's proposal for an alternative cleanup approach at this site. The Agency has 

considered this proposal carefully, as discussed in detail in later sections of this support document, but 

has determined that neither the City’s proposed alternative approach or a Superfund Alternative (SA) 

approach are appropriate at the Gowanus Canal site. A list of these meetings is appended as Attachment 

1. 

In this support document, EPA provides additional detail on and responses to all public comments 

received in response to the Gowanus Canal site listing proposal. 

3.1 Support for Listing and General Opposition Comments 

Comments: EPA received correspondence from more than 1,300 commenters on the proposed listing. 

More than 1,000 commenters expressed support of the listing, fewer than 200 commenters expressed 

opposition to the listing, and other commenters expressed support for cleanup of the site regardless of the 

method. 

Support of Listing 

Those commenters in support of listing included Valmanette Montgomery, New York Senator; Daniel 

Squadron, 25th District, New York State Senator; Brad Lander, candidate for New York City Council 

from the 39th District in Brooklyn; Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID); Friends and 

Residents of Greater Gowanus (FROGG); The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy; the Carroll Gardens 

Neighborhood Association (CGNA); the Center for Public Environmental Oversight; the New York/New 

Jersey Baykeeper; and Riverkeeper, Inc. 

Commenters who supported the listing cited various reasons for their support as summarized below. 

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• FROGG; Riverkeeper, Inc.; and other commenters cited the polluted nature of the site. Several 

commenters stated that they had viewed chemical sheens on the surface of the water in the Canal 

and/or had seen other visible evidence of pollution in the area. Several commenters discussed the 

malodorous conditions associated with the site. 

• Valmanette Montgomery, New York Senator; FROGG; The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy; 

Riverkeeper, Inc.; CBID; and other commenters indicated support for listing due to the public health 

concerns associated with the site. Several commenters indicated concerns relating to water, soil, air, 

and food contamination and the health effects from short-term or long-term exposure to the site. 

Several commenters discussed concerns over the health and well-being of the children near the 

Canal. Several commenters expressed concern over the well-being of the ecology and animals in 

contact with the Canal. Some commenters indicated that they have knowledge of illnesses that 

resulted from exposure to the site or the pollution associated with it. M. Lindley indicated that the 

numerous low-income neighborhoods that border the site are the least financially able to protect 

themselves from the contamination. 

• Commenters cited concern over weather and climate phenomena, and their potential effect on the site. 

Commenters were concerned with the effects of future rainfall and sea-level rise and the possibility of 

flooding on the banks of the Canal, as well as the likelihood of a hurricane impacting the site and 

spreading pollution. 

• The Center for Public Environmental Oversight; Riverkeeper, Inc.; and other commenters indicated 

support for listing due to the sewer and infrastructure problems associated with the Canal. Several 

commenters discussed the problem of combined sewer overflow (CSO) events, and the issue of 

sewage discharge and the condition of the bulk-heads. 

• CGNA and other commenters cited the history of environmental neglect of the site. Commenters 

were concerned over the neglect of the Canal from various entities including the city, state, Federal 

government, and polluters. 

• FROGG, New York/New Jersey Baykeeper, CBID, and other commenters cited concerns over 

development on polluted land or partially remediated land. Certain commenters had specific 

concerns over the rezoning of the area and the resulting residential development. 

• FROGG, The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy, CBID, and other commenters cited the nature and 

complexity of the problems associated with the site, and the previously failed efforts to mitigate the 

problems. 

• Riverkeeper, Inc., and other commenters asserted that only Superfund and/or EPA will be able to 

address remediation of such a complex site. Commenters stated that Superfund can ensure thorough 

cleanup and accountability, and that EPA can maintain continuous cleanup operations at the site. 

Commenters indicated that Superfund has the legal means to enforce proper cleanup of the site. 

• Daniel Squadron, 25th District, New York State Senator; New York/New Jersey Baykeeper; 

Riverkeeper, Inc.; and other commenters cited concern over the City and/or developers’ involvement 

and their alternative approach to cleanup. Commenters expressed concern over the City’s 

environmental management of other projects or problems. Commenters expressed concern over the 

City and/or developers’ motives in cleanup involvement, the adequacy of the City’s proposed cleanup 

plan, and its effectiveness at comprehensive remediation. Several commenters indicated that the City 

and/or developers were weighing development profits over public health concerns. 

• FROGG and other commenters cited concern over future development of the area. Commenters 

expressed concern over new development straining the infrastructure and ecosystem of the area. 

• The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy, FROGG, and other commenters cited the benefits of 

cleanup. Commenters discussed the positive impact that a thorough cleanup would have on property 

values. Commenters indicated that long-term benefits outweigh the short-term issues related to 

designation as a Superfund site. Commenters indicated that cleanup would have a positive impact on 

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water quality, ecological quality, and recreational opportunities. Commenters discussed the historical 

significance of the Gowanus Canal and the benefits of preserving the Canal and surrounding area. 

Support of Cleanup by Any Method 

Bill de Blasio, Assistant Majority Leader, The Council of the City of New York; the United States Army 

Corps of Engineers (USACE); and other commenters indicated general support for cleanup activities at 

the site regardless of the method. Bill de Blasio questioned Superfund’s effectiveness in cleaning urban 

waterways. 

General Opposition to Listing 

Commenters, including Salvatore Scotto, a resident of the Caroll Gardens community and local business 

owner, expressed general opposition to the listing, citing various concerns as summarized below: 

• Mark Shames, member of the Environmental Protection Committee and Land Use Committee of 

Brooklyn Community Board 6, commented on EPA’s lack of attendance at public meetings, except 

for one meeting which he charges was held at a location set up to promote the most radical fringe of 

the community. 

• Commenters questioned the availability of funding for Superfund. 

• Commenters expressed concern over the loss of jobs that they felt would be associated with NPL 

listing of the site. 

• Commenters cited concern over lengthy litigation as a result of placing the site on the NPL. 

• Commenters cited concern over EPA’s failure to consult with local elected officials prior to 

Superfund proposal. 

Response: EPA has added the Gowanus Canal site to the NPL. Listing makes a site eligible for remedial 

action funding under CERCLA, and EPA will examine the site to determine what response, if any, is 

appropriate. Actual funding may not necessarily be undertaken in the precise order of HRS scores, however, 

and upon more detailed investigation, may not be necessary at all in some cases. The need for using 

Superfund monies for remedial activities will be determined on a site-by-site basis, taking into account the 

NPL ranking, State priorities, further site investigation, other response alternatives, and other factors as 

appropriate. EPA will not stop work at some sites to begin work at other higher-scoring sites added to the 

NPL more recently. 

The comments in general opposition to listing are addressed in EPA’s responses to the detailed comments 

opposing the listing which are contained in this support document. 

3.2 Evaluation of Other Pathways 

Comment: Eric A. Goldstein, Senior Attorney, and Carolyn Kelly, Legal Intern, Natural Resources 

Defense Council, Inc. (NRDC) commented that EPA did not take into account other pathways in 

completing the HRS scoring for the site. 

Response: The HRS does not require scoring all four pathways if scoring those pathways does not change 

the listing decision. For some sites, data for scoring a pathway are unavailable, and obtaining these data 

would be time-consuming or costly. In other cases, data for scoring a pathway are available, but scoring 

the pathway would only have a minimal effect on the site score and would not affect the listing decision. 

In still other cases, data on another pathway could substantially add to a site score, but would not affect 

the listing decision. The HRS is a screening model that uses limited resources to determine whether a site 

should be placed on the NPL for possible Superfund response. A subsequent stage of the Superfund 

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process, the remedial investigation (RI), characterizes conditions and hazards at the site more 

comprehensively. 

To the extent practicable, EPA attempts to score all pathways that pose a significant threat. If the 

contribution of a pathway is minimal to the overall score, in general, that pathway will not be scored. In 

these cases, the HRS documentation record may include a brief qualitative discussion to present a more 

complete picture of the conditions and hazards at the site. As a matter of policy, EPA does not delay 

listing a site to incorporate new data or to score new pathways, if the listing decision is not affected. 

EPA must balance the need to fully characterize a site with the limited resources available to collect and 

analyze site data. For this reason, EPA generally will not score additional pathways upon receiving new 

data as long as the site still meets the HRS cutoff score. However, any additional data characterizing site 

conditions could provide useful information during the RI. 

The HRS is intended to be a “rough list” of prioritized hazardous sites; a “first step in a process--nothing 

more, nothing less” Eagle Picher Indus. v. EPA, 759 F.2d 922, 932 (D.C. Cir. 1985) (Eagle Picher II). 

EPA would like to investigate each possible site completely and thoroughly prior to evaluating a site for 

proposal to the NPL, but EPA must reconcile the need for certainty before action with the need for 

inexpensive, expeditious procedures to identify potentially hazardous sites. The courts have found EPA's 

approach to solving this conundrum to be “reasonable and fully in accord with Congressional intent.” 

3.3 Request for Extension 

Comment: Bill de Blasio, Assistant Majority Leader and Council Member of the Council of the City of 

New York, commented, “[m]any civic associations, government agencies and community groups are 

expected to submit comments to the EPA.” He requested, “Since there was no prior notice to the listing 

will the EPA extend the comment period an additional 30 days? This will allow for more time for 

interested parties to conduct research and provide well-informed comments.” 

Response: EPA granted a 30-day extension to the comment period. The extension was documented in a 

memorandum to the docket from Terry Jeng, Site Assessment & Remedy Decisions Branch, dated May 4, 

2009 [EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-0041]. The extension was also documented in a letter to 

Councilman Bill de Blasio, the Council of the City of New York, from George Pavlou, EPA Region 2 – 

Acting Regional Administrator, dated May 22, 2009.

3.4 Extent of Site 

Comment: Commenters questioned or commented on the physical extent of the proposed site. 

HydroQual, Inc., stated that “while upland sources, such as soils, may have contributed to contamination 

in the Canal sediments, such upland areas are not part and parcel of an NPL designation for the Canal. If 

upland areas are to be considered, they should be viewed in the context of separate upland sites.” 

The City of New York (referred to herein as the City) inquired whether EPA will send CERCLA 104(e) 

notice letters to local homeowners and businesses to determine if their properties are sources of ongoing 

discharge into the Canal; if so, the City requested that EPA explain how these properties will be identified 

and indicate when the notices will be sent. 

The City asserted that only the Canal is currently proposed for the NPL, and inquired whether listing of 

the Canal would affect “remediation of any contaminated upland sites (e.g., those sites currently in State 

cleanup programs).” 

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The City asked whether EPA will perform remedial investigations of upland properties along the Canal 

and, if so: 

• How far inland from the Canal does EPA plan to extend its upland investigation? 

• What criteria will EPA use to select upland properties for investigation? 

• What would these investigations consist of and how long does EPA anticipate they would 

take? 

The City further inquired whether contaminated upland sites might be added to the NPL as a result of listing the 

Canal and, if so: 

• If upland contaminated sites are found to be discharging contamination to the Canal, 

will such properties be added to Gowanus NPL listing or added to the NPL as new 

sites? 

• Will such upland sites become New York State Superfund sites? 

Response: Placing a site on the NPL is based on an evaluation, in accordance with the HRS, of a release 

or threatened release of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. However, the fact that EPA 

initially identifies and lists the release based on a review of contamination at a certain parcel of property 

does not necessarily mean that the site boundaries are limited to that parcel. 

CERCLA Section 105(a)(8)(A) requires EPA to list national priorities among the known 

“releases or threatened releases” of hazardous substances; thus, the focus is on the release, 

not precisely delineated boundaries. Further, CERCLA Section 101(a) defines a “facility” 

as the “site” where a hazardous substance has been “deposited, stored, placed, or otherwise 

come to be located.” The “come to be located” language gives EPA broad authority to 

clean up contamination when it has spread from the original source. 

 

The revised HRS (55 FR 51587, December 14, 1990) elaborates on the “come to be located” language, 

defining “site” as “area(s) where a hazardous substance has been deposited, stored, disposed, or placed, or 

has otherwise come to be located. Such areas may include multiple sources, and may include the area 

between the sources.” 

On April 9, 2009 (74 FR 16165), EPA stated: 

The NPL does not describe releases in precise geographical terms; it would be neither 

feasible nor consistent with the limited purpose of the NPL (to identify releases that are 

priorities for further evaluation), for it to do so. . . . [T]he HRS inquiry focuses on an 

evaluation of the threat posed and therefore the boundaries of the release need not be 

exactly defined. Moreover, it generally is impossible to discover the full extent of where 

the contamination ‘has come to located’ before all necessary studies and remedial work 

are completed at a site. . . .During the RI/FS [remedial investigation/feasibility study] 

process, the release may be found to be larger or smaller than was originally thought, as 

more is learned about the source(s) and the migration of the contamination. . . . [T]he 

known boundaries of the contamination can be expected to change over time. 

Until the site investigation process has been completed and a remedial action (if any) selected, EPA can 

neither estimate the extent of contamination at the site, nor describe the ultimate dimensions of the NPL 

site. Even during a remedial action (e.g., the removal of buried waste), EPA may find that the 

contamination has spread further than previously estimated. In addition, if another, unrelated area of 

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contamination is discovered elsewhere on the property, EPA may decide to evaluate that release for the 

NPL. 

The questions of how far inland from the Canal EPA will extend its upland investigation, the criteria EPA 

will use to select upland properties for investigation, what these investigations will consist of, and how 

long these investigations will take would be addressed in planning RI/FS activities; these questions are 

not a factor in listing. Later investigative activities may prove that the releases extend to upland areas. 

 

3.5 Non-listing Activities 

Comments: Multiple commenters, including Valmanette Montgomery, New York Senator; Daniel 

Squadron, 25th District, New York State Senate; Bill de Blasio, Assistant Majority Leader, The Council of 

the City of New York; Brad Lander, candidate for New York City Council from the 39th District in 

Brooklyn; FROGG; CGNA; Center for Public Environmental Oversight; New York/New Jersey 

Baykeeper; and Riverkeeper, Inc., requested information on activities that typically are associated with or 

follow placing a site on the NPL, but are not part of the listing process. These requests covered a variety 

of topics, including determining the breadth of the investigation, determining site-specific risk, selection 

of remedial actions, identification of potentially responsible parties (PRPs), financing the cleanup, public 

participation, coordination with local and State governments, protection of innocent landowners, effects 

on prospective purchasers, estimate of timelines for project activities, use of local contractors in further 

efforts, and coordination with preexisting city, state, and other federal agency projects. Specific nonlisting topics raised by the commenters are listed below. 

• The need for proper cleanup to be completed before further development takes place at the site. 

• The need for EPA to work with other agencies during cleanup activities. 

• That cleanup activities should address the problem with CSOs, and the infrastructure problems 

associated with them. 

• Concern over the lengthy/difficult litigation associated with pursuing PRPs. 

• Concerns over the source and/or availability of funding for a Superfund cleanup of the site. 

• That plans be comprehensive, and/or should address the methodology for preventing future 

contamination of the site. 

• That improvements in the environment be implemented as a part of the cleanup. 

• That cleanup of the site address local brownfields. 

• That current and future rainfall data be used when addressing storm water planning or contaminant 

concentrations in runoff. 

• That cleanup activities begin as soon as possible. 

• That current businesses and/or landowners utilize existing structures. 

• That cleanup activities be minimally invasive to residents of the area. 

• That remediation activities not interfere with cleanup and/or infrastructure projects already underway 

at the site. 

• That local contractors be utilized in cleanup or remediation efforts. 

• That EPA determine the breadth of the investigation, including upland areas. 

• That transparency and public participation be a part of cleanup activities and investigations. 

• That EPA explain the process for selecting potentially responsible parties. 

The City asked several questions in Appendix B to its comments, and requested that all of these questions 

be answered prior to listing. 

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Resources 

The City asked what resources and staff EPA plans to allocate to the Gowanus Canal project and whether 

funding is available for additional resources. 

Performance of Risk Assessment 

The City asked several questions regarding site-specific risk assessment at the site: 

• Will EPA promptly assist the City in scoping and completing a baseline human 

health risk assessment of the Canal? 

• Will EPA provide written assurances to the City, based on the baseline human 

health risk assessment, that will be designed in collaboration with the EPA, that 

such analysis is sufficient to address public concerns about the safety of residential 

development and public open space prior to construction of the remedy for the 

Canal? 

• Will EPA issue a certification to the City, as required by HUD for federal funding, 

that Public Place is safe for human occupancy? 

Selection of Remedial Actions 

The City asked several questions regarding remedial action selection: 

• If the Canal is listed on the NPL, will EPA request that the Army Corps participate 

in the remedial investigation, feasibility study, and remediation of Canal 

sediments? . . . Will EPA agree to a joint plan with the Army Corps under WRDA 

[Water Resources Development Act]? . . . Will EPA urge NYS DEC [New York 

State Department of Environmental Conservation] to agree to such a joint plan? 

• Since a listing will focus on Canal sediments and dredging the sediments is likely 

the remedial action, how will remediation of sediments under a traditional 

Superfund approach be different than the remediation that the City proposes under 

the Alternative Cleanup Plan? 

• Once cleanup is complete, does EPA contemplate that engineering and/or 

institutional controls will be placed on the Canal or upland sites? 

• What are the likely long term costs of implementing, maintaining, monitoring and 

enforcing such controls? 

• Will EPA fund the long term costs of maintaining and monitoring these controls? If 

so, for how long? 

• If not, will the State pay for these controls or will the funds come from PRPs? 

Mr. Bob Zuckerman asked “[h]ave specific goals and tasks for cleanup of the Canal been set by the EPA? 

If so, what are they, and if not, when can we expect to have them?” and “[w]hat role will the Army Corps 

of Engineers play in the cleanup under Superfund?” 

ELM stated that “[t]he Gowanus Canal environmental issues must be managed in a manner that 

encourages ongoing commercial and residential revitalization efforts already underway along its shores.” 

Coordination with City and State 

The City asked several questions regarding EPA’s role and its coordination with the City and state in 

further site activities: 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

• If the Canal is listed on the NPL, what role does EPA anticipate the City will play 

in its decision making process? 

• Will EPA allow the City to participate in scoping the RI/FS and conducting the 

RI/FS? 

• Will EPA allow the City to review all draft documents before they are finalized? 

• Will the City have input into EPA’s remedial decision? 

• If a removal action is considered a non-time critical removal, necessitating an 

Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis, will EPA commit to including the City and 

other PRPs in this process? 

Mr. Bob Zuckerman asked whether being designated a Superfund site would lead to greater coordination 

between local, state and federal agencies involved in the cleanup than currently exists, and, if so, how? 

Financing Cleanup 

The City asked several questions regarding financing of cleanup actions: 

• Will EPA spend money immediately on a Canal investigation and selection of a 

remedy or will it wait for PRP funding? 

• Is EPA willing to contribute funding to the investigation and selection of a remedy 

under the Alternative Cleanup Plan? 

• If there is an “orphan” share for the Canal or upland sites, how does EPA plan on 

funding this portion of the cleanup? 

• If orphan share appropriations are required by EPA, will the Canal be a top EPA 

Region 2 priority? 

• If PRPs cannot decide on how to allocate remediation costs among themselves, 

what actions will EPA take to resolve this roadblock? 

• Would EPA litigate to force PRPs to allocate remedial costs? 

• Would EPA urge parties to engage in Alternate Dispute Resolution? 

• How long could this process delay Canal cleanup? 

Mr. Bob Zuckerman asked, “[w]hat will happen to the 175 million dollars the City has set aside for 

upgrades to the flushing tunnel and pumping station if the Canal is designated a Superfund site?” Mr. 

Zuckerman stated that “[c]leanup of the Gowanus Canal will be extraordinarily expensive. Estimates are 

in the several hundreds of million dollars. Given the lack of funding for Superfund, how can we be 

assured that proper funding will be in place for the cleanup if the Canal is designated as a Superfund 

site?” 

One commenter, Brad Lander, candidate for New York City Council from the 39th District in Brooklyn, 

indicated that listing the site should provide a framework where PRPs and landowners can enter into 

consent decrees that allow them to satisfy liability requirements. 

Public Participation 

The City asked several questions regarding public participation in the process: 

• How long will it take for community groups on the Canal to obtain a Technical 

Assistance Grant? 

• How large are Technical Assistance Grants? 

• Can EPA award multiple TAG grants to different recipients at the same NPL site? 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

• What criteria does the federal government use to decide which groups are eligible 

to obtain TAG grants? 

Coordination with Preexisting Remediation Projects 

The ELM Group stated that: 

The Superfund process is not intended to address CSO-related impacts, and in fact, the 

City of New York has a detailed proposal in place to upgrade sewer systems by 2012 

(NYCDEP [New York City Department of Environmental Protection], 2007). The 

City’s proposal includes increasing the capacity of the Flushing Tunnel from 154 mgd 

to 215 mgd, installing 4 new pumps at the Gowanus Pump Station, replacing the force 

main inside the Flushing Tunnel, and diverting flow from the Bond-Lorraine Sewer to 

the Columbia Street Interceptor. These measures are projected to reduce the annual 

volume of CSO discharges to the Canal by 34% (NYCDEP, 2007). In addition, the 

MGP sites are already subject to a consent agreement between Keyspan / National Grid 

and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which requires 

that MGP-derived waste be thoroughly characterized and remediated consistent with 

State standards. 

The City commented that “a combined CERCLA/WRDA approach is particularly appropriate, and could 

encourage voluntary participation of responsible parties to address contaminants that are attributable to a 

specific source.” 

ELM stated that “[e]levated PAH concentrations in shallow sediments are derived largely from CSO 

discharges, and these types of impacts are more appropriately addressed through the City CSO upgrade 

plan.” 

Protection of Innocent Landowners 

The City asked whether EPA will “move promptly to exempt potential responsible parties who have not 

contributed in any significant way to the cost of response action or natural resource restoration, including 

homeowners, residential tenants, and businesses connected to city sewers for treatment of sanitary waste 

only, from CERCLA liability? If so, what is the process and schedule for EPA to work with these parties 

to shield them from CERCLA liability upon the addition of the Canal to the NPL?” 

Prospective Purchasers 

The City asked several questions regarding land purchase: 

• Will EPA commit to assisting in the advancement of land transactions, and to meet 

with prospective buyers and prospective tenants to instruct them in their efforts to 

obtain bona fide prospective purchaser status? 

• Will EPA provide written advice to prospective buyers and tenants around the 

Canal on specific All Appropriate Inquiries they should follow prior to taking title 

to real property? 

• Will EPA issue written assurances to prospective buyers and tenants that EPA will 

not pursue future enforcement action under CERCLA against such parties if those 

parties comply with specific All Appropriate Inquiries before taking title to real 

property around the Canal? 

• Will EPA review All Appropriate Inquiry documents and provide letters to 

prospective buyers and tenants stating that EPA will not take enforcement action 

against individual buyers and tenants? 

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• Will EPA issue written assurances to Bona Fide Prospective Purchasers that EPA 

will not place a Cercla § 107(r) “windfall lien” for unrecovered response costs on 

the property? 

Timelines 

Mr. Bob Zuckerman asked whether a timeline has been established for goals and tasks of the cleanup, and 

if not, when it will be established. 

Response: Considerations regarding remedy selection, implementation, and funding are not factors in the 

decision to list a site on the NPL and these decisions are not made at the listing stage. Therefore, the 

commenters’ questions on these topics would be addressed during later stages of the Superfund process as 

these activities typically occur after listing. Listing of a site simply informs the public that EPA has 

determined that the site poses sufficient threat to human health and the environment to warrant further 

investigation. It does not predetermine the response actions. The Superfund process offers numerous 

opportunities for public participation at NPL sites, in addition to commenting on site listing proposals, 

which are available to the commenters and all of the public. 

To the extent practicable, the EPA Regional Office develops a Community Relations Plan (CRP) before 

RI/FS field work begins. The CRP is the “work plan” for community relations activities that EPA will 

conduct during the entire cleanup process. In developing a CRP, Regional staff interview State and local 

officials and interested citizens to learn about citizen concerns, site conditions, and local history. This 

information is used to formulate a schedule of activities designed to keep citizens apprised and to keep 

EPA aware of community concerns. Typical community relations activities may include: 

• Public meetings at which EPA presents a summary of technical information regarding the site and 

citizens can ask questions or comment. 

• Small, informal public sessions at which EPA representatives are available to citizens. 

• Development and distribution of fact sheets to keep citizens up-to-date on site activities. 

For each site, an “information repository” is established, usually in a library or town hall, containing 

reports, studies, fact sheets, and other documents containing information about the site. The EPA 

Regional Office continually updates the repository and ensures that the facility housing the repository has 

copying capabilities. 

After the RI/FS is completed and EPA has recommended a preferred cleanup alternative, the EPA 

Regional Office sends to all interested parties a Proposed Plan outlining the cleanup alternatives studied 

and explaining the process for selection of the preferred alternative. At this time, EPA also begins a 

public comment period during which citizens are encouraged to submit comments regarding all 

alternatives. After the public comment period ends, EPA develops a Responsiveness Summary, which 

contains EPA responses to public comments. The Responsiveness Summary becomes part of the Record 

of Decision (ROD), which provides official documentation of the remedy chosen for the site. 

EPA makes every attempt to ensure that community relations is a continuing activity designed to meet the 

specific needs of the community. Anyone wanting information on a specific site should contact the 

Community Relations staff in the appropriate EPA Regional Office. 

Regarding comments on the protection of innocent landowners, as explained in the proposed rule in 

Section I. F, Does the NPL Define the Boundaries of Sites? (74 FR 16165): 

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NPL listing does not assign liability to any party or to the owner of any specific 

property. Thus, if a party does not believe it is liable for releases on discrete parcels of 

property, it can submit supporting information to the Agency at any time after it 

receives notice it is a potentially responsible party. 

PRPs include current owners or operators of a facility, former owners or operators of the facility if they 

owned it at the time of waste disposal activities, those who arranged for the treatment or disposal of 

hazardous substances at the facility, and transporters of hazardous substances to the facility. While 

sources of contamination located adjacent to the Canal will likely need to be addressed to prevent recontamination of the Canal, at this time, EPA has no reason to believe that there are any sources present 

in residential areas in the vicinity of the Canal. Furthermore, residential property owners and residential 

tenants with no relation to the facility are not generally considered PRPs. See CERCLA Section 107(q) 

and EPA’s July 3, 1991, “Policy Towards Owners of Residential Property at Superfund Sites,” available 

on EPA’s website, www.epa.gov. Hence, EPA does not intend to pursue residential property owners or 

tenants at the Canal for the cost of investigating or cleaning up the contamination at the site. EPA’s 

policies regarding the non-liability of residential property are available on EPA’s website. 

While it is unlikely that businesses connected to the sanitary sewer will have CERCLA liability 

attributable to this discharge, depending on the nature of a company’s operations, it is possible that some 

businesses may have CERCLA liability attributable to discharges that predate treatment. It is EPA’s 

policy to settle with smaller parties, known as de minimis and de micromis parties, in an expeditious 

manner. EPA’s policies regarding de minimis and de micromis party settlements are also available on 

EPA’s website. 

Regarding prospective purchaser comments, the 2002 amendments to CERCLA regarding bona fide 

prospective purchasers, in combination with EPA’s regulations and guidance on “All Appropriate 

Inquiries,” provide property buyers with detailed information on how to qualify for this exemption. 

Property buyers can refer to EPA’s website for this information. In addition, Gowanus Canal area 

prospective property purchasers and tenants can contact EPA for further guidance related to their specific 

situations. EPA does offer non-binding comfort letters, where appropriate, to provide additional 

information to property owners regarding known conditions. EPA does not issue letters stating that it will 

not seek to recover unreimbursed response costs by use of a windfall lien under Section 107(r) of 

CERCLA. Whether EPA will seek to recover unreimbursed response costs will depend on the 

circumstances of a particular property. EPA’s recovery is, however, limited by law to the lesser of the 

increase in fair market value attributable to EPA’s response actions at the property or EPA’s outstanding 

costs. 

3.6 Site-specific Risk 

Both The Elm Group and HydroQual questioned the unacceptability of the risk posed by contamination in 

the Gowanus Canal. Both insisted that the HRS score exaggerated the risk and that the State of New 

York has already addressed the risk posed via the surface water migration pathway human food chain 

threat. 

The ELM Group stated: 

ELM recognizes that the determination of an HRS score is a simplified conservative 

process for screening potentially eligible sites for inclusion on the NPL. However, the 

Gowanus Canal has unique physical, chemical, and biological attributes that must be 

evaluated on an integrated, site-specific basis to obtain a true understanding of potential 

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risk, a process that is discouraged by the highly generic and formulaic calculations 

employed in the preparation of an HRS score. 

The ELM Group more specifically stated that: 

USEPA evaluated only the Surface Water Pathway, specifically the Human Food Chain 

Threat. The final score calculated by USEPA is founded on the assumption that 

benzo(a)pyrene and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Canal sediments are taken 

up by fish and invertebrates, which are subsequently eaten by humans, posing an 

unacceptable health risk. ELM has identified the following significant shortcomings 

related to the HRS score and supporting documentation utilized by USEPA, which 

ultimately resulted in an overly conservative risk assessment for the Gowanus Canal. 

The ELM Group claimed that: 

[t]he USEPA disregarded available reports that clearly conclude that the fish population 

in the Gowanus Canal is not distinct from the fish population in the Upper New York 

Bay. These migratory fish are exposed to contaminants throughout their home range, as 

sediment contamination is widespread in the greater Hudson-Raritan Estuary. USEPA 

also disregarded available fish tissue contaminant data that refutes the level of risk 

implied by the Bioaccumulation Potential Factor Value. Data for the Upper New York 

Bay from other available reports not reviewed by USEPA indicate that contaminant 

concentrations in fish tissue are lower than many other locations within the HudsonRaritan Estuary. Superfund designation of the Gowanus Canal is unlikely to address 

concerns regarding contaminant concentrations in fish and invertebrates, since organisms 

found in the Canal will also be exposed to contaminated sediment elsewhere in their 

home range. 

The ELM Group asserted that: 

[r]ecent fish surveys conducted in the Canal for the US Army Corps of Engineers 

(USACE) yielded low catch rates, indicating a general lack of a productive fishery. 

Additionally, USEPA provides no compelling evidence of actual fish consumption from 

the Canal. The actual risk posed by fish from the Gowanus Canal is therefore limited in 

nature. 

The ELM Group added that: 

[a]nalytical results for deep sediment (up to 40 feet below the Canal bottom in some 

instances) were included in the determination of “hazardous waste quantity” – another 

value factored into the HRS Score. There is no scientific basis for inclusion of sampling 

results from such depths; fish and invertebrates are only exposed to the surficial 

sediments in the Canal, so no risk is posed by the deep sediments and they should be 

excluded from the HRS calculation. 

The ELM Group asserted that: 

compliance with NY State Department of Health fish advisories by fishermen should 

mitigate risk associated with limited consumption of contaminated fish. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

The Elm Group continued, commenting that: 

the single exposure pathway considered in the HRS calculation for the Gowanus Canal, 

i.e., fish and crab consumption, was assumed to be a complete pathway that generates 

unacceptable risk. This assumption is not supported by existing scientific information 

regarding consumption rates. Furthermore, consideration of actual fish contaminant data 

from the Upper New York Bay, to which the Gowanus Canal is a tributary, rather than 

reliance on conservative bioaccumulation factors that were not scientifically based, 

indicates that the potential risk associated with fish consumption in the Canal is no 

greater than consumption of fish caught anywhere else in the Upper New York Bay. . . . 

The generalized and formulaic approach allowed by the HRS process significantly 

overestimates risk to human and ecological populations in and around the Gowanus 

Canal. This may be appropriate where there is no access to actual data or no alternative 

mitigation measures to protect human health or prevent wildlife exposure exist, but is 

inappropriate here where site-specific data is readily available from numerous sources, 

several pathways to address contamination in the Canal are already in place, and existing 

State fishing advisories are in place to protect human health. 

The ELM Group added: 

USEPA fails to consider site-specific sediment characteristics (TOC [total organic 

carbon], sulfides) and fish tissue and population data that indicate that sediments in the 

Canal pose limited risk to the fish population. 

The ELM Group concluded that “a detailed analysis of available data and consideration of site-specific 

conditions indicates that the HRS score calculated by USEPA significantly overestimates risk to the 

environment and human population in the vicinity of the Gowanus Canal.” 

The ELM Group “developed a conceptual site model (CSM) for the Gowanus Canal based on existing 

data, and urges the USEPA to consider the CSM and the resulting risk evaluation in its determination for 

NPL listing.” 

HydroQual stated that: 

The Gowanus Canal is a portion of the Upper New York Bay. The New York State 

Department of Health, Chemicals in Sport Fish and Game Fish 2008-2009 Health 

Advisory for Upper New York Bay for PCB protection suggests human fish 

consumption is safe at 32 pounds per year, roughly the same consumption levels scored 

in the Gowanus Canal HRS (i.e., 0 to 100 pounds). The HRS does not reflect that the 

threat from this pathway has already been addressed by New York State. 

HydroQual continued: 

The New York State advisory is based upon more criteria than the HRS, including 

testing of fish. There appears to be a contradiction between the safety the State Health 

Advisory implies and the risk scored in the HRS. 

Response: The HRS is not a site-specific risk assessment; rather, it is a screening tool for identifying sites 

that pose sufficient actual or potential risk to warrant further investigation. In the preamble to the HRS, 

EPA stated: 

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The Agency stresses that the limited data generated at the SI stage are designed to 

support site screening, and are not intended to provide support for a quantitative risk 

assessment. (55 FR 51541, December 14, 1990) 

A site-specific risk assessment will be performed as part of the Superfund response process that occurs 

after the listing process is completed. At that time, EPA will consider the information provided by the 

commenters regarding actual, site-specific risk. The results of the risk assessment will be considered 

when remedial options at the site are selected. 

The commenters’ concern that the HRS score has inflated the risk of the site is addressed in later 

sections of this support document, which address technical scoring issues. 

3.7 Alternatives to Listing 

Comment: The City asserted that listing is unwarranted because “EPA has not considered viable 

alternatives to a Superfund listing that would achieve the same result.” The City claimed that “EPA’s 

apparent rush to list the Canal runs contrary to its often-stated policy to use Superfund only as a last resort 

for the remediation of hazardous sites.” The City continued, “EPA’s Narrative Summary for the proposed 

listing asserts that ‘[n]o options for cleanup other than [an NPL] listing are viable,’ but no support is 

provided for this conclusion, such as evidence of what, if any alternatives the Agency considered.” 

The City asserted “it appears that EPA did not consider the potential of the City’s and the Army Corps’ 

ongoing cleanup efforts pursuant to the joint EPA/Army Corps Urban Rivers Restoration Initiative 

(‘URRI’) to restore and remediate the Canal, as an alternative to Superfund.” The City suggested this 

approach would be appropriate for the Gowanus Canal, and noted the City’s cooperation with the Army 

Corps of Engineers has continued from the beginning of its Ecosystem Restoration Reconnaissance Study 

in 2000. The City stated that “the Feasibility Study (‘FS’) sponsored jointly with the NYC DEP that had 

been underway since 2002 has been suspended as a result of EPA’s proposed listing.” The City claimed 

that listing the site on the NPL may risk the City’s partnership with the Army Corps (current and planned 

work), and federal funding that may be associated with that partnership. 

The City proposed an alternative approach cleanup plan that it claims would achieve a “Superfund-caliber 

remediation sooner and more efficiently.” This plan would include participation of New York City, the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and EPA, and would be subject to EPA oversight. In this plan, the City 

would “seek cooperative participation of PRPs” and “pursue Federal funding under the Water Resources 

Development Act (‘WRDA’) to supplement responsible-party contributions.” The City noted that “[t]he 

Army Corps has expressed a strong interest in continuing its partnership with NYC DEP in the Canal,” 

and that “the City and National Grid, as PRPs, will work together to reach an agreement to fund and 

complete the Remedial Investigation (‘RI’) and FS necessary for the Canal.” The City stated that “the 

City’s proposal meets all of the SA eligibility criteria and, by taking advantage of the City’s ongoing 

partnership with the Army Corps, will eliminate public health and environmental exposures to 

contaminants sooner and more efficiently than a Superfund listing.” 

The City asserted: 

The City’s substantial remedial capacity, and willingness to enter into binding 

agreements with EPA to ensure cleanup of the Canal, are additional reasons for the 

EPA to consider the SA approach in this case—and avoid the potential stigma and 

protracted battle over liability that could frustrate or delay Superfund cleanup of a 

complicated site like Gowanus Canal. 

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The City stated: 

WRDA offers a powerful alternative to Superfund for restoration and remediation of 

complex urban waterways like the Gowanus Canal. The Canal has multiple 

contaminants and multiple contaminant pathways, and there is a strong possibility that a 

significant portion of those contaminants will be unallocable to responsible parties (i.e., 

that there will be an orphan share(s)). These facts, and the identification of the Canal as 

a pilot site under the EPA/Army Corps Urban Rivers Restoration Initiative, make the 

Canal particularly well suited for the combined WRDA/CERCLA approach that is the 

core of the City's Alternative Cleanup Plan. 

The City claimed that adoption of the alternative cleanup plan would avoid jeopardizing Gowanus 

Canal’s status as a URRI pilot program, the possibility of WRDA funding, and the City’s partnership with 

the Army Corps of Engineers. 

The City noted that EPA’s Results of the Superfund Alternative Approach Evaluation (Sept. 2007) states: 

EPA Regional attorneys and Regional project managers expressed strong interest in the 

SA because of the benefits associated with avoiding an NPL listing . . . Project 

Managers in regions with existing SA sites have expressed strongly favorable opinions 

of its usage. Quotes include: 

• ‘The alternative approach gets the project started faster since time is not wasted on 

the listing process.’ (Region 5) 

• ‘The SA helped break a log jam.’ (Region 3) 

• ‘SA approach should allow you to proceed to the investigation and cleanup phases 

much faster than if the site is being proposed to the list.’ (Region 4) 

• ‘SA approach is very similar to Superfund. We still follow CERCLA legislation, and 

cleanup standards are identical.’ (Region 5) 

The City claimed that: 

Under the Alternative Cleanup Plan, we anticipate substantial incentives for PRPs to 

voluntarily join the PRP group. The principal incentives for PRP engagement include: 

• Financial discount enabled by avoidance of costly litigation under Superfund; 

• Financial discount enabled by accelerated cleanup; 

• Accelerated elimination of financial liability enabled by Alternative Cleanup Plan; 

• Avoidance of corporate stigma associated with a superfund listing; and 

• Avoidance of corporate stigma associated with evasion of collaborative 

engagement. 

• Potential availability of funding under WRDA §312(b) in connection with the 

designation of the Gowanus Canal as a pilot under URRI; and the Army Corps' 

longstanding strategic interest and partnership with NYC DEP to clean the Canal. 

The City asserted: 

EPA has itself recognized that a final listing on the NPL is not always the most 

effective ways to accomplish Superfund's cleanup goals in some cases. This reality is 

exemplified by the 67 sites on the NPL that have been proposed to the list but not 

fina1ized. 

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The City noted as further support for this argument: 

In a progressive approach recently displayed by the EPA concerning the Dow Chemical 

Company Tittabawassee River Dioxin Spill Site in Midland, Michigan, the EPA, led by 

Administrator Lisa Jackson, determined that not listing the site and allowing for the 

continued collaboration between the EPA and the State of Michigan ‘provides the best 

foundation for further progress’ with regard to achieving a cleanup that is protective of 

human health and the environment. 

The City stated that NPL listing could significantly delay comprehensive cleanup. The City claimed that 

“uncompleted sites that linger on the NPL constitute the most complex projects,” and that “[l]ike other 

contaminated urban waterways, the Gowanus Canal has features that render it very complex, and suggests 

that it would be difficult to manage as a Superfund site.” The City stated that, based on Army Corps 

projections for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the environmental dredging program under WRDA, the “[t]he 

estimated time to complete the remedial action for the Canal under the Alternative Cleanup Plan is 

approximately 9.5 years;” the City further noted “[a] 2008 MIT study concluded that once a site has been 

listed, it takes 12 to 13 years to attain cleanup goals, and to be deleted from the NPL.” The City asserted 

that “the critical advantage of the shorter cleanup provided by the Alternative Cleanup Plan will be sooner 

elimination of potential human health and environmental exposures.” 

The City concluded that, because it provides stronger incentives than Superfund alone, the alternative 

plan is “the fastest and most efficient way to achieve a Superfund level cleanup—with the added benefit 

of getting that result sooner than it could be achieved under Superfund.” The City requested that EPA 

“consider withholding finalization to the NPL of the Gowanus Canal so as to give the Alternative 

Cleanup Plan and its Federal, State and City governmental collaboration the opportunity to succeed.” 

HydroQual asserted that NPL listing of the site would have negative implications and that the listing may 

prevent the City’s plans from proceeding. HydroQual noted that if the City’s plans do proceed, actions 

involved in the plan may reduce the HRS score for the site. Therefore, HydroQual concluded that: 

[t]here is sufficient reason to avoid, or at least delay, the addition of the Gowanus Canal 

to the NPL in light of assessing City plans, both in terms of the complications an NPL 

designation imposes and in terms of how conditions in Gowanus Canal might be 

favorably altered from an HRS perspective. 

ELM argued that other timely means of remediation for Gowanus Canal exist, stating: 

In addition, the MGP sites are already subject to a consent agreement between 

Keyspan/National Grid and the New York State Department of Environmental 

Conservation, which requires that MGP-derived waste be thoroughly characterized and 

remediated consistent with State standards. As the PAH impacts from both CSOs and 

MGP sites are being addressed through other programs, Superfund listing is not 

required to achieve cleanup of these aspects of contamination within the Canal.

[Emphasis in original comment.] 

ELM also asserted that “[e]levated PAH concentrations as a result of historic MGP-impacts are already 

being addressed by State Cleanup Programs.” 

HydroQual also claimed “[a]lternatives to listing on the NPL may lead to a faster cleanup of the Gowanus 

Canal. A review of the NPL finds many sites with long delays of implementation of remedial action.” 

HydroQual asserted that “[t]iming and costs of risk reductions should be considered. Experience with 

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existing NPL sites shows that a considerable amount of time will certainly elapse before the USEPA is 

able to address contamination in the Gowanus Canal.” HydroQual concluded “[i]t is likely that a decision 

not to add the Gowanus Canal to the NPL and to proceed with the USACE plan would result in a remedy 

for the Gowanus Canal in less time than if it were placed on the NPL.” 

In its comments, Riverkeeper, Inc., quoted Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, New York State 12th

Congressional District, on the issue of the City’s SA approach, stating that 

[i]n addition, while the city has appeared optimistic about their chances of securing 

funding at public meetings, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, whose district includes 

the canal, has stated that ‘[t]he Gowanus Canal has never been included in WRDA . . . 

[f]or the city to say that their plan relies on money that the federal government won't be 

able to provide is a disservice to the community.’ 

Bill de Blasio, Assistant Majority Leader, The Council of the City of New York; Salvadore Scotto, 

resident of the Carol Gardens community; Riverkeeper, Inc.; and other commenters stated that listing will 

cause delays to development or planned projects for the site. Commenters cited concerns over the 

potentially lengthy PRP litigation process associated with listing, and the concern that Superfund 

remediation efforts will take a long period of time to commence. 

Several commenters, including Bill de Blasio, Assistant Majority Leader, The Council of the City of New 

York; Salvatore Scotto, a resident of the Caroll Gardens community; and others discussed both opposition 

to and support of the option of deferral to the City as summarized below: 

• Commenters indicated that the listing should be delayed until other proposed cleanup plans have 

chance to work. 

• Commenters stated that listing should be deferred unless the City Plan fails. 

• Commenters cited concern over the City’s relationships with developers. 

• The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy; New York/New Jersey Baykeeper; Riverkeeper, Inc.; and 

other commenters indicated opposition to and/or cited problems with the City’s alternative plan. 

• Commenters indicated that the cleanup efforts should be deferred to PRPs and/or the State or others. 

• In referring to evaluations the City of New York has required in relation to development projects 

along the Gowanus Canal in the past, Dr. Tom Angotti, Director, Center for Community Planning and 

Development, stated that Environmental Impact Statements completed for these individual sites (i.e., 

projects) do not address comprehensive remediation of the Gowanus Canal area. 

Some commenters indicated that any other viable cleanup programs should be utilized for the site, as 

follows: 

• Marlene Donnelly and Benjamin Ellis, Carroll Gardens community residents and members of 

FROGG, indicated that cleanup methods will need to use the Clean Water Act regulatory process in 

the Superfund effort. 

• Commenters indicated that Superfund should be used as a last resort after pursuing other available 

cleanup methods. 

• Commenters discussed using the Army Corps of Engineers URRI model for addressing contaminated 

sediments. 

Response: Despite the City’s argument that Superfund should only be used as a “last resort for the 

remediation of hazardous sites,” nothing in CERCLA or any other environmental laws limits EPA’s 

authority to place eligible sites on the NPL where appropriate. In particular, because placing a site on the 

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NPL is only an identification that a site warrants further investigation and not an identification of what 

remedial actions will be taken, it is not relevant at this stage to address which statutory authorities will be 

used to conduct remedial activities. Nevertheless, the Agency has recognized a Superfund alternative 

(SA) approach as an alternative to placing sites on the NPL. Taking an SA approach is an option, not a 

required action, that EPA may take, and in this case it will not do so. The SA approach is used, at the 

Agency’s discretion, to address sites that could be listed on the NPL, but are investigated and cleaned up 

without listing while following the same CERCLA criteria as a listed site. A number of parties suggested 

in their comments that this approach be used at the Gowanus Canal site. The Agency has considered this 

suggestion carefully, but believes that the SA approach is not appropriate at the Gowanus Canal site. 

There are several threshold eligibility criteria EPA considers for using the SA approach: 

1. The site would score 28.50 or above: The Gowanus Canal site score exceeds 28.50. However, it 

should be noted that the City, the party requesting to enter into an agreement to conduct an SA 

approach cleanup, disagrees with this score, stating in its comments that the site should be scored at 

15. Under the score envisioned by the City, the site would not be eligible for the SA approach. 

2. A long-term response (i.e., a remedial action) is anticipated at the site: This is true at the Gowanus 

Canal site. 

3. There is a willing, capable PRP who will negotiate and sign an agreement with EPA to perform the 

investigation or cleanup. As addressed in this response, EPA has substantial concerns with this 

criterion at the Gowanus Canal site. 

The SA approach has typically been applied to sites with one PRP that are addressing a single facility 

which the PRP controls. Since such a PRP is the owner/operator of the facility, the source of the 

contamination is known and there are no access issues or issues with other PRPs requiring EPA’s 

intervention. Less frequently, SA approach sites involve a limited number of PRPs. At the Gowanus 

Canal Site, however, there are likely dozens of PRPs, as well as multiple facilities where access may be 

necessary. Since the City lacks EPA’s enforcement authorities, the City’s proposal contemplates that 

EPA will take enforcement actions to obtain such access and cleanup participation from non-consenting 

parties. 

Under the SA approach, the PRPs typically undertake investigation and cleanup activities using their own 

funds. The City’s suggested SA approach is therefore not a typical SA approach. It is a private party 

cleanup using WRDA and PRP funding. 

At the typical SA approach site, the PRP further agrees from the outset to perform all of the necessary 

work and to fund all of the cleanup costs, including EPA’s oversight costs. In this instance, the City is 

initially proposing to commit only to completing the RI/FS. That RI/FS would be funded, in part, by 

federal money available to the USACE. However, unlike typical government Superfund costs, those 

government funds would not be recoverable. National Grid, which has said that it is willing to participate 

in the City’s SA approach, is another source of funding for the RI/FS and future cleanup work. However, 

National Grid has stated that it is restricted as a public utility from funding work to address contamination 

other than its own. Despite having contemplated that EPA will need to take enforcement action on its 

behalf, the City’s proposal is silent as to paying EPA’s oversight and enforcement costs, as SA-approach 

PRPs normally do. Rather, the City’s SA approach considers EPA’s enforcement capacity and funding as 

an additional means to spread and reduce PRP costs. 

With respect to the funding of the actual cleanup, the City has not committed to fund the entire cleanup, 

as SA approach PRPs typically do. Rather, the City’s proposal is contingent upon obtaining federal 

funding for 65% of the cleanup through WRDA. By law, WRDA funding is capped at $50 million per 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

year for projects nationwide. WRDA funding for Canal work is highly unlikely, especially since there are 

viable PRPs. 

The USACE’s preliminary estimate of the cost of dredging and disposal of Canal sediments is $350 

million. Therefore, a 65% WRDA federal cost share would be $227.5 million. Even if the nation’s entire 

$50 million WRDA annual funding pool were allocated to the Gowanus Canal site, an unlikely event, the 

cleanup would still be spread over an extended period of time. 

Under a scenario which assumes that WRDA funding could be obtained, the City’s proposal does not 

provide clear assurance that the City and National Grid will be able to fund the 35% share required by 

WRDA. The City believes that it will be able to attract the participation of additional PRPs by offering 

its WRDA-based approach as a 65% reduction in a party’s typical Superfund liability. However, parties 

may still decline to voluntarily participate if they believe they have legitimate legal arguments to avoid 

paying both a WRDA cost share and a Superfund cost share. Because the City’s SA approach proposal 

contemplates that EPA will take enforcement action against recalcitrant parties, EPA would be incurring 

the same enforcement costs as under the standard Superfund approach. 

The USACE’s process is likely to take significantly longer than EPA’s for several reasons: (1) the 

USACE is required to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, which would likely add 1-2 years to 

the process; (2) the USACE’s final decision document would require review and approval by USACEHeadquarters and Congress (the USACE estimates that this review and approval step would add 6-12 

months); (3) the USACE does not have the benefit of permit exemption under Superfund (securing the 

necessary permits would likely cause delay in implementing the work, and obtaining permits would be 

subject to legal challenges which are likely, given the controversy, adding additional delay); and (4) the 

City has indicated that it will take 3-9 months to obtain a contractor to perform upland investigations and 

the USACE may also require time to get contractors on board. EPA, however, has already commenced 

investigatory work at the site. 

The City suggests that if it is not successful in obtaining federal WRDA funding and PRP funding for the 

local share, EPA can list the site and proceed with the cleanup. There are, however, no efficiencies 

realized by this approach, since EPA and the State would need to concur with the RI/FS and since 

sufficient WRDA funding for remedy implementation is not likely to be available, EPA would likely need 

to oversee the cleanup. Therefore, it would make more sense for EPA to carry out or oversee a PRPperformed RI/FS. 

If EPA were to switch enforcement approaches mid-cleanup, significant delay would likely result. As 

with the government RI/FS funding, the federal government’s WRDA funding would not be recoverable 

as Superfund costs typically are. Thus, under the City’s proposal, the net cleanup cost to the government 

would be significantly higher than a traditional Superfund approach. This result is strongly inconsistent 

with the typical SA approach scenario. 

Additionally, although state approval is not a condition for an SA approach, it is envisioned in the 

guidance that the State is comfortable with the concept. As OSWER’s June 17, 2004, guidance provides 

(OSWER 9208.0-18): 

There is a general expectation that the Region and State will agree on the SA site 

designation. If the Region believes an SA designation is appropriate but the State’s 

Governor has requested NPL listing, the Region should reach an agreement with the 

State on pursuing an SA approach. 

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The State of New York has been supportive of listing. Like EPA, the State has expressed concerns 

regarding the assumptions inherent in the City’s SA proposal. The State has not provided EPA with any 

indication that it is supportive of using SA at this site. 

In summary, a comprehensive cleanup can only be achieved through the Superfund process since 

Superfund’s process is anticipated to be more efficient than the complex SA approach proposed by the 

City. The City’s SA approach depends heavily on long-term Congressional funding to the USACE under 

WRDA, which is unlikely, and assumes local sponsor share would be paid voluntarily by the PRPs. 

Therefore, listing the Gowanus Canal site on the NPL is more appropriate than use of an SA approach. 

Listing does not, however, prohibit the City from participating in the Superfund process, and any actions 

the City takes will be considered in determining what future remedial actions, if any, will be necessary. 

EPA makes final decisions during all stages of the Superfund process. The City may affect remedy 

selection, as can any other member of the public, through the public comment process. The City may 

undertake the RI/FS and/or remedial design/remedial action stages under EPA supervision and pursuant 

to appropriate agreements with governmental authorities (under enforcement authorities of CERCLA or 

those of other statutes). The listing process does not encumber or preclude the City from entering into 

these agreements. 

3.8 Superfund and Combined Sewer Overflow 

Comment: The ELM Group stated that CSO impacts are “common in older urban areas, and are generally 

not addressed by the CERCLA process. Rather, they would be more appropriately addressed through the 

existing City facilities upgrade plan which is expected to significantly improve Canal sediment and water 

quality by 2013.” 

The ELM Group also asserted that “PAHs are derived from multiple sources, including former MGP 

sites, road runoff, and input from combined sewer discharges. The latter is often evaluated separately 

from the CERCLA process.” The ELM Group continued to claim that: 

[t]he shallow PAH contamination, which is more relevant to risk assessment 

considerations, is primarily petroleum-derived and therefore indicative of runoff and 

CSO discharges rather than MGP tar . . . The Superfund process is not intended to 

address CSO-related impacts, and in fact, the City of New York has a detailed proposal in 

place to upgrade sewer systems by 2012. 

The City raised “significant concerns regarding compatibility of the planned work with a potential remedy 

that EPA could mandate under Superfund, as well as the potential for additional CERCLA liability that 

the City could incur by undertaking the [CSO upgrade] work before a remedy had been determined.” The 

City asserted that because CERCLA controls in cases of conflict between obligations under CWA and 

CERCLA, it “creates potential uncertainty about the City's current obligations under CWA.” The City 

claimed that “[t]this uncertainty can be entirely avoided, and the City’s CSO work can move forward 

without potentially competing obligations, by adopting the City's proposed alternative plan to cleanup the 

Canal, rather than pursuing remediation under Superfund.” 

Between 15-20 commenters, including Valmanette Montgomery, New York Senator, indicated that 

Superfund does not address the CSO problems at the site. 

Response: There are no exemptions in CERCLA for releases of hazardous substances from CSOs. 

CERCLA Section 101(14) defines a “hazardous substance” broadly by authorizing a list of hazardous 

substances under CERCLA Section 102 and by referencing several environmental statutes, such as the 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act (known as RCRA), and the Toxic 

Substances Control Act. Substances from CSOs that fall within this definition, such as PAHs, are 

appropriate for regulation under CERCLA. 

Regarding the City’s uncertainty over its Clean Water Act obligations, neither CERCLA nor other 

environmental statutes limit CERCLA’s jurisdiction in situations where other statutes may also apply. 

Because placing a site on the NPL is simply an identification that a site warrants further investigation and 

not an identification that remedial actions are necessary, it is not relevant at this stage to address concerns 

regarding what statutory authority (if any) will be used to perform remedial activities. At a separate part 

of the Superfund process, EPA can consider under what authorities the CSOs should be addressed, as well 

as any investigations or remedial activities the City has performed to date. 

 

The City’s liability concerns are premature at this stage of the Superfund process. As stated in the 

proposed rule, liability is not considered in evaluating a site under the HRS, nor does listing a site 

establish liability. The NPL serves primarily informational purposes, identifying for the States and the 

public those facilities and sites or other releases which appear to warrant remedial actions. Inclusion of a 

facility or site on the list does not in itself reflect a judgment of the activities of any owners or operators, 

it does not require those persons to undertake any action, nor does it assign liability to any person. 

Further, the City’s general comments on its potential liability are speculative and the City does not 

explain how listing would increase its CERCLA liability. 

3.9 Executive Order 12866 

Comment: The City commented that placing the Gowanus Canal site on the NPL would be inconsistent 

with Executive Order 12866. The City stated that: 

Adding the Canal to the NPL is inconsistent with the Superfund listing criteria because it 

would violate the terms of Presidential Executive Order 12866 of 1993. Specifically, a 

listing would result in a rule that (i) creates ‘a serious inconsistency or otherwise 

interfere[s]’ with actions taken and planned by the Army Corps; and (ii) ‘raise[s] novel 

legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates,’ including a 2005 Consent Order 

between the City’s Department of Environmental Protection (“NYC DEP”) and the New 

York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYS DEC”) pursuant to the 

Federal Clean Water Act (“CWA”). Both of these conflicts can be avoided, and the Canal 

can be cleaned-up to a Superfund standard, through the City’s Alternative Plan. 

The City referred to 58 FR 51735, 51739 (Oct. 4, 1993) in support of its assertion. It argued that this 

citation defines “significant regulatory action” to include: 

Actions that result in a rule that may, inter alia, “[c]reate a serious inconsistency or 

otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency” or “[r]aise novel 

legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates.” Under Executive Order 12866, 

agencies must submit such significant regulatory actions to the Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs (“OIRA”) at the Federal Office of Management at [sic] Budget 

(“OMB”), together with an assessment of the costs and benefits of the rule. Id. at 51740-

41. Between January 1, 1994 and January 1, 2009, OIRA reviewed 995 EPA rules at 

various stages, with an average review time of 59 days. (See query run on Reginfo.gov, 

available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoCountsSearchInit?action=init). 

The City also questioned EPA’s finding that proposing the site to the NPL was not a significant 

regulatory action. It stated: 

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In concluding that the proposed listing of the Gowanus Canal and other sites on the NPL 

was not a “significant regulatory action” requiring review under Executive Order 12866, 

the EPA found that the proposed listing does not impose obligations on any entities, does 

not set standards or a regulatory regime, and imposes no liability or costs, adding that any 

CERCLA liability exists irrespective of a site’s listing. 74 Fed. Reg. 16162, 16167 (Apr. 

9, 2009). However, this reasoning ignores Executive Order 12866’s inclusion of 

regulatory actions that “interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency.” See 

58 Fed. Reg. 51735, 51739. The NPL listing would interfere with ongoing efforts under 

the URRI initiative taken by the Army Corps, and thus clearly falls within the definition 

of “significant regulatory action[s]” subject to OMB Review under Executive Order 

12866. 

Inconsistency in Planned Actions by other Agencies 

The City stated that “[t]he [p]roposed [l]isting [j]eopardizes [o]ngoing and [p]lanned [w]ork by the Army 

Corps of Engineers and the City.” The City pointed to the actions planned or underway by the Army 

Corps and NYC DEP and two separate rezonings of areas adjacent to the Canal. It stated that “[i]n the 

City’s view, a Superfund Listing could significantly delay these projects, and area development 

generally.” 

Regarding actions with the USACE and the City, the City stated that: 

In January 2000, the Army Corps undertook a Federally-funded Reconnaissance Study 

pursuant to WRDA [Water Resources Development Act] to determine if there was 

Federal interest in proceeding with an FS for Ecosystem Restoration of the Gowanus 

Canal. Approval for the Study required a 50% funding match from a local sponsor, and 

NYC DEP and the Army Corps entered into a $5 million Feasibility Cost Share 

Agreement in February 2002. The goal of this study was to “[a]ssess the environmental 

problems and recommend solutions in the Gowanus Canal,” including “environmental 

dredging and capping of channel sediments, contamination reduction measures, wetland 

creation, and water quality improvements.” 

The Study anticipated that removal and remediation work would be conducted by the 

Army Corps pursuant to WRDA §312(b), and that this collaborative effort between the 

Army Corps and NYC DEP would ultimately result in a joint plan to undertake 

restoration work in the Canal. The Army Corps submitted a draft joint plan to EPA, NYS 

DEC and NYC DEP in August 2008 that identified partners, scope, and roles and 

responsibilities for each agency . . . EPA and NYS DEC did not respond to the draft plan 

(which the Army Corps sent to EPA again in October and December 2008) and in 

December of last year, the Army Corps learned that NYS DEC had recommended to EPA 

that the Canal be added to the Superfund list. 

As a result of the proposed Superfund listing, the Army Corps has suspended work on the 

FS—which had been scheduled to be complete by the end of 2009—and the Army Corps 

has advised the City that if the Canal is added to the NPL, it will likely discontinue its 

work at the site. 

Regarding the Urban Rivers Restoration Initiative, the City pointed out that in July 2003, Gowanus Canal 

was listed as a URRI pilot project. The City continued stating that: 

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EPA’s proposed Superfund listing makes no reference to the ongoing work of the Army 

Corps and NYC DEP in the Canal, nor does it account for the Canal’s designation as a 

URRI pilot project pursuant to an EPA/Army Corps partnership that was designed for the 

express purpose of dealing with the complexities of urban waterway remediation and 

restoration. 

The City added that “[i]ndeed, the EPA Inspector General recently recommended—with EPA’s 

concurrence—that the Agency use the URRI model more frequently to tackle contaminated 

sediment sites.” The City continued to state that “[t]he URRI model is particularly appropriate 

here (a conclusion that EPA and the Army Corps reached in 2003).” The City asserted that NPL 

listing would weaken URRI prospects. 

The City stated that: 

[a]dding the Canal to the NPL at this time risks the likely termination of the ongoing 

partnership between the City and the Army Corps for restoration and remediation of the 

Canal, and would eviscerate a program specifically designed by EPA and the Army 

Corps to address the most complicated urban waterway sites. Moreover, listing the Canal 

now would cutoff the possibility of getting WRDA funding to support environmental 

dredging and restoration of the Canal. . . . EPA’s apparent decision not to consider the 

Canal’s status as a URRI pilot program, and the future value of the ongoing Army 

Corps/NYC DEP FS, appear to run afoul of Executive Order 12866. 

Regarding Gowanus corridor zoning and development activities, the City stated: 

In addition to jeopardizing the long-standing involvement of the Army Corps in the 

Canal, the proposed Superfund listing could have a significant negative impact on the 

Gowanus neighborhood rezoning and related projects that the Department of City 

Planning (“DCP”) has been working with the local community to achieve since 2005. . . . 

The 25-block Gowanus rezoning action was scheduled to be certified into the Uniform 

Land Use Review Procedure (“ULURP”) on June 1, 2009; that has been put on hold 

following EPA’s announcement of the proposed NPL listing to assess the potential public 

health and other impacts a listing could have on the neighborhood revitalization that the 

rezoning is designed to accelerate. 

The proposed listing will also likely impact the development of affordable and other 

residential housing at the Public Place site, and by Toll Brothers. As with the 

neighborhood rezoning, the ULURP action for Public Place is currently on hold, and Toll 

Brothers has indicated publicly that its project will not move forward if the Canal is 

designated as a Superfund site. 

Novel Legal and Policy Issues 

The City identified what it considered to be a novel issue. It stated that: 

A Superfund listing also raises novel legal and policy issues with respect to the City’s 

obligations under the CWA, particularly in connection with CSO work NYC DEP is 

undertaking pursuant to a 2005 Consent Order with NYS DEC. Under the Consent Order, 

NYC DEP will soon undertake approximately $175 million of capital work, designed to 

improve water quality by reducing the impact of CSO discharges to the Canal. This 

project is construction ready. 

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During the public comment period for the proposed Superfund listing, NYC DEP met 

with EPA and NYS DEC to explain the scope and projected timeline for the CSO work. 

As part of those discussions, the City raised significant concerns regarding the 

compatibility of the planned work with a potential remedy that EPA could mandate under 

Superfund, as well as the potential for additional CERCLA liability that the City could 

incur by undertaking the work before a remedy had been determined. EPA and NYS 

DEC have repeatedly expressed the view that the CSO work will not be inconsistent with 

any proposed Superfund remedy, and provided written assurances to that effect . . . 

Notwithstanding these assurances, conflicts between a party’s obligations under CWA 

and CERCLA (as well as a number of other Federal environmental statutes) are not 

uncommon, and the law so far appears clear that in the case of conflict, CERCLA 

controls. This creates potential uncertainty about the City’s current obligations under 

CWA, and a remedy that could eventually be mandated under Superfund. 

Response: Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) generally subjects a “significant 

regulatory action” to a review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Executive Order 12866 

defines a “significant regulatory action” as one that is likely to result in a rule that may: 

(1) [h]ave an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a 

material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the 

environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities; 

(2) create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by 

another agency; 

(3) materially alter the budget impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the 

rights and obligations of recipients thereof; 

(4) raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President’s priorities, or 

the principles set forth in the Executive Order. [58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993] 

EPA has determined that the act of placing a site on the NPL does not require OMB review under 

Executive Order 12866. The rationale for this determination was explicitly stated in the April 9, 2009, 

Federal Register notice that proposed the Gowanus Canal site for placement on the NPL. Part IV, Section 

A.2., Is This Proposed Rule Subject to Executive Order 12866 Review?, of the proposed rule states: 

The listing of sites on the NPL does not impose any obligations on any entities. The 

listing does not set standards or a regulatory regime and imposes no liability or costs. 

Any liability under CERCLA exists irrespective of whether a site is listed. It has been 

determined that this action is not a “significant regulatory action” under the terms of 

Executive Order 12866 and is therefore not subject to OMB review. 

Further, placing a site on the NPL is simply an identification that a site warrants further investigation and 

not an identification that remedial actions are necessary, nor is it a determination of what statutory 

authority will be used to perform remedial activities (if any). EPA does not consider the placing of a site 

on the NPL as “novel” within the meaning of Executive Order 12866. Contrary to the City’s assertions, 

the listing does not conflict with any ongoing or planned work by the Army Corps of Engineers. In a 

letter received to the docket for this listing, the Army Corps expressly states it is available to provide 

technical assistance and advocates cleanup by any available statutory means: 

The Corps strongly advocates the cleanup of the Gowanus by any available statutory 

means and stands ready to provide technical assistance. Timely action would support the 

numerous multi-agency sediment and water quality improvements that currently benefit 

the estuary. Should the Gowanus not be designated a Federal Superfund site, the Corps 

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(with non-Federal sponsor support) will continue to pursue a project using 312B 

environmental dredging authority. See EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-289. 

EPA also disagrees that listing will interfere with the City’s asserted obligations under the 2005 Consent 

Order with NYS DEC. After the site has been listed, EPA can consider under what authorities the 

Gowanus Canal site should be addressed, as well as any investigations or remedial activities the City and 

the Army Corps have performed to date. 

3.10 Regulatory Flexibility Act 

One commenter indicated that a cost benefit analysis should be completed in order to determine the 

effects of listing. 

Response: No cost benefit analysis is required for the act of listing. As discussed in Section IV.C.1, What 

is the Regulatory Flexibility Act?, of the proposed rule for the Gowanus Canal site (74 FR 16167, 16168): 

Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended by the Small 

Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) of 1996) whenever an agency 

is required to publish a notice of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must 

prepare and make available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that 

describes the effect of the rule on small entities. . . . However, no regulatory flexibility 

analysis is required if the head of an agency certifies the rule will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 

This certification was provided in Section IV.C.2, How has EPA Complied with the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act?, of the proposed rule for the Gowanus Canal site (74 FR 16168), which explains: 

This proposed rule listing sites on the NPL, if promulgated, would not impose any 

obligations on any group, including small entities. This proposed rule, if promulgated, 

also would establish no standards or requirements that any small entity must meet, and 

would impose no direct costs on any small entity. Whether an entity, small or otherwise, 

is liable for response costs for a release of hazardous substances depends on whether that 

entity is liable under CERCLA 107(a). Any such liability exists regardless of whether 

the site is listed on the NPL through this rulemaking. Thus, this proposed rule, if 

promulgated, would not impose any requirements on any small entities. 

Therefore, because listing does not require that any action be taken, as explained in the discussion of the 

Regulatory Flexibility act requirements above, this comment is not relevant to the listing decision.

3.11 Economic Impacts of Listing 

The City stated that the potential economic impacts of a Superfund listing are apparent even from 

conservative projections, and continued by stating: 

New York City's Economic Development Corporation (‘EDC’) conducted an analysis of 

the tax impact of a Superfund designation on the Gowanus Canal corridor. Assuming 

that the Canal is not designated, the planned projects in the Gowanus Canal Corridor 

alone (Gowanus rezoning, Public Place, and the Toll Brothers) will generate over $500 

million in tax revenue. Assuming that a Superfund designation moves forward, EDC 

estimates that it will cost the City between $120 million and $189 million in lost tax 

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revenue, depending on the length of the cleanup. These figures show that even if 

property values were to rebound over the long term, there are real negative economic 

impacts for New York City even under the most conservative analysis. 

The City further asserted that “[t]o the businesses and residents on the Canal, the risks [of listing] include, 

among other things, negative impacts to property values and the potential for long-term disinvestment.” 

The City added that “[b]ecause a Superfund listing could decrease appraisal values, financing will be 

more difficult, and the uncertainty inherent in the Superfund process—particularly for complex urban 

waterways—reduces the likelihood of investment in the area,” and that Superfund designation of the 

Canal “could negatively impact all adjacent property and prospects for its development.” 

The City claimed that listing would jeopardize planned development in the Gowanus neighborhood, 

including rezonings which would allow reuse of vacant and underutilized property for a mix of uses 

including housing; the City noted that these projects would generate approximately 300 new jobs and 500 

affordable housing units. According to the City, the 25-block rezoning action has been put on hold to 

determine what health and other impacts listing could have on neighborhood revitalization. The City 

warned that NPL listing could significantly delay these projects, including the “much-needed” affordable 

housing. 

The City stated that “[i]t is well established that a Superfund designation has the potential to stigmatize 

nearby properties.” The City asserted that studies have shown that “the presence of a Superfund site 

decreases the value of nearby properties,” and that a January 2009 EPA study recognized this, “while 

suggesting that existing studies do not sufficiently distinguish between the effects of public awareness of 

contamination and effects specifically attributable to Superfund listing or remedial actions.” The City 

stated that “EPA’s study acknowledges, however, that while property values may recover as remediation 

occurs, ‘if the cleanup of a site is delayed for a long period, a more permanent decrease in value may 

occur.’” The City continued to claim that: 

The potential stigma of a Superfund listing in a densely populated New York City 

neighborhood could depress property values and deter investment for years to come—

particularly if a Superfund cleanup becomes mired in extended legal wrangling by PRPs 

over the allocation of financial responsibility . . . Listing the Gowanus Canal as a 

Superfund site will likely have several negative impacts on the potential for upland 

remediation, investment, and redevelopment. 

The City asserted that its Alternative Cleanup Plan would avoid the “well-known stigma that may come 

with a Superfund designation.” 

The ELM Group claimed that “[a] Superfund designation of such a large geographic area, in a heavily 

developed and redeveloping urban setting, will have serious consequences for all stakeholders and, 

therefore, warrants a more site-specific evaluation.” 

HydroQual asserted that the “costs of risk reductions should be considered.” 

Several commenters, including CBID, Carroll Gardens Association, Inc., Salvatore Scotto, a resident of 

the Caroll Gardens community, Valmanette Montgomery, New York Senator, and others discussed 

various economic impact issues associated with listing the site: 

• The potential stigma that would result from listing the site. 

• The impacts of job loss as a result of listing the site. 

• The impacts on property values as a result of listing the site. 

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• The cancellation of redevelopment plans as a result of listing the site. 

• The ability to obtain financing after designation. 

Response: Stigma associated with environmental contamination may be unavoidable, but any such stigma 

should not be blamed on the process of NPL listing. Inclusion of a site or facility on the list does not in 

itself reflect a judgment on the activities of the owner(s) or operator(s), but rather reflects the Agency’s 

judgment that a significant release or threat of release has occurred and that the site is a priority for 

further investigation under CERCLA. The Agency notes that there are both costs and benefits that can be 

associated with listing a site. Among the benefits associated with listing a site on the NPL are increased 

health and environmental protection as a result of increased public awareness of potential hazards. In 

addition to the potential for federally financed remedial actions, the addition of a site to the NPL could 

accelerate privately financed, voluntary cleanup efforts. Listing sites as national priority targets also may 

give States increased support for funding responses at particular sites. As a result of the additional 

CERCLA remedies, there will be lower human exposure to high-risk chemicals, and higher quality 

surface water, ground water, soil, and air. Therefore, it is possible that any perceived or actual negative 

fluctuations in property values or development opportunities that may result from contamination may be 

countered by positive fluctuations when a CERCLA investigation and any necessary cleanup are 

completed. 

Regarding the commenters’ concerns for the impact of site listing on remedial activities and the attendant 

costs, the discussion of costs in the Federal Register is by necessity only of a general nature. The 

proposed rule clearly states that including a site on the NPL does not cause EPA necessarily to take 

remedial action, or that any action is required by, nor liability for site response costs assigned to, any 

party or the owner of any specific party (74 FR 16164, Section I.C). Any Agency actions that may 

impose costs on firms are based on discretionary decisions and are made on a case-by-case basis. Also, 

responsible parties may bear some or all the costs of the RI/FS and subsequent work, or the costs may be 

shared by EPA and the States. Therefore, expenditures cited by the commenter are associated with events 

that generally follow listing the site, not with the listing itself. 

3.12 Proper Notice 

Comment: The City stated that it “was not consulted by EPA or NYS DEC prior to the proposed 

rulemaking on April 8, 2009.” 

One commenter indicated that local officials were not properly notified before proposal to designate the 

site. 

Response: In developing the NPL regulation the Agency uses a notice and comment process that is consistent 

with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 USC Section 551 et seq.). According to this procedure, the Agency 

solicits comments on proposed listings, reviews and considers all comments received, and addresses those 

comments in the final rule. Through this process, commenters can provide any information they believe is 

relevant to the scoring and listing of proposed sites. 

A 60-day comment period followed publication in the Federal Register of the proposed NPL rule of which 

this site is a part. This comment period was extended by 30 days (see section 3.3, Request for Extension, of 

this support document). The Agency is responding to all site-specific comments in this support document, 

which is available in the EPA Headquarters Superfund docket in Washington, D.C., and in the appropriate 

Regional Superfund Docket, when the final rule is published in the Federal Register. The Agency does not 

announce NPL decisions before the final rule is announced.

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3.13 USACE Activities 

Comment: In referring to the impact of the proposal of the Gowanus Canal site to the NPL in the Federal 

Register, HydroQual stated that “[t]he USACE work has been stopped because of the Federal Register 

notice.” 

The City stated that: 

As a result of the proposed Superfund listing, the Army Corps has suspended work on the 

FS—which had been scheduled to be complete by the end of 2009—and the Army Corps 

has advised the City that if the Canal is added to the NPL, it will likely discontinue its 

work at the site. 

In its comment letter on the proposed listing of this site, the USACE stated: 

The Corps strongly advocates the cleanup of the Gowanus by any available statutory 

means and stands ready to provide technical assistance. Timely action would support the 

numerous multi-agency sediment and water quality improvements that currently benefit 

the estuary. Should the Gowanus not be designated a Federal Superfund site, the Corps 

(with non-Federal sponsor support) will continue to pursue a project using 312B 

environmental dredging authority. 

Response: The USACE stated in its comments in response to this proposed listing that “[t]he Corps 

strongly advocates the cleanup of the Gowanus by any available statutory means and stands ready to 

provide technical assistance.” 

Further, as noted earlier in this support document, listing of a site simply informs the public that EPA has 

determined the site poses sufficient threat to human health and the environment to warrant further 

investigation; it does not predetermine the response actions. Consideration regarding the scope of and 

how the response actions for the site will be undertaken, determination and selection of who will be 

involved in these response actions, what the response actions may be, and how the response actions will 

ultimately be funded are not factors in the decision to list the site on the NPL. The appropriate actions 

necessary to mitigate those threats identified during a site-specific risk assessment, including coordination 

with current remedial actions at the site, are typically determined after the listing process is completed. 

3.14 Possible Impacts of Delaying Listing 

Mr. Bob Zuckerman noted that if the Canal is not designated a Superfund site at this time, it supposedly 

remains on the list for future designation. Mr. Zuckerman asked, “What are the ramifications of 

remaining on the Superfund nomination list, and what would the process look like for eventually 

becoming a Superfund site?” 

Response: As stated in Section I.E, What Happens to Sites on the NPL?, of the proposed rule (74 FR 

16164, 16165): 

A site may undergo remedial action financed by the Trust Fund established under 

CERCLA (commonly referred to as the “Superfund”) only after it is placed on the NPL, 

as provided in the NCP [National Contingency Plan] at 40 CFR 300.425(b)(1). 

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As the Gowanus Canal site has been designated a Superfund site in today’s action, the commenter’s 

question is not relevant to this listing. 

3.15 HRS Concept 

Comment: The ELM Group challenged the adequacy of the HRS to estimate the site-specific risk at the 

Gowanus Canal site. It stated that: 

For the Gowanus Canal, USEPA evaluated only the Surface Water Pathway, specifically 

the Human Food Chain Threat. The final score calculated by USEPA is founded on the 

assumption that benzo(a)pyrene and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Canal 

sediments are taken up by fish and invertebrates, which are subsequently eaten by 

humans, posing an unacceptable health risk. 

The ELM Group continued: 

ELM recognizes that the determination of an HRS score is a simplified conservative 

process for screening potentially eligible sites for inclusion on the NPL. However, the 

Gowanus Canal has unique physical, chemical, and biological attributes that must be 

evaluated on an integrated, site‐specific basis to obtain a true understanding of potential 

risk, a process that is discouraged by the highly generic and formulaic calculations 

employed in the preparation of an HRS score. 

The ELM Group further commented that: 

The generalized and formulaic approach allowed by the HRS process significantly 

overestimates risk to human and ecological populations in and around the Gowanus 

Canal. This may be appropriate where there is no access to actual data or no alternative 

mitigation measures to protect human health or prevent wildlife exposure exist, but is 

inappropriate here where site-specific data is readily available from numerous sources, 

several pathways to address contamination in the Canal are already in place. 

Response: The HRS does not assume any causal relationship between the various factor values considered 

in assigning an HRS score. Specifically, in this case, the HRS does not assume that benzo(a)pyrene or 

PCBs are taken up by fish and invertebrates or that humans are exposed to these substances by 

consumption of the aquatic organisms. 

The HRS assigns factor values and then combines the factor values into a pathway score and site score. 

For example, HRS Section 4.1.3.2.1.4, Calculation of toxicity/persistence/ bioaccumulation factor value, 

states: 

Use the hazardous substance with the highest toxicity/persistence/ bioaccumulation factor 

value for the watershed to assign the value to this factor. 

Page 28 of the HRS documentation record at proposal lists the values assigned to all substances 

documented as associated with the combined sediment source and specifically states that: 

Benzo(a)pyrene and PCBs are the hazardous substances associated with the highest 

toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation factor value with a quantity of 5 x 108

. 

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Thus there is no required evidence or assumption that these substances are being taken up by human food 

chain organisms in the assigning of this factor value. 

Similarly, the HRS evaluation at this site does not make the assumption that these substances are in 

aquatic human food chain organisms that are caught from the Canal and consumed. HRS Section 4.1.3.3, 

Human food chain threat-targets, directs the evaluation of fisheries as eligible targets. The applicable 

portion of this section used in the scoring of this site states: 

Evaluate two target factors for each watershed: food chain individual and population. For 

both factors, determine whether the target fisheries are subject to actual or potential 

human food chain contamination. 

Consider a fishery (or portion of a fishery) with the target distance limit of the watershed 

to be subject to actual human food chain contamination if any of the following apply: 

• A hazardous substance having a bioaccumulation factor value of 500 or greater is 

present either in an observed release by direct observation for the watershed or in a 

surface water or sediment sample from the watershed at a level that meets the criteria 

for an observed release to the watershed for the site, and at least a portion of the 

fishery is within the boundaries of the observed release (that is, it is located either at 

the point of direct observation or at or between the probable point of entry and the 

most distant sampling point establishing the observed release). 

• . . . 

Pages 30 and 31 of the HRS documentation record at proposal under the title, Human Food Chain Threat 

– Targets, document that this requirement was met, stating: 

People use the Gowanus Canal for fishing and crabbing, and several sources have 

reported fishing for human consumption [Ref. 13, p. 1; 14, p. 1; 15, pp. 1-2; 39, p. 3; 40, 

p. 2; 43, pp. 1-3; 45, pp. 1-2; 46, p. 3; 47, p. 1]. It is reported that people catch fish for 

consumption at the 3rd Street Bridge, which crosses the Gowanus Canal within the zone 

of sediment contamination, and at other bridges along the Canal [Figure 2 of this HRS 

documentation record; Ref. 13, p. 1; 14, p. 1; 15, p. 1]. In addition, many of the released 

hazardous substances have a bioaccumulation potential factor value of 500 or greater. 

Therefore, Actual Human Food Chain Contamination is documented, and the target 

fishery is evaluated for Actual Human Food Chain Contamination. The target fishery is 

subject to Level II concentrations [Ref. 1, pp. 51592, 51593, 51620, 51621]. 

These pages of the HRS documentation record at proposal go on to list 26 hazardous substances, not just 

benzo(a)pyrene and PCBs, that meet the observed release criteria and have a bioaccumulation potential 

factor value at 500 or above, any of which would have been sufficient in itself to meet the HRS 

requirements. Thus again there is no causal link between benzo(a)pyrene and PCBs to the targets factor 

values for this site. 

HRS Section 4.1.3.4, Calculation of human food chain threat score for a watershed, directs the 

combining of the factor values to produce a Human food chain threat score, which is then the basis for the 

surface water pathway score and subsequently a site score. It states: 

Multiply the human food chain threat factor category values for likelihood of release, 

waste characteristics, and targets for the watershed, and round the product to the nearest 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

integer. Then divide by 82,500. Assign the resulting value, subject to a maximum of 100, 

as the human food chain threat score for the watershed. Enter this score into Table 4-1. 

Table 4-1 is the surface water pathway score sheet for the site and is presented on pages 3 and 4 of the 

HRS documentation record at proposal. 

Again, the HRS does not require any causal link between the individual factor values to use them in 

determining the HRS score for the site. 

Regarding the ELM Group’s comments on the lack of site-specific considerations in an HRS evaluation 

even when site conditions are unique, this is a comment on the HRS itself, not on its use in the evaluation 

of this site. Such a comment is outside the scope of this rulemaking, which is limited to the placement of 

this site on the NPL. However, the level of site-specificity of the HRS was raised in comments on the 

proposed revised HRS. As explained in section K, Use of Available Data, of the preamble to the final 

rule (55 FR 51550, 51551, December 14, 1990), consideration was given to adding multiple tiers to the 

HRS that could be used to account for site-specific conditions. It states: 

EPA considered modifying the HRS to allow the use of additional data, but determined 

that further expanding the HRS to account for varying levels of data availability is 

inconsistent with the HRS’s role as an initial screening tool. Adding tiers to various 

factors to accommodate the use of all available data would make the HRS considerably 

more difficult to apply and could lead to substantial inconsistencies in how sites are 

investigated and evaluated. EPA Regions and States would have to determine, for each 

set of data presented, whether the data quality was good enough for the data to be 

considered. Debates over decisions on data quality could delay scoring and, ultimately, 

delay cleanup at sites. Therefore, the Agency believes that the limited use of tiers in the 

final HRS represents a reasonable tradeoff between the need to limit the complexity of 

the system and the desire to accommodate risk-related information that is generally 

outside the scope of a site inspection. 

This comment has no effect on the HRS score or the decision to place this site on the NPL. 

3.16 Consideration of Fish Advisory 

Comment: Both the ELM Group and HydroQual asserted that the HRS score did not reflect a New York 

State fish advisory for the Upper New York Bay Area. 

The ELM Group asserted that compliance with the NY State Department of Health fish advisories by 

fisherman should mitigate risk associated with limited consumption of contaminated fish. The ELM 

Group specifically stated that: 

The Human Food Chain Threat is the primary basis for the NPL eligibility determination 

for the Gowanus Canal. Consumption advisories are already in place from the state 

Department of Health (2009), warning citizens to avoid or limit intake of striped bass, 

blue crab, and several other species, throughout the Upper New York Bay Area (which 

includes the Canal). 

The ELM Group continued: 

Furthermore, as long as consumption is limited in accordance with the State fishing 

advisory, consumption of fish caught in the Gowanus Canal should not pose any 

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additional public health threat than fishing in Upper New York Bay. As discussed 

previously, the fish population in the Canal is not significantly different than that in the 

Bay. The State fishing advisory indicates a “safe” consumption level for the Upper New 

York Bay, and there is no evidence to indicate that the existing advisory does not provide 

adequate protection against detrimental health effects in the Canal as well. 

HydroQual stated: 

The Gowanus Canal is a portion of the Upper New York Bay. The New York State 

Department of Health, Chemicals in Sport Fish and Game Fish 2008-2009 Health 

Advisory for Upper New York Bay for PCB protection suggests human fish consumption 

is safe at 32 pounds per year, roughly the same consumption levels scored in the 

Gowanus Canal HRS (i.e., 0 to 100 pounds)12. The HRS does not reflect that the threat 

from this pathway has already been addressed by New York State. 

HydroQual continued: 

The HRS does not reflect the risk from this [surface water] pathway has been evaluated 

and addressed by New York State. The New York State advisory is based upon more 

criteria than the HRS, including testing of fish. There appears to be a contradiction 

between the safety the State Health Advisory implies and the risk scored in the HRS. 

Response: The site-specific information used in obtaining the HRS score for the human food chain threat 

of the surface water migration pathway, and for the overall site score, is consistent with the requirements 

of the HRS. There is no provision in the HRS to consider the possible reduction in risk that might be 

caused by a fish advisory in an HRS evaluation. 

HRS Section 4.1.3, Human food chain threat, states, “[e]valuate the human food chain threat for each 

watershed based on three factor categories: likelihood of release, waste characteristics, and targets.” 

Each of these three factor categories is evaluated in the HRS documentation 

record at proposal using site-specific attributes of the Gowanus Canal. 

 

Within the HRS sections directing the scoring of the human food chain threat (Sections 4.1.3.1, 4.1.3.2, 

and 4.1.3.3), there is only one provision for considering any kind of fish advisory, and it is for a closure of 

a fishery (i.e., ban on any consumption), not simply an advisory to limit consumption. This is in HRS 

Section 4.1.3.3, which states, in part: 

Consider a fishery (or portion of a fishery) within the target distance limit of the 

watershed to be subject to actual human food chain contamination if any of the following 

apply: 

. . . 

The fishery is closed, and a hazardous substance for which the fishery has been 

closed has been documented in an observed release to the watershed from the site, 

and at least a portion of the fishery is within the boundaries of the observed 

release. 

Under this provision, if a fish closure advisory has been issued which states that a specified area is closed 

to fishing, i.e., that no fishing for consumption is to take place there, and the other conditions stated above 

apply, the fishery is scored for purposes of the HRS as if it were an active fishery that was contaminated 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

due to the site (subject to actual contamination). Thus, the fish closure advisory acts to include the fishery 

in the HRS score, not to exclude it. 

Regarding HydroQual’s comments that “[t]he New York State advisory is based upon more criteria than 

the HRS, including testing of fish,” and “[t]here appears to be a contradiction between the safety the State 

Health Advisory implies and the risk scored in the HRS,” EPA may consider more information in 

evaluating potential remedial actions for the site. 

Thus, based on the amount of existing site-specific data and the fact that this data reveals significant 

contamination with numerous hazardous substances, the Gowanus Canal site merits evaluation under the 

HRS using the human food chain threat of the surface water pathway. 

This comment has no effect on the HRS score or the decision to place this site on the NPL. 

3.17 Use of Surface Water or Fish Tissue Samples 

Comment: HydroQual questioned the adequacy of the HRS score for the site because it was not based on 

surface water or fish tissue samples. HydroQual stated: 

The HRS scoring considers only contaminant levels in the sediment bed and does not 

present any direct measurements of contaminants in the surface water or in fish. In 

particular, given the above analysis of the sediments, it would seem inappropriate to 

consider the Gowanus Canal for addition to the NPL without consideration of actual data 

on surface water and/or fish tissue. 

HydroQual pointed to a surface water sample data set collected by the NYDEC. However, it noted the 

data could not be compared to NYDEC and EPA’s water quality standards: 

Although the NYSDEC collected measurement of the surface water concentrations of 

many contaminants, including individual PCB congeners and twenty-two PAH 

chemicals, in the Gowanus Canal at the Carroll Street Bridge on four occasions in 1999 

and 2000 as part of the Contamination Assessment and Reduction Project (CARP)[1]

, 

these data are inadequate for comparing to NYSDEC’s and EPA’s water quality 

standards and criteria for the protection of Human Health which are applied to mean or 

log mean concentrations. 

Response: Fish tissue and surface water contaminant data are not required to determine either a surface 

water migration pathway HRS score or an overall HRS score for a site. 

While surface water and fish tissue data, if available, can be used to assign a likelihood of release factor 

value, to identify actually contaminated fisheries and to assign the level of actual contamination of the 

fisheries, in none of these cases are surface water or fish tissue samples required to complete an HRS 

evaluation. 

 

1 The Contamination Assessment and Reduction Project (CARP) is an effort between the states of New York and New Jersey 

aimed at reducing toxic chemicals within the New York Harbor through a variety of projects including studies of the water, 

sediments, and biota in the Harbor, and tracking down contaminant sources in the surface water, ground water, and wastewater of

the Harbor. Participation stems from the Governors of NY and NJ signing the Joint Plan for Dredging the Port of NY-NJ in the 

Fall of 1997. The plan was recommended by the Hudson Estuary Program (HEP) and implemented through the Comprehensive 

Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). 

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Likelihood of Release 

HRS Section 4.1.2.1, Drinking water threat—likelihood of release, states “[e]valuate the likelihood of 

release factor category for each watershed in terms of an observed release factor or a potential to release 

factor.” 

HRS Section 4.1.2.1.1, Observed release, discusses that an observed release to surface water is 

established by means of chemical analysis if: 

Analysis of surface water, benthic, or sediment samples indicates that the 

concentration of hazardous substance(s) has increased significantly above the 

background concentration for the site for that type of sample. . . . 

The HRS evaluation used sediment samples to establish an observed release, and thus did not need 

surface water or fish tissue samples. Page 24 of the HRS documentation record at proposal, under the 

heading Chemical Analysis states: 

An observed release by chemical analysis is documented in the Gowanus Canal between 

sample location GC-03-30, at the head of the Canal, and sample location GC-03-07, 

approximately 1.5 miles downstream (see Section 2.2). 

Section 2.2 of the HRS documentation record at proposal (pages 13-21) discusses the identification of a 

contaminated sediment source based on sediment samples that meet the observed release criteria. 

Subsection 2.4.1, Hazardous substances, of the HRS documentation record at proposal (pages 14-21) 

presents the analytical results for 21 sediment, 5 background, and 16 release samples that meet the 

observed release criteria. Table 1 on page 16 of the HRS documentation record at proposal presents the 

basic physical and sampling information on the sediment samples. Table 2 on pages 17-20 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal presents the analytical results that document that the release sediment 

samples meet the significant increase criteria of the HRS to establish an observed release (see HRS 

Section 2.3, Observed release). 

As described above, observed release criteria were met through chemical analysis of sediment samples in 

the Gowanus Canal. Since the analysis of surface water, benthic, or sediment samples can be used to 

establish an observed release to surface water through chemical analysis, only the sediment sample 

contaminant data was necessary to establish an observed release. 

Actually Contaminated Fisheries 

HRS Section 4.1.3.3, Human food chain threat—targets, provides for establishing actual contamination of 

a fishery using surface water, sediment or fish tissue samples from essentially sessile, benthic food chain 

organisms. It states: 

Consider a fishery (or portion of a fishery) within the target distance limit of the 

watershed to be subject to actual human food chain contamination if any [emphasis 

added] of the following apply: 

• A hazardous substance having a bioaccumulation potential factor value of 500 or 

greater is present in an observed release by direct observation to the watershed or 

in a surface water or (emphasis added) sediment sample from the watershed at a 

level that meets the criteria for an observed release to the watershed from the site, 

. . . 

• The fishery is closed, . . . 

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• A hazardous substance is present in a tissue sample from an essentially sessile, 

benthic human food chain organism from the watershed at a level that meets the 

criteria for an observed release from the site, . . . 

Pages 30 and 31 of the HRS documentation record at proposal document the identification of an actually 

contaminated fishery by demonstrating that sediment samples from a human food chain fishery that meet the 

observed release criteria contain one or more hazardous substances that have a bioaccumulation potential factor 

value of 500 or greater. Page 31, under section 4.1.3.3, Human Food Chain Threat—Targets, states: 

People use the Gowanus Canal for fishing and crabbing, and several sources have 

reported fishing for human consumption [Ref. 13, p. 1; 14, p. 1; 15, pp. 1-2; 39, p. 3; 40, 

p. 2; 43, pp. 1-3; 45, pp. 1-2; 46, p. 3; 47, p. 1]. It is reported that people catch fish for 

consumption at the 3rd Street Bridge, which crosses the Gowanus Canal within the zone 

of sediment contamination, and at other bridges along the Canal [Figure 2 of this HRS 

documentation record; Ref. 13, p. 1; 14, p. 1; 15, p. 1]. In addition, many of the released 

hazardous substances have a bioaccumulation potential factor value of 500 or greater. 

Therefore, Actual Human Food Chain Contamination is documented, and the target 

fishery is evaluated for Actual Human Food Chain Contamination. The target fishery is 

subject to Level II concentrations [Ref. 1, pp. 51592, 51593, 51620, 51621]. 

The HRS documentation record at proposal then lists the sediment samples and the 26 hazardous substances 

associated with them that have a bioaccumulation potential factor value of 500 or greater. As stated above, since 

either surface water, sediment, or fish tissue samples can be used for this purpose, and sediment samples were 

sufficient, no surface water or fish tissue samples were required for this purpose. 

Level of Contamination 

Fish tissue samples can also be used to identify Level I fishery targets. HRS Section 4.1.3.3, Human food chain 

threat—targets, explains: 

When a fishery (or portion of a fishery) is subject to actual food chain contamination, 

determine the part of the fishery subject to Level I concentrations and the part subject to 

Level II concentrations. If the actual food chain contamination is based on direct 

observation, evaluate it using Level II concentrations. However, if the actual food chain 

contamination is based on samples from the watershed, use these samples and if 

available, additional tissue samples from aquatic human food chain organisms as 

specified below, to determine the part subject to Level I concentrations and the part 

subject to Level II concentrations. [Emphasis added.] 

HRS Section 4.1.3.3.1, Food chain individual, and HRS Section 4.1.3.3.2 and its subsections explain when to 

assign a fishery as Level I, Level II, or potential. If a fishery does not meet Level I criteria but is identified as 

actually contaminated according to the above-cited requirements, it is considered Level II. 

Page 31 of the HRS documentation record at proposal in section 4.1.3.3.1, Food Chain Individual, explains that 

the fishery in the Canal was categorized as a Level II fishery based on sediment samples: 

There is an observed release of hazardous substances, including benzo(a)pyrene, with 

Bioaccumulation Potential Factor Values of 500 or greater, and Level II Actual 

Contamination of the Gowanus Canal fishery is documented between samples GC-03-07 

and GC-03-30 [Table 2 and Figure 2 of this HRS documentation record; Ref. 1, pp. 

51592, 51593, 51620; 2, pp. BI-1-BI-10, BI-12; 13, p. 1; 14, p. 1; 15, pp. 1-2; 39, p. 3; 

40, p. 2; 43, pp. 1-3; 45, pp. 1-2; 46, p. 3; 47, p. 1; 16, pp. 476-487] . 

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As discussed above, an HRS evaluation to determine level of contamination only uses fish tissue samples if 

available. The use of the tissue samples is optional. No fish tissue samples were used to assign the level of 

contamination. The level of actual contamination was instead based on the bioaccumulation potential factor value 

of the observed release hazardous substances in the sediment samples. 

Thus, while surface water and fish tissue samples can be used in an HRS evaluation, their use is not required to 

determine an HRS score. However, fish tissue samples can be used during the site-specific risk assessment phase 

of the Superfund process when site-specific risk is evaluated. 

This comment has no effect on the HRS site score or on the decision to place this site on the NPL. 

3.18 Likelihood of Release 

Comment: The ELM Group questioned the establishment of an observed release. It raised issues 

regarding the quality of the analytical data used to document the release and the identification of an 

observed release although the contaminant concentrations may have been below regulatory criteria, and 

claimed sample moisture content may have led to high bias in analytical results. 

Response: The ELM Group comments regarding the likelihood of release component of the HRS score 

are addressed in the following sections: 

• 3.18.1 QA/QC Protocols 

• 3.18.2 Screening Benchmarks 

• 3.18.3 Sample Moisture Content 

3.18.1 QA/QC Protocols 

Comment: The ELM Group challenged the adequacy of the analytical data used to score the site. It stated 

that quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) samples were absent, that there were missing or 

improperly completed chain-of-custody forms, and that there were sample integrity issues. 

The detailed issues raised by The ELM Group are addressed in the following subsections: 

• 3.18.1.1 Use of QA/QC Samples 

• 3.18.1.2 Chain-of-Custody 

• 3.18.1.3 Sample Integrity 

As demonstrated in these subsections, the data collected were reasonable and credible, and adequate for 

purposes of this HRS listing. 

3.18.1.1 Use of QA/QC Samples 

Comment: The ELM Group claimed there was an absence of QA/QC samples in the USACE field study 

used to establish an observed release. It specifically stated that 

No field duplicates, field blanks, or trip blanks were collected in the USACE 2003 Study 

(USACE, 2003), preventing analysis of sample collection and decontamination 

procedures for quality assurance, specifically whether cross‐contamination could have 

occurred between samples or during sample transportation. 

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Response: Although no field QA/QC samples were collected, the USACE did follow the Sampling and 

Analysis Plan (Attachment 2 to this support document) and therefore, there is no reason to question the 

field protocols. The USACE Sampling and Analysis Plan states the appropriate procedures to be 

followed, including decontamination. The lack of these samples does not demonstrate that appropriate 

Sampling and Analysis Plan sampling, decontamination, and transportation procedures were not 

followed. 

 

The HRS does not specify any field QA/QC field protocol requirements. However, the Agency may 

consider third party information so long as it bears satisfactory indications of reliability. See, e.g., 

Honeywell Int’l v. EPA, 372 F.3d 441, 447 (D.C. Cir. 2004). If such information is relevant and material, 

the Agency is entitled to weigh it according to its truthfulness, reasonableness, and credibility. See, e.g., 

Veg-Mix, Inc. v. U.S. Dept. of Ag., 832 F.2d 601, 606 (D.C. Cir. 1987). In this case, the Agency’s review 

of the USACE Sampling and Analysis Plan indicates that its protocols are reasonable and credible, and 

therefore, the data used to evaluate an observed release from the site is of known and documented quality. 

A Sampling and Analysis Plan is intended to document the procedural and analytical requirements for 

sampling events. The USACE Sampling and Analysis Plan states on page 3 that the decontamination 

procedure is: 

Non-dedicated sampling equipment, such as the mixing bowl and split spoon samplers, 

must be cleaned between sampling episodes. Decontamination shall consist of washing 

the equipment with potable water to remove loose materials such as mud and dust, 

scrubbing the equipment with brushes and a phosphate-free detergent, and rinsing again 

with potable water. If possible, the final rinse will be performed with a steam-cleaner 

using potable water. 

Therefore since appropriate decontamination procedures were followed, cross contamination did 

not occur between samples or during sample transportation (sample transportation is discussed in 

section 3.18.1.2, Chain of Custody, of this support document.) 

Also, even though there were no field QA/QC samples collected during the USACE sampling 

event, the USACE followed the field sampling protocol in the Sampling and Analysis Plan. 

Since the USACE followed protocol, there is no reason to question the field sampling procedures 

or the usability of the resulting analytical data in the HRS evaluation. 

This comment has no effect on the HRS score for the site. 

3.18.1.2 Chain-of-Custody 

Comment: The ELM Group pointed to “violations” of chain-of-custody requirements. The ELM Group 

also questioned the use of three of the five samples used to establish background contamination levels for 

the site. It commented that the lack of chain-of-custody documentation for three of the five background 

sediment samples calls into question the integrity of those samples, which provide the basis for an 

“observed release.” It stated: 

. . . samples collected by the USACE on May 15, 2003 arrived at the laboratory without a 

Chain of Custody documenting sample identification numbers, analyses, and 

accountability for sample security and integrity (Appendix F, USACE, 2003). This is in 

opposition to USEPA’s data quality guidance, and industry standard practices for 

maintaining data quality (e.g. ASTM, 2004; USEPA, 2002). As discussed earlier, a 

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corrective action (canceling some of the laboratory analyses) was taken by the USACE in 

extreme cases. Nonetheless, this oversight is particularly disconcerting given that three 

of the five background samples used to justify a release in the HRS calculation were 

collected on May 15, 2003. 

Response: The chain-of-custody for the three background samples in question was adequately maintained 

and was established in the HRS documentation record at proposal and its cited references. While there 

was a minor problem in transfer of the form2

 documenting the chain-of-custody for the three samples in 

question during shipment of the samples from the field to the lab, the problem was immediately corrected 

and the correction verified. 

The HRS does not specify any chain-of-custody requirements or any data quality documentation 

requirements. However, chain-of-custody is important in documenting that the sample analysis results 

are of known and documented quality. The purpose of maintaining chain-of-custody is to provide proof 

that the samples are not tampered with during transport, and each sample is appropriately identified. A 

chain-of-custody-form, also referred to as a Traffic Report, is used to ensure that the samples code is 

assigned in the field to identify the sample, the sample location, the analysis to be run on that sample, and 

that the sample results are not confused with those of other sample codes. 

As referred to by The ELM Group, the 2004 ASTM Standard Guide for Sample Chain-of-Custody 

Procedures, states on page 529, that: 

Any discrepancies between the information on the sample label and seal and the 

information on the chain-of-custody record should be resolved before the sample is 

assigned for analysis. This effort might require communication with the sample 

collector. 

No chain-of-custody forms for 12 samples (including the three background samples in question) from 

three locations, GC-03-3, GC-03-4, and GC-03-5, were found in the sample shipment container when it 

was received by the analytical laboratory, Fort Monmouth Environmental Laboratory in Fort Monmouth, 

NJ, from the field. As documented on pages 282-284 of Reference 16 and pages 30-31 of Reference 52 

(both references to the HRS documentation record at proposal), lack of chain-of-custody forms was 

addressed and corrected by the laboratory personnel immediately through communicating with the 

USACE field staff and filling out a chain-of-custody form at the laboratory based on the information 

written on the sample bottles received (see pages 282, 284, and 288 of Reference 16 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal). On this form (see page 282 of Reference 16 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal), samples from the three locations (GC-03-3, GC-03-4, and GC-03-5) 

were identified under the column heading Sample Location. The laboratory faxed the form to the 

USACE for review, approval, and signature (see pages 282 and 288 of Reference 16 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal). On May 20, 2003, the USACE faxed the signed chain-of-custody 

form (see page 283 of Reference 16 of the HRS documentation record at proposal) back to the laboratory, 

thereby correcting the original omission of the chain-of-custody form in the sample shipment. 

The faxed chain-of-custody form was later reviewed for accuracy by USACE. During this process an 

error was identified in the jar numbers. To correct this error, USACE made changes to the chain-ofcustody form under the Sample Location column to two sample jars from sample location GC-03-5. The 

 

2

 A chain-of-custody form (as described by CLP Statement of Work for Multi-Media, Multi-Concentration Organics 

Analysis, version 1.2, Exhibit G) , is a “sample identification form completed by the sampler, which accompanies 

the sample during shipment to the laboratory and is used to document sample identity, sample chain-of-custody, 

sample condition, and sample receipt by the laboratory.” 

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changes to the copy of the chain-of-custody form were made to reflect the field log book (see page 21 of 

Reference 52 of the HRS documentation record at proposal). GC-03-5/Jar 5 was corrected to GC-03-

5/Jar 3, and GC-03-5/Jar 6 was corrected to GC-03-5/ Jar 4. On May 21, 2003, USACE faxed to the 

laboratory the corrected chain-of-custody form (see page 31 of Reference 52 of the HRS documentation 

record at proposal) accompanied by a Fax Transmittal page (see page 30 of Reference 52 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal) stating it was the final, approved chain-of-custody form for samples 

GC-03-3, GC-03-4, and GC-03-5 (note that in this case, the three sample numbers in question are the 

same as the three sample location numbers ). 

In conclusion, chain-of-custody was established and documented for the three background samples in 

question. Therefore, it was appropriate to use these samples in establishing background contaminant 

levels for the site in the HRS evaluation. 

Furthermore, these three samples were only three of five samples used in the HRS evaluation to establish 

background levels. If the three samples in question were dropped from consideration, the remaining two 

samples could be used to establish background levels. As can be observed on page 16 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal, using the highest contaminant concentrations in the two remaining 

background samples (sample numbers GC-03-01 and GC-03-2) to establish background levels, the 

resulting background levels would only decrease or remain the same. Therefore, any release sample that 

met the observed release criteria based on all five background samples would also meet the observed 

release criteria using only sample numbers GC-03-01 and GC-03-2 as background samples. 

Thus, even if samples GC-03-3, GC-03-4, and GC-03-5 were not used for background, there would be no 

change in the number of samples documenting observed release and hence no change in the HRS score 

for the site. 

3.18.1.3 Sample Integrity 

Comment: The ELM Group asserted that “[r]eview of the laboratory’s case narrative also suggests 

pervasive careless sample handling, with sample coolers frequently arriving with broken sample jars and 

melted ice (Appendix F, USACE, 2003).” It stated that “the remaining samples were analyzed, however 

several of these also were submitted with melted cooler ice, but the cooler temperatures were below 

ambient temperature and, thus, the samples were processed.” 

Response: The possible sample integrity problems identified by The ELM Group - the broken sample 

jars, the cracked sample jar, and the melted cooler ice - were appropriately addressed by the USACE at 

the time of the analysis, and were considered when the resulting analytical data were used in the HRS 

evaluation. As discussed in greater detail below: 

• The analysis of the samples that arrived with completely broken sample jars were cancelled at the 

USACE’s request, and, thus, no data from the samples were used in the HRS evaluation. 

• While the sample in a cracked jar was analyzed, simply that the jar was cracked does not 

necessarily mean that the sample was compromised, and thus the decision was made to use the 

analytical results in the HRS evaluation. However, elimination of the analytical data for this 

sample data would not result in a change in the HRS score for the site. 

• Regarding the samples in the coolers in which the ice had melted, this does not automatically 

mean the samples had warmed to unacceptable levels. In addition, only a few samples contained 

in these coolers were used in the HRS evaluation, and, in fact, the temperature of these samples 

were measured to be 5 oC, within the acceptable range of 4 oC plus or minus 2oC (±2oC). There is 

no reason to question the analytical results for these samples based solely on melted ice. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

The HRS does not specify any sample preservation techniques or any data quality documentation 

requirements. However, the documentation of sample integrity is certainly part of documenting that 

analytical data is of known and documented quality and suitable for use in an HRS evaluation. 

Broken Sample Jars 

Two sample coolers were received on May 12, 2003, by the Fort Monmouth Environmental Testing 

Laboratory that contained broken sample bottles. The first sample cooler contained 21 samples, which 

corresponded to the laboratory work order 30218 (see pages 272-274 of Reference 16 to the HRS 

documentation record at proposal). The first sample cooler, received by the laboratory on May 12, 2003, 

contained broken bottles and melted ice, and had an elevated cooler temperature (see page 288 of 

Reference 16 to the HRS documentation record at proposal). The USACE cancelled the analysis of the 

samples due to the condition of the samples (see pages 26, 272, 274, and 288 of Reference 16 to the HRS 

documentation record at proposal). 

The second sample cooler received by the laboratory on May 12, 2003, contained broken bottles and the 

samples were at room temperature. In addition, no chain-of-custody form was found in the cooler. Due 

to the poor sample integrity and no chain-of-custody documentation, these samples were also not logged 

in and the analyses were cancelled by the USACE (see pages 26 and 288 of Reference 16 to the HRS 

documentation record at proposal). 

Cracked Sample Jars 

Regarding the use of sample coolers arriving with cracked and broken sample jars, the cooler containing 6 

sample jars arrived at the Fort Monmouth Environmental Testing Laboratory, in Fort Monmouth, NJ, on 

April 30, 2003. One 4-oz sample jar was cracked and one 2-oz sample jar was broken from the field 

location GC-03-25. The laboratory transferred the sample in the cracked 4-oz sample jar, which was to 

be analyzed for SVOCs, pesticides and PCBs, to a new sample jar and completed the sample analysis. 

The 2-oz sample jar was completely broken and was not analyzed by the laboratory (see page 267 of 

Reference 16 to the HRS documentation record at proposal). The remaining four jars in the sample cooler 

were not damaged and their analyses continued accordingly. 

Even if the sample analysis from the 4-oz cracked sample jar were dropped from consideration, the 

remaining samples identified in the HRS documentation record at proposal would still meet HRS 

observed release criteria (see pages 18 – 20 of the HRS documentation record at proposal). This sample, 

taken from location GC-03-25, was used as one of many release samples to establish an observed release 

in the Canal sediments and the extent of the zone of contamination in the Canal. The zone of 

contamination is defined for a contaminated sediment site as extending from the most upgradient 

observed release sample to the most downgradient observed release sample (i.e., the extent of the 

sediment plume). Since the remaining observed release sample locations are either upgradient (sample 

locations: GC-03-26, GC-03-27, GC-03-28, GC-03-29 and GC-03-30) or downgradient (sample 

locations: GC-03-24, GC-03-23, GC-03-21, GC-03-18, GC-03-14, GC-03-13, GC-03-12, GC-03-11, GC03-09, and GC-03-07) of the location of the sample in question, GC-03-25, the zone of contamination 

would not change (see Figure 2 of the HRS documentation record at proposal) Thus removing the sample 

from the cracked jar would also have no effect on the HRS site score. 

Melted Cooler Ice 

Regarding the use of samples that arrived at the Fort Monmouth Environmental Testing Laboratory, in 

Fort Monmouth, NJ throughout the USACE 2003 sampling event with melted cooler ice, only four 

sample shipping coolers contained melted cooler ice and temperatures above 4oC. Samples contained in 

three of the four sample coolers with temperatures above 4oC were not used in the HRS evaluation 

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(Reference 16, pages 279-280, 286 of the HRS documentation record at proposal).3 One sample cooler, 

Laboratory work order number 30225, which contained four samples from field locations, GC-03-07, GC03-12, GC-03-13, and GC-03-14, were used in the HRS scoring, and the laboratory recorded a 

temperature of 5oC (Reference 16, page 276-277 of the HRS documentation record at proposal) for that 

cooler. 

However, the recorded temperature of that shipping cooler does not affect the analytical data associated 

with samples from locations GC-03-07, GC-03-12, GC-03-13, and GC-03-14, the samples from that 

cooler used in the HRS evaluation, nor does it change the HRS score for the site. 

Even though the USACE data was non-CLP analytical data, since the CLP program was established 

specifically to provide data of known and documented quality, sufficient for HRS (and other Superfund 

program) purposes, EPA has considered the criteria within the CLP program regarding sample 

temperatures in reviewing the use of this sample in the HRS evaluation. Based on the CLP sample 

collection and preservation for soil samples requirements, samples collected with the appropriate 

preservatives stored at 4oC (±2oC) until the time of analysis are considered acceptable. Therefore, EPA 

considers the 5oC, the measured temperature of the sample cooler in question, to be within the appropriate 

temperature range for sample preservation. 

Furthermore, according to the USACE Sampling and Analysis Plan (see Attachment 2 to this support 

document) for the USACE, the sample containers were being provided by the laboratory with the required 

preservatives already in the containers. Thus, the samples had been chemically preserved in addition to 

shipment in ice. 

In addition, a one-degree temperature increase in the samples would if anything, most likely only result in 

degradation of the contaminants in each sample. This degradation would in turn, only result in the 

contaminant concentrations reported by the laboratory being lower than if the samples had been 

maintained at 4 oC and thus would be underestimates of the contaminant concentrations. Since these 

samples were used as release samples in the HRS evaluation, and the concentrations of contaminants in 

the samples in question met the observed release criteria even with a possible lower concentration than if 

maintained at 4 oC, the samples would still have met the HRS observed release criteria if the problem had 

not occurred. Thus, the raise in sample temperature during shipping for a few of the samples used in the 

HRS evaluation would not have any effect on the HRS site score. 

This comment has no effect on the HRS score for the site. 

3.18.2 Screening Benchmarks 

Comment: The ELM Group questioned the comparison of the contaminant levels in the USACE’s 2003 

samples to the NYSDEC sediment criteria that the USACE presented in the USACE report titled, “Final 

Report, Site Investigation, Gowanus Bay and Gowanus Canal.” The ELM Group commented that the 

screening benchmarks that were used by the USACE should have accounted for the TOC content of the 

collected samples. It explained that: 

The screening benchmarks that were used were on a dry weight basis, and many of these 

presume a TOC content of 1% (Buchman, 2008). For the organics, it is recognized that 

 

3

 It can be verified that the samples in the three coolers were not used in the HRS analysis by examining Table 1, 

page 16, in the HRS documentation record at proposal. It does not include any of the samples listed on the sample 

receipts for the coolers above 4oC (Reference 16, page 279-280, 286 of the documentation record at proposal). 

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the TOC content of the sediments can impact the potential bioavailability (and therefore, 

toxicity) of the sediments. This is one of the reasons why the NYSDEC sediment criteria 

(NYSDEC, 1999) for organics are TOC‐normalized. As shown in the table below, the 

TOC range of the surface sediment samples (0‐3 ft) included in the USACE study used as 

the basis for the HRS (USACE, 2003), as well as another more extensive dataset for the 

Canal (GEI Consultants, 2007) is well above the 1% value presumed by some of the 

screening benchmarks. 

Table 3: TOC Summary of Surface (0‐3 ft) Sediment Results from the Gowanus Canal 

STUDY COUNT AVG RANGE 25TH% 50TH% 75TH% 

USACE Study 

(2006) 

10 10.0% 2.7 – 16% 7.4% 8.9% 13.5% 

GEI Consultants 

(2007) 

52 10.6% 1.1 – 44% 6.1% 8.7% 13.3% 

Analytical results from samples with high TOC content would be more appropriately 

compared to sediment criteria that account for the effect of TOC on bioavailability. 

The ELM Group also questioned whether the high moisture content of some samples may have 

complicated their comparison to sediment screening benchmarks and caused artificially high results and 

normalized concentrations. 

Response: The HRS evaluation of this site is not based in any way on whether the sediment samples used 

in the HRS evaluation exceeded the NYSDEC sediment criteria. Therefore, whether or not the USACE in 

its 2003 report correctly considered the TOC levels and the moisture content in the sediment samples 

when it compared the contaminant levels to the sediment criteria has no impact on the HRS evaluation. 

The 2003 USACE sampling data was used to establish observed releases in the Canal and to estimate the 

extent of the contaminated sediment source. 

Furthermore, as explained, on July 16, 1982, when responding to public comments on the proposed 

(original) HRS (47 FR 31188), and again on September 8, 1983 (48 FR 40665), the Agency explained 

that even releases within regulatory limits are “observed releases” under the HRS. As the Agency noted 

in 1982: 

Emission or effluent limits do not necessarily represent levels which cause no harm to 

public health or the environment. These limitations are frequently established on the 

basis of economic impacts or achievability. 

By contrast, an observed release represents a 100 percent likelihood that substances can migrate from the 

site (47 FR 31188, July 16, 1982). 

Section 2.3 of the revised HRS (55 FR 51589, December 14, 1990) states that an observed release can be 

established either by direct observation or by chemical analysis. An observed release by chemical 

analysis has occurred when a contaminant is measured significantly above background level if some 

portion of the release is attributable to the site. Even though levels may be lower than regulatory limits, 

an observed release has nevertheless occurred if the measured levels are significantly higher than 

background levels. The HRS does, however, consider whether releases are above regulatory limits in 

evaluating target populations, increasing by a factor of 10 the weight assigned populations exposed to 

contaminants above the limits. 

Of course, the observed release factor alone is not intended to reflect the hazard presented by the 

particular release. Instead, the hazard of the site is approximated by the total HRS score, which 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

incorporates the observed release factors with other factors such as waste characteristics (including waste 

quantity, toxicity, and persistence) and targets. This total HRS score reflects the hazard of the site relative 

only to the other sites that have been scored. The actual degree of contamination and its effects are more 

fully determined during the RI that typically follows listing. 

While the TOC in a sediment sample can provide useful information for sediment characterization and 

assessing risk associated with hazardous substances on a site-specific basis, the HRS as a screening tool 

does not consider TOC in documenting observed release concentrations or level of contamination (see 

HRS Sections 4.1.2.1.1, 2.5 and 4.1.3.3). This level of risk characterization, if necessary, is performed at 

a later stage of the Superfund process when a site-specific risk assessment is performed. 

This comment has no effect on the HRS score or the decision to place this site on the NPL. 

3.18.3 Sample Moisture Content 

Comment: The ELM Group declared that the “elevated moisture content (low percent solids) in many of 

the surface samples resulted in a potentially high bias in the reported dry weight normalized 

concentrations.” It explained that: 

[i]t is acknowledged that, due to the hydrology and sedimentation of the Gowanus Canal, 

high moisture content surface sediments are not unexpected. The percent solids of the 52 

surface samples (i.e., those collected between 0 and 3 ft) as reported in the USACE 

dataset are summarized in the table below. Equivalent information from the Keyspan 

dataset is also provided as supplemental information corroborating the high percent 

moisture observed in Canal sediments (GEI Consultants, 2007). 

Table 2: Percent Solids Summary of Surface (0-3 ft) Sediment Results from the Gowanus 

Canal 

STUDY COUNT AVG RANGE 25TH% 50TH% 75TH% 

USACE Study 

(2003) 

10 38.6% 30 – 55% 34.5% 39% 40.75% 

GEI Consultants 

(2007) 

52 48.9% 27.1 – 

98.9% 

34.6% 38.9% 63.50% 

Since the sediment analytical results are converted to a dry weight basis (by dividing by 

the percent solids), a multiplication factor is applied to wet samples compared to samples 

that may have a lower moisture content (e.g., sample SED-41 (depth interval 0-4.5 ft) that 

contained ~1% moisture). The actual solid phases of these samples may have comparable 

chemical residues, but due to the differences in the moisture contents different dry weight 

normalized concentrations would be reported which could result in artificially high 

results. 

Response: The commenter has only hypothesized the possibility of high bias in the reported contaminant 

concentrations; there is no evidence there was actually any bias in the analytical results. In addition, even 

if the contamination levels in the sediment samples were all potentially biased high, this would have no 

effect on the HRS score for the site. These sediment samples were used to identify observed release by 

chemical analysis, which is based on the relative difference in contaminant levels between background 

and release samples. In as much as both the background and release samples had the same range of 

moisture contents, any possible bias would have the same effect on both the background and release 

samples and would not impact the relative difference between the concentrations. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

For the documentation of an observed release by chemical analysis in the surface water migration 

pathway, the HRS requires that: 

Analysis of surface water, benthic, or sediment samples indicates that the concentration 

of hazardous substance(s) has increased significantly above the background

concentration for the site for that type of sample . . . [and] [s]ome portion of the 

significant increase must be attributable to the site to establish the observed release. . . .” 

[Emphasis added]. (See HRS Section 4.1.2.1, Observed release.) 

HRS Section 4.1.2.1.1, Observed release, also directs the scorer to “[l]imit comparisons to similar types 

of samples and background concentrations.” 

For the samples used to document an observed release, both background and release samples were 

sediment samples, both background and release samples were analyzed using same analytical methods, 

background and release samples were found to have similar sample characteristics, and a significant 

increase attributable to the site was documented (see pages 14-20 and 24-27 of the HRS documentation 

record at proposal). The HRS documentation record at proposal reported a similar range of percent 

moisture for background and release samples: 16% to 63% in background samples, and 11% to 68% in 

the release samples (see page 14 of the HRS documentation record at proposal); thus, bias introduced by 

conversion of results from wet-weight to dry-weight (if any) would have affected background and 

observed release samples similarly. Also, it is also expected that the depth of the sample and other 

sample characteristics (such as % gravel; % sand, % silt, % clay, TOC) can be used to characterize or 

provide data on the contaminated sediment. For these reasons, background and release samples should 

have similar characteristics so that a valid comparison can be made when attributing some portion of the 

significant increase in the release to the site. 

See also sections 3.25, Background Location, and 3.18.2, Screening Benchmarks, of this support 

document regarding the relationship of moisture content of sediment samples to background samples and 

to comparison to benchmarks. 

This comment has no effect on the HRS score or the decision to place this site on the NPL. 

3.19 Contaminated Sediment Source 

Comment: HydroQual claimed that it was contrary to the HRS definition of a source to identify a 

contaminated sediment source when there were multiple known sources of the contamination in the Canal 

sediments. HydroQual asserted that: 

The distinction of whether or not the contamination in Gowanus Canal sediments is from 

known/identified or unknown/unidentified sources is fundamentally important to the 

proposed NPL listing and HRS scoring process. The USEPA HRS Training Manual10 

indicates that “Areas of contaminated surface water sediments arising from discharges 

from known sources are NOT sources for purposes of HRS scoring.” The HRS Final rule 

indicates that “Sources do not include those volumes of surface water sediments that have 

become contaminated by migration, except in the case of contaminated surface water 

sediments with no identified source, the contaminated sediments may be considered a 

source.” While all sources of contamination for Gowanus Canal sediments may not be 

known, at least several chief sources are known and publicly acknowledged by USEPA. 

The existence of known sources may negate the proposed listing which relies on the 

sediments as a source. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

HydroQual also stated that: 

The USEPA’s scoring identifies the sediments as a source, and therefore, one can only 

assume that the Agency believed there was no identified source for the sediment 

contamination. However, the Gowanus Canal HRS scoring documentation indicates: 

“The origin of these hazardous substances in the contaminated sediments has not been 

identified due to the presence of too many past and present possible sources. As a result, 

the source(s) of all the contamination in any particular location in the Canal cannot be 

determined.” While this statement is undoubtedly true, it avoids recognition that 

numerous sources may be identified with a high degree of certainty from spill report data 

and remedial investigations. Clearly, upland sources exist and the USEPA indicates it 

has identified “dozens of possible sources”, although it would not be possible to attribute 

or allocate the contamination to a particular source. It is suggested that information may 

be available to identify many sources. Not pursuing this research, USEPA considered the 

sediments the source, and calculated the hazardous waste quantity factor based on the 

estimated volume of contaminated sediments. However, the HRS scoring process 

specifically states “Do not evaluate the volume and areas measures...if the source is the 

unallocated source....” 

The USEPA HRS guidance manual indicates that for scoring contaminated sediments 

when the original source of the contamination is unidentified: “before scoring such sites 

efforts should be undertaken to identify the original source(s) of contamination. These 

efforts should be equivalent to those of an expanded SI [Site Inspection].” It is not clear 

that the level of detail outlined in the USEPA HRS guidance manual for an expanded 

Sight Investigation was undertaken before developing the Gowanus Canal HRS score. 

The Gowanus Canal HRS scoring document does indicate that research on site history 

and consideration of hazardous substances affiliated with industries of potential concern 

at the Gowanus Canal Site were considered. It is not however indicated that expanded SI 

efforts to eliminate or confirm other possible sources were completed for Gowanus 

Canal. 

The distinction of whether or not the contamination in Gowanus Canal sediments is from 

known/identified or unknown/unidentified sources is fundamentally important to the 

HRS scoring process and whether or not the Gowanus Canal sediments can be scored as 

the source. The USEPA HRS Training Manual indicates that “Areas of contaminated 

surface water sediments arising from discharges from known sources are NOT sources 

for purposes of HRS scoring”. 

Response: The contaminated sediments in the Gowanus Canal were identified as a contaminated sediment 

source consistent with the HRS. Furthermore, as explained below, the performance of an ESI to identify 

specific sources of contamination to the Canal was considered; however, it was determined that available 

data from prior investigations already surpassed the equivalent content of an ESI. Therefore no separate 

ESI was performed. 

 HRS Section 1.1, Definitions, defines “Source” as: 

Any area where a hazardous substance has been deposited, stored, disposed or placed, 

plus those soils that have become contaminated by migration of a hazardous substance. 

Sources do not include those volumes of air, ground water, surface water, or surface 

water sediments that have become contaminated by migration, except: in the case of 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

either a ground water plume with no identified source or contaminated surface water 

sediments with no identified source, the plume or contaminated sediments may be 

considered a source. 

Page 13 of the HRS documentation record at proposal describes this source: 

Source 1 consists of contaminated sediments in the Gowanus Canal. There are several 

hazardous substances affecting the Canal sediments, including PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, 

metals, and VOCs [Ref. 16, pp. 24-28; 17, pp. 15-30; 26, pp. 21-46; 27, pp. 5-25; 35, pp. 

134-320]. The origin of these hazardous substances in the contaminated sediments has 

not been identified due to the presence of too many past and present possible sources. As 

a result, the source(s) of all the contamination in any particular location in the Canal 

cannot be determined. The upland areas adjacent to this source have been heavily 

industrialized since construction of the Gowanus Canal was completed in the 1860s. 

Historical or current industrial activity along and within the Canal has included MGPs, 

coal yards, cement makers, soap makers, tanneries, paint and ink factories, machine 

shops, chemical plants, and oil refineries. In addition, the Gowanus Canal is the 

receiving water body for storm water from the surrounding neighborhoods and combined 

sewer overflow (CSO) discharges [Ref. 6, pp. 54-57, 62-63; 7, pp. 1-2; 8, pp. 1, 2; 10, p. 

1; 12, p. 2; 25, p. 6; 27, p. 3; 34, pp. 1-3]. 

 

Numerous past investigations with varying scopes have been conducted within and 

around the Gowanus Canal. Some of the studies focused on specific properties, while 

others focused on the contaminated sediments within the Canal [Ref. 16, pp. 8-9; 23, p. 2; 

24, p. 2; 26, pp. 4-5; 28, pp. 7-35; 30, pp. 3-5; 31, p. 11; 32, p. 1; 33, pp. 4-5; 34, pp. 2-4; 

35, pp. 10-14, 27-38]. Some of these studies have indicated that PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, 

metals, and VOCs are present in the Canal sediments [Ref. 16, pp. 23-28; 25, pp. 11-20; 

26, pp. 8-16, 21-46; 35, pp. 134-320]. Sediment sampling by USACE documents the 

presence of contaminated sediments at concentrations that meet the criteria for observed 

release (see Hazardous Substances section below). These contaminants may have entered 

the Canal via several transport pathways or mechanisms, including spillage, direct 

disposal or discharge, contaminated ground water discharge, surface water runoff, storm 

water discharge, contaminated soil erosion, or fires at industrial facilities [Ref. 6, pp. 3, 

62-63; 25, pp. 4-7; 27, pp. 23, 25; 28, pp. 18-19, 30; 30, pp. 5-7; 31, pp. 84-91; 34, pp. 2-

4, 45; 35, pp. 10-11, 19-20, 34]. Analytical results for the April-May 2003 USACE 

sampling event show that the contaminated sediments are located throughout the 

Gowanus Canal, from location GC-03-30 at the head of the Canal to location GC-03-07 

approximately 1.5 miles downstream [Ref. 16, pp. 37-38, 46-62, 86; 17, pp. 11, 48]. 

USACE has also collected biological data for finfish, crabs, and benthic invertebrates, 

and has determined that the sediments are polluted to a degree that limits species 

abundance and diversity throughout the Gowanus Canal [Ref. 23, pp. 2-16; 24, p. 2]. 

Page 24 of the HRS documentation record at proposal provides a rationale for attributing the 

contamination in the contaminated sediment to the site. In doing so, it further discusses the possible 

origins of the contamination. It states: 

Sediments in the Gowanus Canal are contaminated with PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, metals, 

and the VOC styrene for a length of approximately 1.5 miles (see Section 2.2). The 

origin of these hazardous substances in the contaminated sediments has not been 

identified due to the presence of too many past and present possible sources. As a result, 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

the source(s) of all the contamination in any particular location in the Canal cannot be 

determined. 

The contaminants detected in the Canal sediments can come from a wide variety of 

industrial and other anthropogenic activities [Ref. 37, pp. 1-2, 5-6, 9-10, 13-14, 17-18, 

21-22, 25-26]. For instance, the PAHs detected in Gowanus Canal sediments might have 

derived from a multitude of petroleum and coal-tar sources, including MGPs, oil storage 

depots, asphalt manufacturers, coal yards, and historical fires [Ref. 29, p. 3; 34, pp. 3, 23-

45; 35, pp. 19, 85-86]. EPA identified dozens of possible contamination sources of 

VOCs, SVOCs, PCBs, or metals in the Gowanus Canal and Bay watershed, but did not 

specifically identify any potential sources of pesticides [Ref. 34, pp. 13-14, 23-45]. In 

addition, contaminants discharged into the Canal are likely to have been redistributed due 

to flushing and dredging over the years [Ref. 34, p. 45]. As discussed below, there are 

numerous possible contributors to the sediment contamination that affects the Gowanus 

Canal. 

The 100-foot-wide Gowanus Canal runs southwest from Butler Street to Gowanus Bay 

and Upper New York Bay [Ref. 6, pp. 10, 12; 7, p. 1; 8, p. 3; 16, p. 9]. The adjacent 

waterfront is primarily commercial and industrial, currently consisting of concrete plants, 

warehouses, and parking lots; surrounding land use also includes residential 

neighborhoods [Ref. 7, pp. 1, 2; 8, pp. 1, 2]. The waterfront and surrounding properties 

have been heavily industrialized since construction of the Gowanus Canal was completed 

in the 1860s. Historical or current industrial activity along and within the Canal has 

included MGPs, coal yards, cement makers, soap makers, tanneries, paint and ink 

factories, machine shops, chemical plants, and oil refineries. In addition, the Gowanus 

Canal is the receiving water body for storm water from approximately 6 square miles of 

urban land and CSO discharges during storm events [Ref. 6, pp. 3; 7, pp. 1, 2; 8, pp. 1, 2; 

10, p. 1; 11, p. 1; 12, p. 2; 17, pp. 10, 11; 26, p. 6; 27, p. 3; 34, pp. 3]. The land elevation 

around the Canal ranges from 0 to 30 feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL), and a watershed 

of approximately 6 square miles feeds storm water into the Canal from the surrounding 

neighborhoods [Ref. 6, p. 10; 7, p. 1; 16, p. 9; 17, p. 10]. 

Numerous past investigations with varying scopes have been conducted within and 

around the Gowanus Canal. Some of the studies focused on specific properties, while 

others focused on the contaminated sediments within the Canal [Ref. 16, pp. 8-9; 23, p. 2; 

24, p. 2; 26, pp. 4-5; 28, pp. 7-35; 30, p. 4; 31, p. 11; 32, p. 1; 33, pp. 4-5; 34, pp. 2-4; 35, 

pp. 10-12]. Some of these studies have indicated that PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, metals, 

and VOCs are present in the Canal sediments [Ref. 16, pp. 23-28; 26, pp. 8-16, 21-46; 35, 

pp. 134-320]. These contaminants may have entered the Canal via several transport 

pathways or mechanisms, including spillage, direct disposal or discharge, contaminated 

ground water discharge, surface water runoff, storm water discharge contaminated soil 

erosion, or fires at industrial facilities [Ref. 6, pp. 3, 62-63; 25, pp. 4-7; 27, pp. 23, 25; 

28, pp. 18-19, 30; 30, pp. 5-7; 31, pp. 84-91; 34, pp. 2-4, 45; 35, pp. 10-11, 19-20, 34, 85-

86]. Analytical results for the April-May 2003 USACE sampling event show that the 

contaminants are located throughout the Gowanus Canal, from location GC-03-30 at the 

head of the Canal to location GC-03-07 approximately 1.5 miles downstream [Ref. 16, 

pp. 37, 38, 46-62, 86; 17, pp. 11 and 48]. 

EPA completed an extensive study of possible contamination sources in July 2004. In 

addition to standard environmental record sources search performed as specified by 

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), EPA also conducted a proprietary 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

database search of former MGPs, a manual review of publicly accessible files maintained 

by NYSDEC, a review of historic maps, an electronic search of New York Times 

archives dating back to 1857, a 3-day site reconnaissance of major areas of interest, and 

interviews with local government officials [Ref. 34, pp. 13-22]. Searches of Federal and 

state environmental databases indicate that there are hundreds of possible contamination 

sources in the vicinity of Gowanus Canal. Listed are incinerators, former MGPs, 

chemical plants, asphalt plants, manufacturing facilities, shipyards, dry cleaners, oil 

depots, auto repair shops including body shops, salvage yards, tank cleaning companies, 

recycling and waste disposal facilities, and numerous facilities operated by the 

Department of Transportation and other State and City agencies [Ref. 34, pp. 13-17, 65-

99]. 

Three of the many possible sources of sediment contamination are the former MGPs 

located along the Gowanus Canal [Ref. 34, pp. 65-99, 289, 493, 503, 788, 1366]. MGPs 

used tar and petroleum to produce combustible gas which was used for lighting, heating, 

and cooking in the surrounding community [Ref. 30, p. 4]. A typical byproduct 

associated with the manufactured gas process is coal tar, which was likely released at 

MGPs due to spills and leaks; coal tar is known to be contaminated with PAHs [29, pp. 1, 

3]. While these MGPs are thought to be contributing to the contamination in the 

Canal, they are not thought to be the only sources of PAHs, nor are they normally 

associated with several of the individual hazardous substances in the Canal, 

including PCBs. Brief descriptions of the former MGPs and associated investigations are 

provided below: 

Former Fulton MGP 

The former Fulton Manufactured Gas Plant (Fulton) is located near the northern terminus 

of the Gowanus Canal. The former MGP extended from the eastern shoreline of the 

Gowanus Canal approximately three city blocks on either side of Degraw Street east to 

Third Avenue [Ref. 30, pp. 21, 27, 29; 35, p. 541]. Historical maps indicate that the 

Fulton facility consisted of two MGPs that operated at this location from approximately 

1886 to 1933 [Ref. 30, pp. 4, 21, 27-29]. 

From April to June 2007, NYSDEC conducted a Site Characterization Investigation of 

the former Fulton facility to determine if coal tar and associated PAHs are present in the 

subsurface soil and ground water at the site [Ref. 30, p. 4]. During the investigation, 

NYSDEC observed subsurface soil saturated with coal tar throughout the former Fulton 

facility [Ref. 30, pp. 5, 6, 24, 31, 32, 34-39, 41-49, 52, 54, 56-58, 60-62, 65]. At one soil 

boring, NYSDEC observed coal tar flowing out of the drilling equipment prior to 

collecting the sample [Ref. 30, p. 5]. During monitoring well development, NYSDEC 

encountered non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) exhibiting a strong coal tar odor in the 

central portion of the study area, in the immediate vicinity of former MGP structures and 

visible coal tar soil contamination [Ref. 30, pp. 6, 7, 21, 23, 24]. NYSDEC collected 

subsurface soil and ground water samples from the former Fulton facility [Ref. 30, pp. 4, 

5, 10-18]. NYSDEC laboratory analysis of the subsurface soil samples indicated elevated 

PAH concentrations in samples collected from western and central portions of the study 

area, at locations in close proximity to former MGP facility structures of the former 

Fulton facility [Ref. 30, pp. 14, 15, 21, 22]. Maximum PAH concentrations range from 

1,200,000 μg/kg to 2,900,000 μg/kg in a soil boring (KSF-SB-01) completed in the 

immediate vicinity of a former MGP facility structure [Ref. 30, pp. 14, 15, 21, 22]. 

Analysis of subsurface soil samples KSF-SB-11 (22’-24’) and KSF-SB-12 (16’-18’), 

collected from eastern portions of the study area, indicated either non-detect values or 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

estimated concentrations below the SQL, for the same PAH parameters [Ref. 30, pp. 14, 

21, 22]. NYSDEC laboratory analysis of the ground water samples indicated significantly 

higher PAH concentrations in monitoring wells MW-2, MW-6, and MW-7, which are 

located in the immediate vicinity of former MGP structures, as compared to 

concentrations detected in upgradient monitoring well MW-5 [Ref. 30, pp. 7, 17, 18, 21, 

23]. NYSDEC concluded that lateral movement of coal tar at depths observed during the 

SCI could intersect the Gowanus Canal [Ref. 30, p. 7]. 

Former Citizens Gas Works MGP 

The Former Citizens Gas Works MGP site (a.k.a. Carroll Gardens/Public Place) property 

is located at the intersection of Smith and Fifth Streets in the Carroll Gardens 

neighborhood of Brooklyn [Ref. 31, p. 11]. The Gowanus Canal abuts the property to the 

east and the southeast [Ref. 35, p. 541]. The former MGP facility began operations in the 

late 1860s; by 1939 the plant had reached the maximum extent of its construction, 

encompassing 11.5 acres [Ref. 31, p. 11, 21]. The facility was decommissioned and 

demolished in the early 1960s [Ref. 31, p. 21]. The property is currently divided into 

four parcels, including a vacant lot owned by the City of New York [Ref. 31, pp. 11, 12]. 

Environmental investigations have been conducted in the area of the Former Citizens Gas 

Works MGP from 1984 to 2005 [Ref. 31, pp. 26-29]. These investigations focused on 

assessing the environmental impacts resulting from the former operations of the MGP as 

well as the assessment of an illegal dumping area located on the vacant lot [Ref. 31, pp. 

26-28]. The City of New York conducted an investigation within the area of the illegal 

dump and concluded that there are no environmental conditions associated with drums 

encountered during the excavation [Ref. 31, p. 12]. 

Conclusions drawn from previous investigations indicate that the property is impacted by 

the former operations of the MGP [Ref. 31, pp. 27, 28, 113- 116]. The principal 

byproduct resulting from the manufactured gas process, coal tar, is present at the property 

[Ref. 29, p. 1; 31, pp. 27, 28, 113-116]. The most recent RI conducted on the property 

included the collection of surface and subsurface soil, ground water, and soil vapor 

samples. Analytical results of soil and ground water samples collected from the property 

indicated elevated PAH concentrations in two areas of the property where tar was most 

intensively handled [Ref. 31, pp. 30, 73-82, 113, 114]. These areas are defined by 

significant zones of coal tar saturation and the presence of coal tar in the subsurface and 

ground water [Ref. 31, pp. 60, 61, 82]. 

Former Metropolitan Gas Light Company MGP 

The former Metropolitan Gas Light Company (Metropolitan) MGP (a.k.a. former 2nd 

Avenue MGP; a.k.a. Brooklyn Union Gas Co.) was located at what is now 124-136 

Second Avenue, Brooklyn, New York [Ref. 33, pp. 4, 6; 34, pp. 65, 99, 493, 503]. The 

Gowanus Canal abuts the property to the west-northwest [Ref. 33, p. 6; 35, p. 541]. The 

southeast portion of the subject property, along with adjacent properties to the south and 

west, were occupied by a MGP from prior to 1880 until approximately 1938 [Ref. 33, p. 

6]. The facility was also the location of an asphalt plant, a paint factory, and a United 

States Postal Service (USPS) vehicle maintenance facility. The USPS vacated the site in 

1992 [Ref. 33, p. 6]. 

A Final Completion Report for remedial activities conducted at the former Metropolitan 

facility, prepared for the NYSDEC and USPS in May 2003, concludes that coal tarimpacted soils observed within three former gasholder structures, as well as hotspot areas 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

(defined as soil with total PAH concentrations greater than 1,000 milligrams per kilogram 

[mg/kg]), subsurface soils, and in ground water, are a result of former MGP operations 

[Ref. 32, p. 1; 33, pp. 6, 7]. Contaminant characterization was conducted from January to 

March 2002 under a Voluntary Cleanup Agreement (VCA) between the USPS and 

NYSDEC [Ref. 32, p. 1]. Soil borings were installed and sampled at four suspected hot 

spot areas and adjacent to the exterior walls of former gasholders [Ref. 32, pp. 1, 2]. 

PAHs were detected in three of the four areas at concentrations exceeding the hot spot 

criteria [Ref. 32, pp. 7, 14-16, 18, 22, 23, 26, 28]. Sample CN-2 showed the maximum 

Total PAH concentration of 226,100,000 μg/kg, with individual PAH concentrations as 

high as 87,000,000 μg/kg (naphthalene) [Ref. 32, p. 13-32]. The maximum Total PAH 

concentration from subsurface samples collected beneath the gasholders was 3,360,000 

μg/kg in Sample GH-31 (SB7) [Ref. 32, p. 20]. 

Thus there are multiple possible sources of the contamination in the Canal, some that have clearly 

contributed to the general contamination in the Canal; others are lost in history given the more than 150 

years of Canal use. Some of the contaminants, including the general class of substances known as PAHs, 

certainly were released by coal gasification plants but were also likely released by CSOs, urban storm 

water runoff, and spills from barge traffic. Other contaminants, including PCBs and pesticides, cannot be 

linked with a certain type or class of source. It is impossible to say that the contamination in any 

particular location in the Canal can be attributed specifically to releases from any particular facility. 

Therefore no source can be identified to have caused the significant increase in the contamination in the 

Canal. In this situation, the identification of a contaminated sediment source with no identified source is 

consistent with the HRS definition of source. 

3.20 Unallocated Sources 

Comment: The ELM Group and HydroQual questioned why an unallocated source was not identified 

instead of a contaminated sediment source and noted that if an unallocated source had been identified the 

waste quantity would be less and the site score may result in an HRS score for the site lower than 28.50. 

Response: The contaminated sediment source was correctly identified and used in the site scoring. 

Specific responses to these issues are presented in the following sections of this support document: 

• 3.20.1 Identification of an Unallocated Source 

• 3.20.2 Waste Quantity Based on an Unallocated Source 

3.20.1 Identification of an Unallocated Source 

Comment: The ELM Group and HydroQual contested the identification of a contaminated sediment 

source instead of an unallocated source. 

The ELM Group stated: 

The HRS documentation identifies Gowanus Canal sediments as a source of 

contaminants, classified as type “Other,” which can be applied to sediments with no 

identified source. However, the Canal sediments could potentially be classified as an 

“Unallocated Source,” which also applies to hazardous substances that cannot be 

allocated to any specific source (USEPA, 1992). 

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HydroQual continued: 

Based on the definitions of source types in the USEPA HRS guidance (USEPA, 1992), 

Canal sediments could potentially be considered an “unallocated source” rather than an 

“Other” source type. Both source types are reserved for locations where the presence of 

hazardous substances cannot be attributed to a particular source. 

The ELM Group also stated that the identification of an unallocated source would be consistent with the 

HRS guidance manual. 

HydroQual stated: 

The Gowanus Canal was not properly characterized by USEPA in the HRS scoring 

process based on HRS definitions and guidance. The USEPA HRS calculation considers 

the Gowanus Canal a “source” rather than the more appropriate “unallocated source.” 

This treatment results in a much higher hazardous waste quantity factor as a component 

of the Canal’s HRS score. Under the relevant HRS guidance, it would have been 

appropriate (and more than defensible) to treat the Canal as an unallocated source, which 

is defined in the Hazard Ranking System as “...hazardous substances and hazardous 

wastestreams that cannot be allocated to any specific source...” 

HydroQual continued: 

The HRS documentation record 4.1.2.1.1, “Attribution” indicates that the origin of the 

hazardous substances in the sediments have not been identified because of too many 

possible sources, and one can then presume that the USEPA used the sediments as the 

source per the above definition. However, Section 4.1.2.1.1 goes on to indicate that 

“EPA identified [emphasis added] dozens of possible contamination sources...”, and that 

“EPA completed an extensive study of possible contamination sources in July 2004.” 

Section 4.1.2.1.1 then provides details on three of the identified sources; the Former 

Fulton MGP, the Former Citizens Gas Works MGP, and the Former Metropolitan Gas 

Light Company MGP. Thus, USEPA has identified sources, but was not able to allocate 

hazardous substances present in the sediments to a particular source. As such, the 

provisions for an unallocated source are considered appropriate. 

Response: The characterization of the sources of the contamination in the Gowanus Canal sediments as an 

unallocated source is consistent with the HRS. 

The phrase “unallocated source” is not a defined term in HRS Section 1.1, Definitions. However, 

“source” is defined in that section: 

Any area where a hazardous substance has been deposited, stored, disposed, or placed, 

plus those soils that have become contaminated from migration of a hazardous substance. 

Sources do not include those volumes of air, ground water, surface water, or surface 

water sediments that have become contaminated by migration, except: in the case of 

either a ground water plume with no identified source or contaminated surface water 

sediments with no identified source, the plume or contaminated sediments may be 

considered a source. 

HRS Section 2.4.2, Hazardous waste quantity, however, uses the phrase “unallocated source.” It states in 

relevant part: 

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In evaluating the hazardous waste quantity factor for the three migration pathways, 

allocate hazardous substances and hazardous wastestreams to specific sources in the 

manner specified in section 2.2.2, except: consider hazardous substances and hazardous 

wastestreams that cannot be allocated to any specific source to constitute a separate 

“unallocated source” for purposes of evaluating only this factor for the three migration 

pathways. Do not, however, include a hazardous substance or hazardous wastestream in 

the unallocated source for a migration pathway if there is definitive information 

indicating that the substance or wastestream could only have been placed in sources with 

a containment factor value of 0 for that migration pathway. 

HRS Section 2.2.2, Identify hazardous substances associated with a source, identified in the quote from 

HRS Section 2.4.2 (above) does not use the phrase “unallocated source,” but uses similar wording. This 

section states: 

In some instances, a hazardous substance can be documented as being present at a site 

(for example, by labels, manifests, oral or written statements), but the specific source(s) 

containing that hazardous substance cannot be documented. For the three migration 

pathways, in those instances when the specific source(s) cannot be documented for a 

hazardous substance, consider the hazardous substance to be present in each source at the 

site, except sources for which definitive information indicates that the hazardous 

substance was not or could not be present. 

As explained above, an unallocated source is identified when specific hazardous substances and waste 

streams cannot be allocated to an existing source at the site. An unallocated source is not an actual HRS 

source, but rather a means of considering the hazardous waste quantity of hazardous substances that are 

known to be present at a site, but that cannot be linked to a specific, known source at the site. At the 

Gowanus Canal site, as discussed in section 3.19, Contaminated Sediment Source, of this support 

document, the origin or original source of the contamination at any given location within the Canal cannot 

be identified (i.e., the contamination could not be attributed to a specific source), and so the contaminated 

sediments themselves were identified as the source. Hence, the hazardous substances in the Canal can be 

allocated to the contaminated sediments source, an existing source, and it would be incorrect to allocate 

them to an unallocated source at this site. 

3.20.2 Waste Quantity based on Unallocated Source 

Comment: Both the ELM Group and HydroQual asserted that the hazardous waste quantity factor value 

for the site, based on identifying an unallocated source instead of a contaminated sediment source would 

be significantly lower than that considering the contaminated sediments as a source. 

The ELM Group asserted: 

The HRS documentation identifies Gowanus Canal sediments as a source of 

contaminants, classified as type “Other,” which can be applied to sediments with no 

identified source. However, the Canal sediments could potentially be classified as an 

“Unallocated Source,” which also applies to hazardous substances that cannot be 

allocated to any specific source (USEPA, 1992). If the sediments are classified as an 

unallocated source this would significantly change both the hazardous waste quantity and 

HRS score calculation, and may result in a score lower than the minimum qualifying 

score of 28.5. 

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The ELM Group stated further: 

Based on the definitions of source types in the USEPA HRS guidance (USEPA, 1992), 

Canal sediments could potentially be considered an “unallocated source” rather than an 

“Other” source type. Both source types are reserved for locations where the presence of 

hazardous substances cannot be attributed to a particular source. This reclassification 

would change the method by which the hazardous waste quantity is calculated such that 

the HRS score may be less than 28.5, the minimum required for NPL listing eligibility. 

HydroQual similarly asserted that: 

An alternative hazardous waste quantity factor was developed considering the Gowanus 

Canal sediment as an “unallocated source” and considering contaminant concentration 

measured data. The Gowanus Canal HRS score, if calculated using all of the other 

factors assigned by USEPA with a hazardous waste quantity factor based on an 

“unallocated source” designation and contaminant concentration data, would be 15. 

Response: As discussed in section 3.19, Contaminated Sediment Source, of this support document, the 

contaminated sediments were correctly identified in the HRS evaluation as a source, and therefore the 

waste quantity estimate is not based on an unallocated source. 

However, both the ELM Group’s and HydroQual’s assertion that if the site score were recalculated 

accounting for the contaminated sediments as an unallocated source, a site score of less than 28.50 would 

result, is incorrect. 

HRS Section 2.4.2, Hazardous waste quantity, states: 

Evaluate the hazardous waste quantity factor by first assigning each source (or area of 

observed contamination) a source hazardous waste quantity value as specified below. 

Sum these values to obtain the hazardous waste quantity factor value for the pathway 

being evaluated. 

In evaluating the hazardous waste quantity factor for the three migration pathways, 

allocate hazardous substances and hazardous wastestreams to specific sources in the 

manner specified in section 2.2.2, except: consider hazardous substances and hazardous 

wastestreams that cannot be allocated to any specific source to constitute a separate 

“unallocated source” for purposes of evaluating only this factor for the three migration 

pathways. Do not, however, include a hazardous substance or hazardous wastestream in 

the unallocated source for a migration pathway if there is definitive information 

indicating that the substance or wastestream could only have been placed in sources with 

a containment factor value of 0 for that migration pathway. 

HRS Section 2.4.2.1, Source hazardous waste quantity, states: 

For each of the three migration pathways, assign a source hazardous waste quantity value 

to each source (including the unallocated source) having a containment factor value 

greater than 0 for the pathway being evaluated. Consider the unallocated source to have a 

containment factor value greater than 0 for each migration pathway. 

For the soil exposure pathway, assign a source hazardous waste quantity value to each 

area of observed contamination, as applicable to the threat being evaluated. 

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For all pathways, evaluate source hazardous waste quantity using the following four 

measures in the following hierarchy: 

• Hazardous constituent quantity 

• Hazardous wastestream quantity 

• Volume 

• Area 

As the hazardous constituent quantity for the unallocated source would not documentable, Tier A would 

not be used for determination of the hazardous waste quantity. Tier B, hazardous wastestream quantity, 

would most likely be used to determine hazardous waste quantity for the unallocated source. 

HRS Section 2.4.2.1.2, Hazardous wastestream quantity, states: 

Evaluate hazardous wastestream quantity for the source (or area of observed 

contamination) based on the mass of hazardous wastestreams plus the mass of any 

additional CERCLA pollutants and contaminants (as defined in CERCLA section 

101(33), as amended) that are allocated to the source (or area of observed contamination). 

For a wastestream that consists solely of a hazardous waste listed pursuant to section 

3001 or RCRA, as amended or that consists solely of a RCRA hazardous waste that 

exhibits the characteristics identified under section 3001 of RCRA, as amended, include 

the mass of that entire hazardous waste in the evaluation of this measure. 

Based on this mass, designated as W, assign a value for hazardous wastestream quantity 

as follows: 

• For the migration pathways, assign the source a value for hazardous wastestream 

quantity using the Tier B equation of Table 2-5. 

• For the soil exposure pathway, assign the area of observed contamination a value 

using the Tier B equation of Table 5-2 (section 5.1.2.2). 

Considering the multitude of industries established along the Canal since the late 19th century, the mass of 

hazardous wastestreams that entered the Canal is unknown. Thus, the source waste quantity would be 

greater than 0, but the exact amount unknown for the source waste quantity. 

According to Table 2-6 of the HRS, a value of greater than 0 corresponds to an assigned value of 1 for the 

hazardous waste quantity factor value. However, footnote “b” of Table 2-6 states: 

For the pathway, if hazardous constituent quantity is not adequately determined, assign a 

value as specified in the text; do not assign the value of 1. 

Thus, as the hazardous constituent quantity is not adequately determined, HRS Section 2.4.2.2, 

Calculation of hazardous waste quantity factor value, states: 

If the hazardous constituent quantity is not adequately determined for one or more 

sources (or one or more portions of sources or releases remaining after a removal action) 

assign a factor value as follows: 

• [I]f any target for that migration pathway is subject to Level I or Level II 

concentrations (see section 2.5), assign either the value from Table 2-6 or a value 

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of 100, whichever is greater, as the hazardous waste quantity factor value for that 

pathway. 

Pages 30 and 31 of the HRS documentation record at proposal document the identification of an actually 

contaminated fishery by demonstrating that sediment samples containing hazardous substance that meet 

the observed release criteria and that have a bioaccumulation potential factor value of 500 or greater. 

Since a target is subject to Level II concentrations, a value of 100 would be assigned to the hazardous 

waste quantity factor value, assuming that the contaminated sediments are an unallocated source. 

As a value of 100 would be assigned to the hazardous waste quantity factor value, assuming that the 

contaminated sediments are an unallocated source, a reevaluation of the waste characteristics factor 

category value would follow the methodology described by HRS Section 2.4.3.2, Factor category value, 

considering bioaccumulation potential. It states: 

For the surface water-human food chain threat, multiply the toxicity or combined factor 

value, as appropriate, from section 2.4.1.2 and the hazardous waste quantity factor value 

from section 2.4.2.2, subject to: 

• A maximum product of 1X1012, and

• A maximum product exclusive of the bioaccumulation (or ecosystem 

bioaccumulation) potential factor of 1x108

. 

Based on the total waste characteristics product, assign a waste characteristics factor 

category value to these threats from Table 2-7. 

Page 29 of the HRS documentation record at proposal discusses the toxicity/persistence factor value and 

bioaccumulation potential factor value of the hazardous substances associated with the source under the 

heading, Waste Characteristics Factor Category Value. It states: 

Two hazardous substances [benzo(a)pyrene and PCBs] associated with the waste source, 

which has a surface water pathway containment factor greater than 0 for the watershed, 

corresponds to a Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value of 10,000 and Bioaccumulation 

Potential Factor Value of 50,000, as shown previously [Ref. 1, pp. 51618, 51620; 2, pp. 

BI-2, BI-10]. 

Thus, the waste characteristics factor category value for the surface water pathway could be reevaluated 

as outlined above. The toxicity/persistence potential factor value of 10,000 would be multiplied by the 

hazardous waste quantity factor value of 100 (assuming unallocated source), generating a value of 1X106

. 

This value would then be multiplied by the bioaccumulation potential factor value of 50,000, generating a 

value of 5X1010. According to Table 2-7 of the HRS, this value corresponds to a waste characteristics 

factor category value of 320. 

The human food chain threat score could now be recalculated to accommodate the changes to the waste 

characteristics factor value. HRS Section 4.1.3.4, Calculation of human food chain threat score for a 

watershed, states: 

Multiply the human food chain threat factor category values for likelihood of release, 

waste characteristics, and targets for the watershed, and round the product to the nearest 

integer. Then divide by 82,500. Assign the resulting value, subject to a maximum of 

100, as the human food chain threat score for the watershed. 

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According to page 4 of the HRS documentation record at proposal, the likelihood of release assigned 

value for the human food chain threat is 550, and the targets assigned value for the human food chain 

threat is 45.0300003. Applying the above method, the value for the likelihood of release assigned value 

for the human food chain threat (550) is multiplied by the waste characteristics factor value for the human 

food chain threat assuming an unallocated source (320), multiplied by the targets assigned value 

(45.0300003) to obtain a value of 7,925,280.053. This value would then be rounded to the nearest integer 

and divided by 82,500, to obtain a value of 96.06 for the human food chain threat score of the surface 

water migration pathway. 

The site score would then be calculated according to the formula presented in HRS Section 2.1.1, 

Calculation of site score. The value obtained for the surface water migration pathway score 

(96.06) would be squared to obtain a value of 9,227.5236. This value would then be divided by 4 

to obtain a value of 2,306.8809. Then the square root would be taken of 2,306.8809, which 

would yield a site score of 48.03. Thus, the recalculation of the site score, assuming the 

contaminated sediments as an unallocated source, would still result in a value above 28.50, 

making the site still eligible for listing. 

Even though a recalculation of the site score treating the contaminated sediments as an 

unallocated source would still allow for the site to be eligible for listing, the contaminated 

sediments were correctly identified as a source. 

This comment has no effect on the site score. 

3.21 Volume Estimate Reflecting Bioavailability 

Comment: The ELM Group questioned the lack of consideration of the bioavailability of the 

contaminations in the contaminated sediments with a depth over 1 foot in the HRS evaluation and in 

particular, in the estimate of the source hazardous waste quantity 

The Elm Group argued that: 

The vast majority of the impacted sediment in the Gowanus Canal is not likely to pose a 

risk to aquatic organisms. 

The ELM Group continued to state that: 

[a]nalytical results for deep sediment (up to 40 feet below the Canal bottom in some 

instances) were included in the determination of “hazardous waste quantity”. . . There is 

no scientific basis for inclusion of sampling results from such depths: fish and 

invertebrates are only exposed to the surficial sediments in the Canal so no risk is posed 

by the deep sediments and they should be excluded from the HRS Calculation. 

The Elm Group argued that not all the contamination in the sediments was bioavailable, and by not 

considering this, the HRS overestimates the risk posed by the contaminated sediments. It stated: 

The Canal is a net depositional environment, and impacted materials derived from 

historic industrial activities will continue to be buried by newer, cleaner sediments as 

solids deposition continues. As the biologically active zone (BAZ) in estuarine 

sediments is typically limited to the upper 6 to 12 inches of sediment, contaminants 

below that depth are not relevant for risk determination due to limited exposure potential. 

However, depths below 12 inches were included in HRS calculations for the Canal and 

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comprised the bulk of the volume calculations used for the HRS score. In fact, only one 

of the samples used by USEPA to document a release and to calculate hazardous waste 

volume was collected in the surface sediment (0‐3 feet). The other samples used in the 

HRS Score calculation were collected more than 3 feet below the sediment surface, and 

in some cases more than 40 feet below the Canal bottom. This dataset is completely 

inappropriate for evaluating risk to aquatic organisms and human populations, as the deep 

sediment samples are not biologically relevant, and the shallow dataset is too small (1 

sample). 

The ELM group also claimed that: 

The HRS calculation further ignores abundant concentrations of organic matter and 

sulfides in the sediment that will limit bioavailability of contaminants to aquatic biota 

(Section 2.4). 

The ELM Group asserted that: 

[T]he physical processes acting in the Canal (i.e., low flow conditions) have created a 

depositional environment in which historically impacted sediments are continually being 

buried by new (cleaner) materials. Chemically, the long history of sewage discharges to 

the Canal has delivered high concentrations of organic matter to the sediment, increasing 

the ability of the sediment to strongly bind both organic and inorganic contaminants. The 

low dissolved oxygen concentrations resulting from the CSO discharges also created 

suitable conditions for the formation of sulfides and other minerals that can also bind 

contaminants. Under these conditions, the contaminants associated with the sediment are 

less bioavailable and pose lower risk to ecological receptors. Finally, review of existing 

data for the Gowanus Canal indicates that the fish population consists primarily of 

migratory species and is not distinct from the larger Upper New York Bay population. 

The ELM Group repeatedly argued in several places in its comment letter that the bioavailability of the 

contaminants in the Canal sediments should have been considered in the determination of the volume 

estimate of the contaminated sediments. The ELM Group stated that the estimate of the volume of the 

contaminated sediments was too high because it included non-bioavailable sediments, and that “the vast 

majority of impacted sediment in the Gowanus Canal is not likely to pose a risk to aquatic organisms,” 

and that “some of the depths of contaminants used in the HRS calculation were more than 40 feet below 

the top of the sediment—a depth far below the biologically available contaminant zone (the surface 

sediments).” 

The ELM Group declared that: 

Analytical results for deep sediment (up to 40 feet below the Canal bottom in some 

instances) were included in the determination of “hazardous waste quantity” – another 

value factored into the HRS Score. There is no scientific basis for inclusion of sampling 

results from such depths; fish and invertebrates are only exposed to the surficial 

sediments in the Canal, so no risk is posed by the deep sediments and they should be 

excluded from the HRS calculation. If only surficial sediments (less than 12 inches 

below the Canal bottom) are considered in the volume calculation, the volume of 

contaminated sediment is decreased more than seven‐fold. 

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In support of these statements, the ELM Group explained that: 

The source of contamination was calculated as 330,000 cubic yards, without regard to the 

depth (i.e., bioaccessibility) of contaminants. 

The ELM Group continued that: 

If the sediment volume calculations are adjusted to account only for the top 12 inches of 

sediment throughout the entire length and width of the Canal, the hazardous waste 

quantity is substantially decreased from approximately 330,000 cubic yards to less than 

50,000 cubic yards of sediment. 

However, the ELM Group acknowledged that: 

The hazardous waste quantity factor value would be the same if the source volume was 

25,000 cubic yards or 2,500,000 cubic yards – based on the arbitrary values range 

allowed by the HRS preparation guidance promulgated by USEPA. 

But the ELM Group noted that: 

However, remedial activities associated with cleanup of the MGP sites or other upland 

sources, as well as dredging associated with future Flushing Tunnel upgrades or 

navigational requirements (WRDA), will remove additional contaminants and decrease 

the volume even further. 

The ELM Group asserted further that: 

The dataset used to calculate the hazardous waste volume for the HRS Score is 

inappropriate for this purpose because it includes only 1 shallow sediment sample and the 

volume of sediment that poses a true exposure risk to humans and wildlife is therefore 

significantly less than the volume utilized in the HRS calculations. 

Response: The HRS does not consider the bioavailability of hazardous substances in an HRS evaluation 

and specifically does not consider bioavailability as a factor in estimating the hazardous waste quantity at 

a site. 

These comments have no effect on the HRS site score nor on the decision to place this site on the NPL. 

3.22 HRS Source Characterization (Hazardous Substances/Hazardous 

Waste) 

Both the ELM Group and HydroQual questioned the characterization of the contaminated sediments as 

hazardous waste or hazardous materials, respectively. The ELM Group asserted that not all of the 

contaminated sediments meet the definition of a hazardous waste. HydroQual detailed why it considered 

that the sediments should not be considered hazardous materials: 

In the HRS score, USEPA defined 40% of the total volume of contaminated sediment 

found in the Gowanus Canal as hazardous material. While it is acknowledged that the 

Gowanus Canal sediments are contaminated by constituents defined as hazardous 

substances under Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation and Liability 

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Act (“CERCLA”), the mere presence of such substances does not necessarily qualify the 

Gowanus Canal sediments as hazardous material. Use of known and available sitespecific data provides a more accurate estimate of the quantity of hazardous material 

present in Gowanus Canal. 

HydroQual claimed: 

Per EPA regulations at 40 CFR 261, a waste is hazardous if it is listed or has the 

characteristics of a hazardous waste. The sediments are not a listed waste as defined at 

40 CFR 261.31-33. The sediments would not be ignitable (40 CFR 261.21), corrosive 

(40 CFR 261.22), or reactive (40 CFR 261.23). Sediments could be classified as a 

hazardous waste, therefore, by toxicity (40 CFR 261.24). However, Toxicity 

Characterisitc Leaching Procedure (TCLP) data on the sediments, the means by which a 

waste exhibits the characteristic of toxicity, do not indicate that the sediments are 

hazardous by characteristic (USACE, New York District. Gowanus Study Area Data 

Assessment Report, Gowanus Bay and Gowanus Canal, King’s County, New York. 

October 2003.) 

HydroQual also asserted that: 

Recognizing that the only likely means by which the sediments would be classified as 

hazardous is through Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) testing, the 

concentrations of contaminants were evaluated in the context of the TCLP testing. Given 

the TCLP method, which uses a 20x dilution, a sample could not fail TCLP analysis if the 

concentration of a particular constituent is not at least 20 times greater than the TCLP 

criterion for that parameter. For the contaminants found in the Gowanus Canal 

sediments, either TCLP criteria do not exist (many PAHs, PCBs), or the concentrations 

were below 20 times the criteria with limited exception (e.g., lead, chromium). However, 

during a previous investigation, TCLP samples were collected from the area around the 

Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel. The Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel is located at the 

upstream section of the Canal, which is characterized by high levels of metals 

contamination. Results from these TCLP analyses were near or below detection limits. 

Although PCBs are considered a hazardous substance in New York, PCBs do not have a 

federal or state TCLP regulatory limit. PCBs are regulated under the Toxic Substances 

Control Act, 40 CFR 761.43 40. CFR 761 provides several thresholds for assessing 

PCBs. Per 761.61(a)(4)(i)(A), bulk PCB remediation waste (e.g., sediments) may remain 

in place below a cap if the concentration of PCBs is between 25 and 100 ppm. Per 

761.61(a)(5)(v)(A), disposal of PCB remediation waste may be at a municipal/nonhazardous waste disposal facility if the concentration is below 50 ppm. The measured 

concentrations of PCBs found in the Gowanus Canal sediments are below these 

thresholds, further supporting the characterization of the Gowanus Canal sediments as 

non-hazardous. 

Overall, the above data indicate that the Canal Sediments would not be considered 

hazardous waste, thereby indicating that the method of deriving the hazardous waste 

quantity factor is not realistic in this case. 

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HydroQual then stated: 

The Gowanus Canal sediments do contain constituents defined as hazardous substances 

under CERCLA. However, the mere presence of such substances does not mean that the 

site should be placed on the NPL and be subject to the Superfund program. Rather, the 

presence of these substances could be evaluated by the HRS system, which the USEPA 

did, but should be viewed in the context of hazardous waste and the associated HRS 

scoring factor of hazardous waste quantity. If one were to assess hazardous waste 

quantity on the basis of the data described above, rather than the mere volume of 

contaminated sediments, then the hazardous waste quantity factor should correspond with 

little to no hazardous waste. 

If this were the case, then the HRS score, using all of the other factors assigned by EPA 

with the exception of the hazardous waste quantity factor, would be 15. This calculation, 

shown in Table 1, results from assigning a hazardous waste quantity factor of 1, 

assuming, based on the above analysis, that the Gowanus Canal sediments would contain 

little or no material categorized as hazardous waste. 

Response: Whether the Canal sediments qualify as a RCRA hazardous waste or as a hazardous material is 

not a factor considered in the HRS evaluation of this site both in general and in calculating a source 

hazardous waste quantity. First, a material need not be a “hazardous waste” under RCRA to be addressed 

under CERCLA. Second, the HRS factor values using the term “hazardous waste quantity: (e.g., source 

hazardous waste quantity)” is a title used in the HRS, and the HRS requirements for assigning this factor 

value do not in any way require the value assigned to reflect only waste that meets the RCRA criteria. 

Thus, the hazardous waste quantity factor value for the contaminated sediment source was correctly 

calculated on the volume of the contaminated sediments that compose the contaminated sediment source. 

Both HydroQual and the ELM Group are mistaken that only materials that meet RCRA hazardous waste 

quantity criteria are eligible to be considered in determining the source (or pathway) hazardous waste 

quantity factor value. 

RCRA “Hazardous Waste” vs CERCLA “Hazardous Waste” 

A material need not be a “hazardous waste” under RCRA to be addressed under CERCLA. Hazardous 

substances are defined for HRS purposes as “CERCLA hazardous substances, pollutants, and 

contaminants as defined in CERCLA Sections 101(14) and 101(33), except where otherwise specifically 

noted in the HRS” (55 FR 51586, December 14, 1990; and 40 CFR Part 300 Appendix A, Section 1.1). 

Additionally: 

• CERCLA Section 101(14) defines “hazardous substance” in the context of other Federal legislation, 

including substances listed pursuant to Sections 307(a) and 311(b)(2)(A) of the Federal Water 

Pollution Control Act, Section 3001 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (known as RCRA), Section 112 

of the Clean Air Act, and substances that are the subject of an action under Section 7 of the Toxic 

Substances Control Act. Thus, hazardous wastes as defined under RCRA are only a subset of the 

broader list of CERCLA hazardous substances. 

• CERCLA Section 102(a) empowers the Administrator to promulgate regulations designating other 

substances as hazardous if when released into the environment they may present substantial danger to 

the public health or welfare or the environment. 

• CERCLA Section 101(33) defines “pollutant or contaminant” as including but not limited to “any 

element, substance, compound, or mixture, including disease-causing agents, which after release into 

the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, either 

directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains, will or may reasonably 

be anticipated to cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, 

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physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations, in 

such organisms or their offspring.” Substances meeting that definition may also be addressed under 

CERCLA. 

Hazardous Waste Quantity 

HRS Section 2.3.2.1, Source hazardous waste quantity, states: 

For each of the three migration pathways, assign a source hazardous waste quantity value 

to each source [including the unallocated source] having a containment factor value 

greater than 0 for the pathway being evaluated. . . 

For all pathways, evaluate source hazardous waste quantity using the following four 

measures in the following hierarchy: 

• Hazardous constituent quantity. 

• Hazardous wastestream quantity. 

• Volume. 

• Area. . . . 

As noted by HydroQual, the volume tier was used to estimate the source waste quantity. The instructions 

for determining the volume estimate are in HRS Section 2.4.2.1.3, Volume: 

Evaluate the volume measure using the volume of the source (or the volume of the area 

of observed contamination). 

Hence, for this site the volume of the source is the volume being estimated. The HRS does not restrict 

this volume to only hazardous waste or hazardous materials as defined by RCRA. HRS Section 1.1, 

Definitions, defines “source” as: 

Any area where a hazardous substance has been deposited, stored, disposed or placed, 

plus those soils that have become contaminated from migration of a hazardous substance. 

Sources do not include those volumes of air, ground water, surface water, or surface 

water sediments that have become contaminated by migration, except: in the case of 

either a ground water plume or contaminated surface water sediments with no identified 

source, the plume or contaminated sediments may be considered a source. 

Therefore a source only needs to contain a hazardous substance to be considered a source, and the volume 

is of the contaminated sediments. 

Page 13 of the HRS documentation record at proposal, under the heading, Location, describes the extent 

of the contaminated sediment source: 

The contaminated sediments extend for approximately 1.5 miles, from sample location 

GC-03-30 at the head of the Canal to sample location GC-03-07, as shown in Figure 2 of 

this HRS documentation record. 

The volume estimate for this source used in the HRS scoring is presented on page 21 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal in section 2.4.2.1.3, Volume: 

Analytical results for the April-May 2003 USACE sampling event show that the 

contaminated sediments are located throughout the Gowanus Canal, a length of 

approximately 1.5 miles (see Sections 2.2.1 and 2.4.1). An extensive sampling event by 

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KeySpan from December 2005 to January 2006 confirms the USACE data and shows 

PAHs at total concentrations as high as 45,000 parts per million (4.5%) [Ref. 35, pp. 40, 

134-320]. Based on a review of the KeySpan data and conservative (i.e., low bias) 

assumptions, a conservative estimate of the volume of contaminated sediments in 

Gowanus Canal is 330,000 cubic yards [Ref. 51, p. 1]. . . . 

Therefore, the source hazardous waste quantity value is correctly based on the volume of the materials 

containing hazardous substances, and is not based only on the volume of RCRA hazardous waste or 

hazardous materials. 

This comment has no effect on the HRS site score or the decision to place this site on the NPL. 

3.23 Inclusion of PCBs in the HRS Evaluation 

Comment: The ELM Group commented that PCBs should not be included in the HRS evaluation of the 

site because after consideration of organic matter concentration in the sediment, nearly all PCB 

concentrations are below the New York State Sediment cleanup criteria. Specifically the ELM Group 

stated: 

Sediment PCB concentrations throughout the Canal are generally above the Effects 

Range‐Median (ERM) sediment criteria for potential ecological effects (Long et al, 1995) 

(Figure 3), but the highest PCB concentrations are found in sediments deeper than 3 feet 

below the channel bottom, thereby limiting exposure to aquatic organisms. However, the 

high organic content in Gowanus Canal sediments (average TOC ~19%) is also expected 

to mitigate potential deleterious effects of PCB contamination by reducing their 

bioavailability (USEPA, 1991). If average sediment organic carbon (TOC) concentrations 

are considered in accordance with the NYSDEC Technical Guidance for Screening 

Contaminated Sediments (1999) using the equilibrium partitioning (EP) method, few 

samples exceed EP criteria at any depth and in fact are more than an order of magnitude 

lower than the EP criteria (Figure 3). The PCB concentrations in sediment are below the 

New York State cleanup criteria, and therefore should not be used as a basis for 

Superfund designation. The use of PCBs in the HRS calculation for the Gowanus Canal 

should thus be deleted. 

Response: PCBs were correctly considered in the HRS evaluation of the Gowanus site. PCBs were 

associated with Source 1, the contaminated sediment source, and identified as a hazardous substance 

released to surface water at observed release levels. Whether or not the hazardous substance (in this case 

PCBs) levels are at, below, or above a state cleanup criterion is not a factor identified in the HRS as 

relevant to the HRS evaluation. 

PCBs meet the HRS and CERCLA criteria to be identified as an eligible hazardous substance. Section 

1.1 of the HRS defines “hazardous substance” as: 

CERCLA hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants as defined in CERCLA 

sections 101(14) and 101(33), except where otherwise specifically noted in the HRS. 

CERCLA Section 101(14), defines a “hazardous substance” as: 

(A) any substance designated pursuant to section 311(b)(2)(A) of the Federal Water 

Pollution Control Act [33 U.S.C. 1321 (b)(2)(A)], (B) any element, compound, mixture, 

solution, or substance designated pursuant to section 9602 of this title, (C) any hazardous 

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waste having the characteristics identified under or listed pursuant to section 3001 of the 

Solid Waste Disposal Act [42 U.S.C. 6921] (but not including any waste the regulation 

of which under the Solid Waste Disposal Act [42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.] has been 

suspended by Act of Congress), (D) any toxic pollutant listed under section 307(a) of the 

Federal Water Pollution Control Act [33 U.S.C. 1317(a)], (E) any air pollutant listed 

under section 112 of the Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7412], and (F) any imminently 

hazardous chemical substance or mixture with respect to which the Administrator has 

taken action pursuant to section 7 of the Toxic Substances Control Act [15 U.S.C. 2606]. 

The term does not include petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof which is 

not otherwise specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under 

subparagraphs (A) through (F) of this paragraph, and the term does not include natural 

gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas usable for fuel (or mixtures 

of natural gas and such synthetic gas). 

Additionally, as stated in CERCLA Section 101(33), Pollutants and contaminants: 

The term “pollutant or contaminant” shall include, but not be limited to, any element, 

substance, compound, or mixture, including disease-causing agents, which after release 

into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any 

organism, either directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through food 

chains, will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause death, disease, behavioral 

abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions (including 

malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations, in such organisms or their 

offspring; except that the term “pollutant or contaminant” shall not include petroleum, 

including crude oil or any fraction thereof which is not otherwise specifically listed or 

designated as a hazardous substance under subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph 

(14) and shall not include natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas of pipeline 

quality (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas). 

The Code of Federal Regulations contains a list of hazardous substances in table 302.4 of 40 CFR part 

302.4. According to table 302.4 of 40 CFR part 302.4 (7-1-09 Edition), PCBs are listed as being a 

CERCLA hazardous substance under section 311(b)(2) of the Clean Water Act, section 307(a) of the 

Clean Water Act, and section 112 of the Clean Air Act. 

The criteria for establishing an observed release for HRS purposes are in HRS Section 4.1.2.1.1, 

Observed release: 

Establish an observed release to surface water for a watershed by demonstrating that the 

site has released a hazardous substance to the surface water in the watershed. 

The requirements for associating a hazardous substance with a source are presented in HRS Section 2.2.3, 

Identify hazardous substances available to a pathway, which states: 

In evaluating each migration pathway, consider the following hazardous substances 

available to migrate from the sources at the site to the pathway: 

• Hazardous substances that meet the criteria for an observed release to surface 

water in the watershed being evaluated. 

• All hazardous substances associated with a source with a surface water 

containment factor value greater than 0 for the watershed. 

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A containment factor value of greater than 0 was assigned for the contaminated sediment source as 

discussed on pages 13 and 14 of the HRS documentation at proposal under the heading, Containment: 

The presence of contaminated sediments provides evidence that a variety of hazardous 

substances (PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, metals, and VOCs) have migrated into the surface 

water body (i.e., the Gowanus Canal) from numerous sources. Drilling logs indicate that 

neither of the following is present: (1) maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning 

and maintained run-on control system and runoff management system [Ref. 16, pp. 98-

157]. Therefore, a surface water containment factor value of 10 is assigned for this 

source [Ref. 1, p. 51609, Table 4-2]. 

As shown above, the HRS contains no directions to consider if a hazardous substance concentration 

exceeds a cleanup criterion in either establishing an observed release or when associating a substance 

with a source. 

An observed release by chemical analysis was documented at the Gowanus Canal site, as 

presented on page 24 of the HRS documentation record at proposal: 

An observed release by chemical analysis is documented in the Gowanus Canal between 

sample location GC-03-30 at the head of the Canal, and sample location GC-03-07, 

approximately 1.5 miles downstream (see Section 2.2). 

Those hazardous substances identified with the observed release are listed on pages 26 and 27 of 

the HRS documentation record at proposal. PCBs are included within the list of hazardous 

substances released, as cited on page 27 of the HRS documentation record at proposal. 

That PCBs are associated with the contaminated sediment source is documented in Section 2.4.1 of the 

HRS documentation record at proposal on pages 14 to 20. This section identifies the hazardous 

substances in sediment samples from the Canal that were used to establish the extent of the contaminated 

sediment source. In the case of the Gowanus Canal, since the source is a contaminated sediment source, 

the source was delineated using only those samples in which hazardous substances concentrations also 

meet the HRS criteria for an observed release by chemical analysis. PCBs were found at observed release 

levels in 4 of these 16 samples, and are identified, along with the HRS documentation record page 

number at proposal, in the following table. 

 

PCB Observed Release Samples 

Sample ID HRS Documentation Record 

at Proposal Page No. 

GC-03-07 18 

GC-07-28 20 

GC-03-29 20 

GC-03-30 20 

Therefore, the inclusion of PCBs in the evaluation of observed release and the waste characteristics factor 

category value is consistent with the HRS, as the hazardous substance both meets the criteria for an 

observed release to surface water and is associated with a source with a surface water containment factor 

value greater than 0 for the watershed. 

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Furthermore, the ELM Group did not correctly interpret the NYSDEC Technical Guidance for Screening 

Contaminated Sediments equilibrium partitioning (EP) method. The EP method mentioned by the ELM 

Group, and as described on page 8 of the NYSDEC Technical Guidance for Screening Contaminated 

Sediments states: 

EP-based criteria should only be derived for sediments with organic carbon fractions 

between approximately 0.2 - 12% (EPA SAB, 1992). Outside of this range, other factors 

that the EP methodology does not account for may influence contaminant partitioning. 

Reference 35 of the HRS documentation record at proposal describes TOC content analyzed within 

samples throughout the Gowanus Canal. Samples from within the top three feet of sediment were 

determined to have a TOC range of 1.1% to 44%. Samples from within accumulated sediment (sediment 

below three feet to the native material interface) were determined to have a TOC range of 0.73% to 49%. 

Samples from within the native materials were determined to have a TOC range of 0.037% to 55%. As 

the Gowanus Canal is documented to have organic carbon concentrations exceeding 12%, the equilibrium 

partitioning method applied to the sediments within the Gowanus Canal is not applicable. 

Additionally, even if a New York State criterion for PCBs were not exceeded, it does not eliminate those 

hazardous substances or their release from consideration when evaluating a site using the HRS. On July 

16, 1982, when responding to public comments on the proposed (original) HRS (47 FR 31188), and again 

on September 8, 1983 (48 FR 40665), the Agency explained why releases within regulatory limits were 

not “observed releases” under the HRS. As the Agency noted in 1982: 

 [e]mission or effluent limits do not necessarily represent levels which cause no harm to 

public health or the environment. These limitations are frequently established on the 

basis of economic impacts or achievability. 

By contrast, an observed release of PCBs represents a 100 percent likelihood that PCBs can migrate from 

the site (47 FR 31188, July 16, 1982). 

Section 2.3 of the HRS (55 FR 51589, December 14, 1990) states that an observed release can be 

established either by direct observation or by chemical analysis. An observed release by chemical 

analysis has occurred when a contaminant is measured significantly above background level if some 

portion of the release is attributable to the site. Even though levels may be lower than regulatory limits, 

an observed release has nevertheless occurred if the measured levels are significantly higher than 

background levels. The HRS does, however, consider whether releases are above regulatory limits in 

evaluating target populations, increasing by a factor of 10 the weight assigned populations exposed to 

contaminants above the limits. 

Of course, the observed release factor alone is not intended to reflect the hazard presented by the 

particular release. Instead, the hazard of the site is approximated by the total HRS score, which 

incorporates the observed release factors with other factors such as waste characteristics (including waste 

quantity, toxicity, and persistence) and targets. This total HRS score reflects the hazard of the site relative 

only to the other sites that have been scored. The actual degree of contamination and its effects are more 

fully determined during the RI after listing. 

This comment has no effect on the site score. 

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3.24 Waste Characteristics: Inclusion of Benzo(a)pyrene and PAHs in HRS 

Evaluation 

Comment: The ELM Group questioned the use of benzo(a)pyrene and PAHs in the evaluation of the HRS 

for the Gowanus site, and asserted that Superfund listing would not provide any additional benefit or 

results in faster clean-up of benzo(a)pyrene impacts. Similarly, it argued regarding PAHs, including 

benzo(a)pyrene, that Superfund listing is not required to achieve clean up of these aspects of 

contamination within the Canal. 

The ELM Group asserted that: 

Benzo(a)pyrene is derived primarily from combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges 

and former manufactured gas plants (MGPs). CSO impacts are common in older urban 

areas, and are generally not addressed by the CERCLA process. Rather, they would be 

more appropriately addressed through the existing City facilities upgrade plan which is 

expected to significantly improve Canal sediment and water quality by 2013. 

Furthermore, cleanup of MGP‐related contamination is already being conducted under 

the New York State cleanup program. Therefore, Superfund listing will not provide any 

additional benefit or result in faster cleanup of benzo(a)pyrene impacts. 

It continued that: 

Additionally, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations [including 

benzo(a)pyrene] in surface sediments are generally lower than concentrations at depth. 

PAHs are derived from multiple sources, including former MGP sites, road runoff, and 

input from combined sewer discharges. The latter is often evaluated separately from the 

CERCLA process. 

It asserted further that: 

PAH concentrations are generally highest in the middle to upper reaches of the Canal, 

with the highest concentrations (up to 4.5%) at depth and in the vicinity of the former 

MGP sites. PAH concentrations in most samples exceed the ERM, regardless of sample 

depth in the sediment profile. However, surficial sediments are generally within one order 

of magnitude of the ERM in the lower and upper reaches of the Canal, with more 

significant exceedences in the vicinity of the MGP sites (Figure 4). Forensic analysis of 

PAHs in sediment, conducted by NewFields as part of the GEI Consultants investigation 

(2007), showed that most MGP‐derived waste is located in deeper sediments (greater than 

3 feet), with the exception of areas subject to scouring. The shallow PAH contamination, 

which is more relevant to risk assessment considerations, is primarily petroleum‐derived 

and therefore indicative of runoff and CSO discharges rather than MGP tar (NewFields, 

2007, cited in GEI Consultants, 2007). The Superfund process is not intended to address 

CSO‐related impacts, and in fact, the City of New York has a detailed proposal in place 

to upgrade sewer systems by 2012 (NYCDEP, 2007). The City’s proposal includes 

increasing the capacity of the Flushing Tunnel from 154 mgd to 215 mgd, installing 4 

new pumps at the Gowanus Pump Station, replacing the force main inside the Flushing 

Tunnel, and diverting flow from the Bond‐Lorraine Sewer to the Columbia Street 

Interceptor. These measures are projected to reduce the annual volume of CSO 

discharges to the Canal by 34% (NYCDEP, 2007). 

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In addition, the MGP sites are already subject to a consent agreement between Keyspan / 

National Grid and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 

which requires that MGP‐derived waste be thoroughly characterized and remediated 

consistent with State standards. As the PAH impacts from both CSOs and MGP sites are 

being addressed through other programs, Superfund listing is not required to achieve 

cleanup of these aspects of contamination within the Canal. 

Response: Benzo(a)pyrene and other PAHs were properly evaluated according to HRS scoring 

methodology, as they were correctly associated with Source 1, the contaminated sediment source, and 

identified as a hazardous substance released to surface water. That benzo(a)pyrene and PAHs may be 

addressed through other programs designed to deal with CSOs and MGP facilities has no effect on the 

HRS site score. 

Section 1.1 of the HRS defines “hazardous substance” as: 

CERCLA hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants as defined in CERCLA 

Sections 101(14) and 101(33), except where otherwise specifically noted in the HRS. 

Benzo(a)pyrene and other PAHs are considered hazardous substances according to the same methodology 

used for determining hazardous substance eligibility discussed in section 3.23, Inclusion of PCBs in the 

HRS Evaluation, of this support document. 

CERCLA contains a list of hazardous substances in table 302.4 of 40 CFR part 302.4. According to table 

302.4 of 40 CFR part 302.4 (7-1-09 Edition), benzo(a)pyrene is listed and meets the statutory criteria for 

designation as hazardous substances from Section 307(a) of the Clean Water Act and Section 3001 of the 

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). While the ELM Group did not name other PAHs 

specifically, those used listed within the HRS documentation record at proposal are also found in table 

302.4 of 40 CRF part 302.4, and meet various statutory criteria for designation as hazardous substances 

(except for 2-methylnaphthalene, which meets the definition of a pollutant or contaminant under 

CERCLA Section 101(33)). 

The criteria for establishing an observed release were evaluated according to the following HRS 

methodology. HRS Section 4.1.2.1.1, Observed release, states: 

Establish an observed release to surface water for a watershed by demonstrating that the 

site has released a hazardous substance to the surface water in the watershed. 

The requirements for associating a hazardous substance with a source are presented in HRS Section 2.2.3, 

Identify hazardous substances available to a pathway, which states: 

In evaluating each migration pathway, consider the following hazardous substances 

available to migrate from the sources at the site to the pathway: 

• Hazardous substances that meet the criteria for an observed release to surface 

water in the watershed being evaluated. 

• All hazardous substances associated with a source with a surface water 

containment factor value greater than 0 for the watershed. 

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A containment factor value of “greater than 0” was assigned for the contaminated sediment source as 

discussed on pages 13 and 14 of the HRS documentation record at proposal under the heading, 

Containment: 

The presence of contaminated sediments provides evidence that a variety of hazardous 

substances (PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, metals, and VOCs) have migrated into the surface 

water body (i.e., the Gowanus Canal) from numerous sources. Drilling logs indicate that 

neither of the following is present: (1) maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning 

and maintained run-on control system and runoff management system [Ref. 16, pp. 98-

157]. Therefore, a surface water containment factor value of 10 is assigned for this 

source [Ref. 1, p. 51609, Table 4-2]. 

As shown above, the HRS does not provide for a method of consideration of the origin of the hazardous 

substances, or the consideration of alternative cleanup measures associated with the hazardous substances. 

An observed release of benzo(a)pyrene and other PAHs by chemical analysis was documented at 

the site, as presented on page 24 of the HRS documentation record at proposal under the heading, 

Chemical Analysis: 

An observed release by chemical analysis is documented in the Gowanus Canal between 

sample location GC-03-30 at the head of the Canal, and sample location GC-03-07, 

approximately 1.5 miles downstream (see Section 2.2). 

Those hazardous substances identified with the observed release are listed on pages 26 and 27 of 

the HRS documentation record at proposal. Benzo(a)pyrene and other PAHs are included within 

the list of hazardous substances released, as cited on page 27 of the HRS documentation at 

proposal. 

That benzo(a)pyrene and other PAHs are associated with the contaminated sediment source is 

documented in section 2.4.1 of the HRS documentation record at proposal on pages 14 to 20. This 

section identifies the hazardous substances in sediment samples from the Canal that were used to establish 

the extent of the contaminated sediment source. In the case of the Gowanus Canal, since the source is a 

contaminated sediment source, the source was delineated using only those samples in which hazardous 

substances concentrations also meet the HRS criteria for an observed release by chemical analysis. 

Specifically, benzo(a)pyrene was found at observed release levels in 6 of these 16 samples, and is 

identified, along with the HRS documentation record page number at proposal, in the following table. 

 

Benzo(a)pyrene Observed Release Samples 

PAH Substance HRS Documentation Record 

at Proposal Page No. 

GC-03-14 18 

GC-03-21 19 

GC-03-23 19 

GC-03-25 19 

GC-03-26 19 

GC-03-28 20 

ELM Group’s assertion that benzo(a)pyrene or other PAHs are not required to be addressed through 

Superfund because of their association with CSOs and MGP facilities and because those substances are 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

being assessed through other cleanup programs, is irrelevant to HRS scoring methodology. As discussed 

above, the origin of the hazardous substances is not an evaluation criterion established in the HRS. 

Similarly, the existing or planned cleanup programs designed to address specific contaminants is not an 

evaluation criterion established in the HRS. 

Therefore, the inclusion of benzo(a)pyrene in the evaluation of observed release and the waste 

characteristics factor category value is consistent with the HRS, as the hazardous substance meets both 

the criteria for an observed release to surface water and was properly associated with Source 1, the 

contaminated sediment source. 

This comment does not have an effect on the site score. 

3.25 Background Location 

Comment: HydroQual asserted that the selection of background sample locations from the Gowanus Bay 

indicate that the contamination in the bay did not come from the Canal. 

HydroQual stated: 

USEPA’s use of immediately downstream samples from Gowanus Bay as background for 

comparison to sediment quality in the Gowanus Canal indicates that sediment transport is 

not significant out of the Canal. The use of Gowanus Bay sediments as a reference 

location and the naturally stagnant conditions in the Gowanus Canal indicate that, apart 

from the fact that sediments within the Gowanus Canal are contaminated, these sediments 

are contained and have not posed a threat to downstream water bodies. 

It further stated that: 

As noted previously in Section 2.1, the reference location used in the HRS scoring is the 

Gowanus Bay, which is the approximately half mile area directly downstream of the 

Gowanus Canal. Reference locations are typically selected either upstream of a site or 

very distant from a site in an un-impacted or pristine location. The location of the 

reference area, Gowanus Bay, directly downstream of the Canal indicates that 

constituents found in the Canal are likely to remain in the Canal, supporting that the 

Canal is not a source of pollution to the Gowanus Bay or Upper New York Bay, and 

providing yet another qualifying factor for not placing the Canal on the NPL. 

Response: The use of the background samples from Gowanus Bay to establish background levels for 

contaminants in the Gowanus Canal cannot be construed to indicate that contamination from the Canal 

cannot and has not migrated from the Canal into the Bay. Background levels are used in the identification 

of a significant increase in contaminant concentrations due to the release from the site, therefore they 

should reflect the concentrations of the released substances prior to the release. Although background 

locations are ideally chosen upgradient of the releases samples, this was not possible at the Gowanus 

Canal site because the entire Canal is contaminated. Other nearby water bodies with similar physical and 

socioeconomic conditions in the watersheds were also considered, but none could be identified that were 

similar in use to the Canal, or that were also not considered significantly contaminated. However, the 

background samples selected downstream from the source in the Gowanus Bay provide adequate 

evidence that the contaminated sediments of Source 1 exhibit a significant increase in hazardous 

substances. 

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The HRS does not identify requirements or define conditions for establishing background. The HRS 

addresses background only in the context of identifying an observed release of substance to the 

environment by chemical analysis. HRS Section 2.3, Likelihood of release, states: 

The minimum standard to establish an observed release by chemical analysis is analytical 

evidence of a hazardous substance in the media significantly above the background level. 

This HRS section also refers to HRS Table 2-3 which identifies the observed release criteria for chemical 

analysis. This table requires that when the sample measurement (i.e., the chemical concentration of a 

hazardous substance in a candidate release sample) is greater than or equal to the sample quantitation 

limit, an observed release can be established: 

If the background concentration is not detected (or is less than the detection limit), an 

observed release is established when the sample measurement equals or exceeds the 

sample quantitation limit. 

Or: 

If the background concentration equals or exceeds the detection limit, an observed release 

is established when the sample measurement is 3 times or more above the background 

concentration. 

The location of the background sample is not used to establish the part of a surface water body evaluated 

as actually or potentially impacted by a release from a site which, in HRS terminology, is referred to as 

“identifying the in-water segment and the target distance limit of the surface water pathway.” This 

identification is addressed in HRS Section 4.1.1.2, Target distance limit. Basically the in-water segment 

starts at the most upstream probable point of entry (PPE) of contamination from a source at the site and 

extends 15 miles downstream from the most downstream PPE (or further if an observed release from the 

site is established further downstream). 

Figure 2 on page 12 of the HRS documentation record at proposal identifies the location of the 5 

background samples used to establish the background levels of various substances in releases attributable 

to the site. As Figure 2 shows, the samples are all located downstream of the Canal. Page 14 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal describes why these samples were considered sufficiently similar to the 

Canal sediment samples that any significant increase in contaminant concentrations was considered due to 

the release and not variation in the physical conditions at the site. Under the heading, Notes on Sample 

Similarity, the HRS documentation record at proposal states: 

Since the contamination begins at the head of the Canal, it was not possible to obtain 

upstream samples to document background level concentrations. Therefore, downstream 

samples collected from Gowanus Bay beyond the documented area of sediment 

contamination were used to establish background concentrations. The background 

samples from Gowanus Bay and contaminated samples from Gowanus Canal were 

handled the same procedurally and were similar physically, as follows: 

• The background and release sediment samples were all collected by USACE, 

using Standard Penetration Test (SPT) sampling methodology, during the 

sampling event in April and May 2003 [Ref. 16, pp. 14, 24, 261-286; 52, pp. 1-

23]. 

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• A single laboratory (Fort Monmouth Environmental Testing Laboratory) 

analyzed the samples for VOCs according to EPA Method 8260, SVOCs 

according to EPA Method 8270, pesticides according to EPA Method 8081, 

PCBs according to EPA Method 8082, and metals according to EPA Method 

6010B, as well as other parameters [Ref.16, pp. 290, 291]. References 18 through 

22 present the applicable analytical methods. 

• The Gowanus Canal and Gowanus Bay are both part of the same estuary (i.e., the 

New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary) and are classified under the HRS as 

“Coastal tidal waters,” in which flow and depth characteristics are not considered 

to be applicable for the evaluation [Ref. 1, pp. 51605, 51613; 4; 9, pp. 1, 6]. 

• Although the height of the water column varied (15.5 to 30 feet for background; 

1 to 21 feet for release), the geologic cross-sections within the Bay and Canal are 

similar: clay above sand, with variable thickness of the clay layer including gaps 

[Ref. 16, pp. 88-91, 98-107, 110-111, 114-115, 118-125, 132-133, 138-139, 142-

157]. 

• The percent moisture in the background samples ranged from approximately 16% 

to 63%, while the percent moisture in the release samples ranged from 

approximately 11% to 68% [Ref. 16, pp. 405-414, 427-444, 454-495, 502-518, 

525-545, 563-565, 573, 581, 583-586, 599-601, 617-622; 52, pp. 1, 32-36]. 

• The grain-size descriptions for the background samples ranged from “clay, trace 

of sand” to “silty, fine to medium sand, trace of gravel”; the grain-size 

descriptions for the release samples ranged from “clay, trace of sand” to “silty, 

fine to coarse sand with gravel” [Ref. 16, pp. 197-200, 202-204, 208, 211, 213-

220]. 

Due to these similarities (i.e., same time frame, same sampling and analytical methods, 

same laboratory, similar ranges of percent moisture values, and similar sediment 

descriptions) among all the background samples from Gowanus Bay and release samples 

from Gowanus Canal, the background and release analytical results are considered to be 

comparable. EPA compared observed release concentrations to the maximum 

background concentration for each analyte. 

As explained above, for HRS evaluation purposes, the background sample locations are only used as a 

reference point to establish that a significant increase in contaminant levels in the release samples has 

occurred. Ideally, background samples are collected from an area outside of the influence of the release 

being evaluated, but with similar physical and socioeconomic conditions. While this would most clearly 

be shown using samples from background locations upgradient of the releases samples, this was not 

possible at the Gowanus Canal site because the entire Canal is contaminated. Other nearby water bodies 

with similar physical and socioeconomic conditions in the watersheds were also considered, but none 

could be identified that were similar in use to the Canal, or which were also not considered significantly 

contaminated. 

EPA therefore used background samples from immediately downstream of the Canal, but with as similar 

as possible physical conditions. While the samples chosen certainly contained contamination that could 

have migrated from the Canal, as shown in Tables 1 and 2 on pages 16 and 17 of the HRS documentation 

record at proposal, the levels in the background samples are sufficiently lower than in the release samples 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

to meet the HRS Table 2-3 criteria to show a significant increase due to releases from the site (see Table 2 

pages 17-20 of the HRS documentation record at proposal). 

It is possible that using these background sample locations may result in an underestimate of the extent of 

the contamination migrating from the Canal into Gowanus Bay. However, given that the HRS evaluation 

is only a preliminary evaluation of the site and the actual extent of the site is determined after further 

investigation is undertaken, and that the site score is more than sufficient to qualify the site for the NPL 

even with this possible underestimate, such a possible underestimate is acceptable. 

Furthermore, while the Gowanus Canal may presently have insufficient natural current and discharge to 

keep in suspension and flush all contamination in the Canal from it, this does not document that there is 

no contaminant transport from the Canal. The Canal is tidal, there are urban stormwater runoff and CSO 

influents into the Canal and, as discussed in its comments, the City flushes an average of 154 million 

gallons a day through the Canal. (See page 23 of the HRS documentation record at proposal and page 7 

of the City’s comments submitted July 8, 2009.) The amount of contaminant transport from the Canal 

and the risk posed by it will be considered during later stages of the Superfund process for the site. 

3.26 Likelihood of Release: Other Data Sets 

Comment: The ELM Group, after questioning the adequacy of the analytical data used in the 

identification of observed releases and for other HRS purposes, stated: 

More extensive datasets, with thorough QA/QC protocols in place exist for the Canal and 

Upper New York Bay (e.g., Adams and Benyi, 1998; GEI Consultants, 2007), and would 

have been more appropriate as a foundation for HRS scoring. 

Response: The analytical data used in the identification of an observed release in the HRS documentation 

record at proposal has been shown to be adequate to establish an observed release at this site (see section 

3.18, Likelihood of Release, of this support document). The data set from the study performed by Adams 

and Benyi, Sediment Quality of the NY/NJ Harbor System: A 5-year Revisit, one of the data sets suggested 

for use by the ELM Group, was examined and determined insufficient to construct an HRS site score for 

the Gowanus Canal site because of its lack of a comprehensive data set specifically from the Gowanus 

Canal. However, even if the suggested data set were used in the HRS evaluation instead of the USACE 

data set, the HRS score would be the same as the score at proposal. 

HRS Section 4.1.2.1.1, Observed release, contains the directions used to establish observed releases: 

Establish an observed release to surface water for a watershed by demonstrating that the 

site has released a hazardous substance to the surface water in the watershed. Base this 

demonstration on either: 

• Direct observation: 

.... 

• Chemical analysis: 

o Analysis of surface water, benthic, or sediment samples indicates that the 

concentration of hazardous substance(s) has increased significantly 

above the background concentration for the site for that type of sample 

(see section 2.3). 

9Limit comparisons to similar types of samples and background 

concentrations – for example, compare surface water samples to 

surface water background concentrations. 

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9For benthic samples, limit comparisons to essentially sessile 

organisms. 

o Some portion of the significant increase must be attributable to the site to 

establish the observed release, except: when the site itself consists of 

contaminated sediments with no identified source, no separate attribution 

is required. 

If an observed release can be established for a watershed, assign an observed release 

factor value of 550 to that watershed, enter this value in Table 4-1, and proceed to section 

4.1.2.1.3. 

On page 24 of the HRS documentation record at proposal, in section 4.1.2.1.1, Observed Release, under 

the heading, Chemical Analysis, the following statement is made: 

An observed release by chemical analysis is documented in the Gowanus Canal between 

sample location GC-03-30, at the head of the Canal, and sample location GC-03-07, 

approximately 1.5 miles downstream (see Section 2.2). 

Section 2.2 of the HRS documentation record at proposal (pages 14 to 20) contains Table 2 which 

includes the analytical results of the two samples referred to above, along with the analytical results of the 

14 samples which were collected between them, collectively spanning the 1.5-mile length of the Canal. 

Together, these 16 samples illustrate the observed release to the Gowanus Canal, contrasted with the 5 

background samples collected from Gowanus Bay. All 21 of the sample locations are illustrated on 

Figure 2 of the HRS documentation record at proposal. 

Site Score Based on GEI Data Set 

Regarding the ELM Group’s comment that more extensive data sets exist, and “would have been more 

appropriate as a foundation for HRS scoring,” the following report, cited by the ELM Group and provided 

as Reference 35 of the HRS documentation record at proposal, has been evaluated as a possible 

alternative “foundation for HRS scoring”: GEI Consultants, Inc. Draft Remedial Investigation Technical 

Report, Gowanus Canal, Brooklyn, New York, ACO Index No. A2-0523-0705. Prepared for KeySpan 

Corporation. April 2007 (hereinafter referred to as the GEI report). As presented below, the results of the 

evaluation of this analytical data set demonstrate that while the zone of contamination in the Canal would 

be slightly less extensive, no change to any HRS scoring factor or to the overall site score would result 

from using the GEI report in the HRS evaluation. 

Background Information 

GEI established 27 transects across the Canal, beginning at the head of the Canal and proceeding 

downward to the mouth of the Canal at Gowanus Bay. At each transect, samples were collected across 

the width of the Canal. GEI collected samples at each transect from three depth zones: surface sediment 

samples, subsurface sediment samples, and native material samples. The sample results for all samples 

and all contaminants are shown in Reference 35, Tables 4, 5, and 6 of the HRS documentation record at 

proposal. Figures in Reference 35, pages 541-544, illustrate the sample locations. 

Using this GEI data set alone to establish an observed release meant first establishing new background 

levels for the contaminants being considered, then identifying the release samples that contained 

hazardous substances whose concentrations meet the HRS criteria for establishing an observed release by 

chemical analysis. 

The hazardous substances selected to be considered in this analysis were those substances associated with 

the greatest toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation factor. In evaluating the Human Food Chain Threat, 

HRS Section 4.1.3.2.1.4, Calculation of toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation factor value, specifies, 

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“[u]se the hazardous substance with the highest toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation factor value for the 

watershed to assign the value to this factor.” Other hazardous substances could have been included in the 

rescoring but their inclusion would not have changed this alternative site score. These substances include: 

• PCBs (Aroclor-1242, -1248, -1254, and -1268) 

• Benzo(a)pyrene 

• Benzo(a)anthracene 

• Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 

• DDT 

• Dieldrin 

• Lead 

As shown on page 28 of the HRS documentation record at proposal, these substances are associated with 

a toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation factor value of either 5 x 107

 or 5 x 108. 

Background Levels 

For the purpose of this alternative evaluation, because there were no Gowanus Bay samples from the GEI 

data set in the area where the background samples were collected in the USACE study, samples that were 

located at the most upstream end of the Canal were selected to represent background levels. This was 

done because in spite of the contamination in these samples, the samples could be used to demonstrate a 

significant increase of hazardous substances in the observed release samples described below. (However 

this does not mean that this area of the Canal was not contaminated, only that the contamination in the 

rest of the Canal was significantly greater.) Different background levels were established for the three 

different depth zones: surface sediment samples, subsurface sediment samples, and native material 

samples (these samples were collected across the width of the Canal at Transect A). For each 

contaminant, the maximum background concentration in any of the three samples (or the maximum 

background sample quantitation limit [SQL] if no detections above the SQL were found) was selected to 

represent the background level for comparison to the release samples. It is also significant to note that the 

use of samples from this location to establish background levels resulted in generally higher background 

levels than those used in the HRS documentation record at proposal. This should not be interpreted as 

indicating that the background levels in the HRS documentation record at proposal are incorrect, rather, 

only that these “contaminated background” samples are the most appropriate and best available samples 

from the GEI data set to establish background levels for this alternative evaluation. Attachment 3 to this 

support document presents the background samples and background levels for each evaluated substance 

in each depth range for the GEI data set. 

Release Samples 

As can be seen in the Reference 35 figures on pages 541-544, the remaining 26 transect locations are 

spaced along the length of the Canal all the way down to the mouth of the Canal at Gowanus Bay. 

Attachment 3 to this support document presents the release samples that had contaminant concentrations 

significantly higher than the background levels: these samples thus could be used to establish an observed 

release by chemical analysis, using only analytical results that were not qualified as having possible 

analysis issues during the data validation review. 

The results of this alternative evaluation using only the GEI data set revealed that observed release criteria 

are consistently met in the surface sediment samples and in many of the subsurface sediment and native 

material samples throughout the length of the Canal for a number of hazardous substances, notably PCBs, 

benzo(a)anthracene, and benzo(a)pyrene. As such, in accordance with HRS Section 4.1.2.1.1 cited above, 

a Likelihood of Release value of 550 would still be assigned. 

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Other Considerations 

The following methodology utilized the data from the GEI report to obtain a new hazardous waste 

quantity estimate. While the surface sediment samples consistently met observed release criteria with 

multiple hazardous substances throughout the length of the Canal, subsurface sediment samples and 

native material samples at a number of transect locations also met observed release criteria. The sample 

depths at these locations were used to represent the lower extent of contamination, whereas at transect 

locations where only the surface sediment sample(s) met observed release criteria, the depth of this 

sample was used to represent the lower extent of contamination. At each location, the appropriate sample 

depth was input into a Geographic Information System (GIS) program to represent the depth component 

of a volume computation. The extent of surface sediment contamination meeting observed release criteria 

(all transects except the background location) represented the area component. Based on this information, 

using the GIS software, the volume of contaminated sediment was calculated to be 237,385.3 cubic yards. 

The source type is “Other,” so using the divisor of 2.5 from HRS Table 2-5 results in a hazardous waste 

quantity (HWQ) value of 94,954.12. Applying this value to HRS Table 2-6, as instructed by HRS Section 

2.4.2.2, yields a HWQ assigned factor value of 10,000, which is the same as the HWQ assigned factor 

value in the HRS documentation record at proposal. 

In addition, the zone of actual contamination (Level II fishery) would be very nearly the same as in the 

HRS documentation record at proposal, with the only difference being that in this case the zone would 

begin a short distance downstream of the head of the Canal at the location of Transect B (samples GCSED04 and GC-SED05). The zone of actual contamination would then continue throughout the 

remainder of the length of the Canal to its mouth. 

Further, the use of the GEI report in support of the scoring would result in the same value for 

toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation. A number of the same contaminants are present in the observed 

release in the GEI data as are evaluated in the HRS documentation record at proposal, most notably the 

two highest scoring contaminants, benzo(a)pyrene and PCBs. As shown in section 4.1.3.2.1 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal, both benzo(a)pyrene and PCBs are assigned the maximum toxicity 

(10,000), the maximum persistence (1), and the maximum bioaccumulation potential factor value 

(50,000), resulting in the maximum matrix value from HRS Table 4-16 (5 x 108

). 

Based on the results of this evaluation, the analytical results within the GEI report also support an 

observed release to the Gowanus Canal. If this data were used to support the HRS score, the zone of 

actual contamination would remain largely the same, the Likelihood of Release value would remain 550, 

the HWQ assigned factor value would still be 10,000, and the toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation factor 

value would remain 5 x 108

. 

This comment has no effect on the HRS score or the decision to place this site on the NPL. 

3.27 Waste Characteristics: Bioaccumulation 

Comment: The ELM Group asserted that the EPA had “disregarded available fish tissue contamination 

data that refutes the level of risk implied by the Bioaccumulation Potential Factor Value. It stated that: 

The Human Food Chain Threat calculated for the Canal was based on the assumption that 

benzo(a)pyrene and PCBs in the Canal sediments are taken up by fish and invertebrates, 

which are subsequently eaten by humans, posing an unacceptable health risk. However, 

the USEPA disregarded the findings of fish population studies in the Canal and Upper 

New York Bay that clearly conclude that the fish population is composed primarily of 

migratory fish consistent with the fish populations in the Upper New York Bay. USEPA 

further disregarded available fish tissue contaminant data that refutes the level of risk 

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implied by the Bioaccumulation Potential Factor Value. Existing fish and invertebrate 

contaminant data for the Upper New York Bay that indicates that contaminant 

concentrations in fish are lower than many other locations within the greater 

Hudson‐Raritan Estuary. These data support the prediction that much of the sediment 

contamination in the Canal is not bioavailable, and / or that fish spend such a small 

proportion of their lifecycle in the Canal as to significantly minimize exposure and 

bioaccumulation. 

The ELM Group also argued that: 

Based on studies conducted for the Army Corps of Engineers (LMSE, 2004), the fish 

population identified in the Gowanus Canal and Bay consists primarily of migratory 

species that are common in Upper New York Bay and the larger Hudson‐Raritan estuary. 

Striped bass was the dominant species captured during the survey, and is also abundant in 

Upper New York Bay. Very few resident fish species were identified during the adult 

fish survey, and little evidence of fish spawning in the Canal was apparent based upon the 

results of the ichthyoplankton survey (LMSE, 2004). Due to the migratory nature of the 

fish population in the Gowanus Canal, individuals likely spend a very small proportion of 

their lifecycle within the confines of the Canal. If bioavailability of sediment 

contaminants is limited by high organic matter or sulfide concentrations, as is likely the 

case in the Canal, this further reduces exposure risk and potential bioaccumulation. 

It continued: 

The determination of actual fishery contamination in the HRS Score calculation was 

based on the theoretical Bioaccumulation Potential Factor Value, which considers 

potential toxicity and persistence of PCBs and benzo(a)pyrene without consideration of 

the mitigating factors described above. Review of actual data for the Upper New York 

Bay reveals that mean PCB concentrations in striped bass muscle tissue and all edible 

blue crab tissues are below the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) consumption 

tolerance of 2,000 ng/g (NYSDEC, 2004; NYSDEC, 2005). Furthermore, concentrations 

of benzo(a)pyrene in fish tissue accounted for less than 1% of total PAH concentrations 

detected in fish tissues in the Upper Bay, with the exception of winter flounder where 

benzo(a)pyrene accounted for less than 4% of total PAH (NYSDEC, 2006). Thus, 

USEPA disregarded available fish tissue contaminant data that refutes the level of risk 

implied by the Bioaccumulation Potential Factor Value. 

The ELM Group asserted that “[t]he generic approach utilized in the HRS Score calculation to determine 

the Bioaccumulation Potential Factor Value for the Gowanus Canal significantly overestimates the real 

risk posed by PCBs and benzo(a)pyrene.” 

The ELM Group explained that: 

The simple fact that tissue concentrations of the contaminants of concern cited in USEPA’s HRS 

Score are low to intermediate in comparison to other locations in the Hudson‐Raritan estuary 

(NYSDEC 2004, 2005, 2006) supports the prediction that much of the sediment contamination in 

the Canal is not bioavailable, and / or that fish spend such a small proportion of their lifecycle in 

the Canal as to significantly minimize exposure and bioaccumulation. As a result, risks due to 

consumption of fish caught in the Gowanus Canal are unlikely to be greater than at any other 

location in the Upper New York Bay, and may be lower than some other locations within the 

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Hudson‐Raritan estuary. None of this data was considered by USEPA in the course of their HRS 

calculation, even though it provides a stronger technical basis for evaluating risk than the 

theoretical toxicity/ persistence/ bioaccumulation factors employed in the HRS process. 

It continued: 

USEPA fails to consider site‐specific sediment characteristics (TOC, sulfides) and fish 

tissue and population data that indicate that sediments in the Canal pose limited risk to 

the fish population. Superfund designation of the Gowanus Canal is unlikely to address 

concerns regarding bioaccumulation and contaminant concentrations in fish, since 

exposure to individuals found in the Canal will also occur elsewhere in their home range. 

Response: The bioaccumulation potential factor value has been appropriately assigned in accordance with 

the provisions of the HRS. HRS Section 4.1.3.2.1.3 instructs the scorer to: 

Use the following data hierarchy to assign a bioaccumulation potential factor value to 

each hazardous substance: 

• Bioconcentration factor (BCF) data. 

• Logarithm of the n-octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow) data. 

• Water solubility data. 

Assign a bioaccumulation potential factor value to each hazardous substance from Table 

4-15. 

If BCF data are available for any aquatic human food chain organism for the substance 

being evaluated, assign the bioaccumulation potential factor value to the hazardous 

substance as follows: 

• If BCF data are available for both fresh water and salt water for the hazardous 

substance, use the BCF data that correspond to the type of water body (that is, fresh 

water or salt water) in which the fisheries are located to assign the bioaccumulation 

potential factor value to the hazardous substance. 

• If, however, some of the fisheries being evaluated are in fresh water and some 

are in salt water, or if any are in brackish water, use the BCF data that yield the higher 

factor value to assign the bioaccumulation potential factor value to the hazardous 

substance. 

• If BCF data are available for either fresh water or salt water, but not for both, use 

the available BCF data to assign the bioaccumulation potential factor value to the 

hazardous substance. 

If BCF data are not available for the hazardous substance, use log Kow data to assign a 

bioaccumulation potential factor value to organic substances, but not to inorganic 

substances. If BCF data are not available, and if either log Kow data are not available, the 

log Kow is available but exceeds 6.0, or the substance is an inorganic substance, use water 

solubility data to assign a bioaccumulation potential factor value. 

Do not distinguish between fresh water and salt water in assigning the bioaccumulation 

potential factor value based on log Kow or water solubility data. 

If none of these data are available, assign the hazardous substance a bioaccumulation 

potential factor value of 0.5. 

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The HRS does not call for or require site-specific bioaccumulation factor values to be developed or that 

evidence of bioaccumulation be provided to assign this factor value (Section 3.15, HRS Concept, of this 

support document addresses bioaccumulation potential as a factor value.) 

Page 28 of the HRS documentation record at proposal, section 4.1.3.2.1, presents the bioaccumulation 

factor values for each of the hazardous substances found in the observed release in the Canal sediments, 

including benzo(a)pyrene and PCBs and provides the citation to the source of the assigned values. The 

following footnote from the table explains why the salt water BCF and bioaccumulation potential factor 

values are used: 

The Gowanus Canal is a tidal arm of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary and is 

classified as a Class SD saline surface water. The only fresh water that enters the Canal 

is stormwater runoff and CSO discharges during storm events [Figure 1 of this HRS 

documentation record; Ref. 7, pp. 1, 2]. The Food Chain Bioaccumulation Potential 

Factor Value that corresponds to the type of water body in which the fishery is located 

(i.e., salt water) is assigned to each hazardous substance [Ref. 1, p. 51617]. 

The bioaccumulation potential factor values for salt water for benzo(a)pyrene and PCBs were obtained 

based on information contained in published and peer reviewed references. For benzo(a)pyrene, the 

bioconcentration factor was obtained from the study: 

Murray, A.P., B.J. Richardson, and C.F. Gibbs, 1991. Bioconcentration Factors 

for Petroleum Hydrocarbons, PAHs, LABs and Biogenic Hydrocarbons in the 

Blue Mussel. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 22(12):595-603 

For PCBs the bioconcentration factor was obtained from the study: 

Vreeland, V., 1974, Uptake of Chlorobiphenyls by Oysters. Environmental 

Pollution, 6(2):135-140 

The Bioaccumulation Potential Factor Value for each contaminant was assigned from HRS Table 4-15 

based on its BCF. Thus, the requirements of the HRS for assigning the bioaccumulation potential factor 

values were satisfied. 

Regarding the ELM Group’s argument that EPA did not consider fish tissue contaminant data or the 

possibility of high organic matter or sulfide concentrations in sediment in assigning the HRS site score, 

this level of detail is not required under the HRS. It is, however, the level of information used during a 

different stage of the Superfund remediation process, when a site-specific risk assessment is performed 

and used to determine the appropriate remedial actions (if any) for the site (see section 3.6, Site-Specific 

Risk, of this support document). 

This comment has no effect on the HRS score or the decision to place the site on the NPL. 

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3.28 Human Food Chain Fishery: Evidence of Consumption 

Comment: The ELM Group questioned the adequacy of documentation used to identify the presence of 

consumption of human food chain organisms from the actually contaminated portion of the Gowanus 

Canal. It stated that “limited evidence of actual consumption is provided in the HRS Documentation,” 

that “USEPA provided no compelling evidence of actual fish consumption from the Canal,” and that “the 

little documentation of fish consumption from the Canal that is provided in the HRS was not from 

scientific sources.” 

The ELM Group specifically argued that: 

The HRS documentation cites nine sources that indicate recreational fishing and 

crabbing, in some cases for consumption, in the Gowanus Canal. Three of these sources 

(identified in the HRS documentation as reference numbers 13‐15) provide anecdotal 

evidence of consumption. The first reference (#13, New Yorkology) mentions fishermen 

near the Gowanus basin and indicates that people do take fish home, but no specifics are 

provided regarding frequency of use or species caught. The second (#14, The Gowanus 

Lounge blog) cites a “reliable source” and discusses fishermen consuming bluefish 

caught from the Third Street Bridge. Although this species is included in the fish 

consumption advisory for the Upper New York Bay by the NYSDOH (2009), no bluefish 

were collected during the Gowanus Canal fish survey (LMSE, 2004). Finally, reference 

#15 (Error Ink blog) also mentions fishing from the Third Street bridge, and quotes one 

individual stating that she would not recommend eating the catch, but does not actually 

indicate consumption. While these references provide limited evidence of fishing 

activity, crabbing for consumption is never discussed. None of these resources was 

scientific in nature and none relied upon quantitative surveys to determine actual fishing 

usage and fish consumption. 

Response: The Gowanus Canal site meets the HRS requirement for the consumption of human food chain 

organisms from the area of actual contamination. 

The HRS does not define a human food chain fishery, nor does it specify requirements for documenting 

the presence of fishing for human consumption. However, this issue was discussed by the Court in 

Honeywell International, Inc. and Edgewater Working Group (Honeywell) v. U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, June 29, 2004. In this 

case, Honeywell challenged the EPA’s decision to include an industrial site (Quanta Resources, Quanta) 

bordering the Hudson River on the NPL. As a primary part of its listing, EPA determined that the portion 

of the Hudson River adjacent to Quanta contained a fishery, the contamination of which posed a threat to 

the human food chain. 

One of Honeywell’s challenges was that EPA’s fishery determination was unsupported by substantial 

evidence. The Court upheld EPA’s fishery determination, stating that “the agency made the specific 

findings required by its rules and regulations, and it offered a ‘satisfactory explanation for its inference’ 

that the site contains a fishery within the contaminated waters.” 

The Court stated: 

Although the HRS regulations explain how contamination will be assessed, they neither 

define “fishery” nor specify what evidence is needed to determine whether a fishery 

actually exists. EPA’s HRS Guidance Manual answers both questions. The Manual 

defines fishery as “[a]ny area of a surface water body from which human food chain 

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organisms are taken or could be taken for human consumption.” Hazardous Ranking 

System Guidance Manual 294 (Nov. 1992).. . . A fishery exists if “[h]uman food chain 

organisms are present in the surface water body; and [s]ome attempt has been made to 

catch those human food chain organisms.” Id. To make these determinations, “[u]seful 

sources of information include state and local fish and wildlife agencies, local bait and 

tackle shops, visual observations made during the [site investigation] of individuals 

fishing or of past fishing activities (e.g., fishing lines and hooks left behind near the 

surface water body).” Id. at 295. If such evidence demonstrates the existence of a 

fishery, then EPA determines whether the fishery is subject to “actual or potential” 

contamination. 

The Court also addressed the use of hearsay evidence to establish the presence of a fishery. In responding 

to Honeywell’s claim that the evidence EPA had cited was hearsay and therefore insufficient to 

demonstrate the presence of a fishery, the Court stated: 

Circuit law, however, makes abundantly clear that “administrative agencies may consider 

hearsay evidence as long as it ‘bear[s] satisfactory indicia of reliability.’” Echostar 

Communications Corp. v. FCC, 292 F 3d. 749, 753 (D.C. Cir. 2002) (alteration in 

original) (quoting Crawford v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 50 F 3d 46,49 (D.C. Cir. 1995). 

Furthermore, “hearsay can constitute substantial evidence if it is reliable and 

trustworthy.” Id. 

The Court pointed out that nothing in the Honeywell comments suggested that the information in the 

questioned information was unreliable (and given the positions of the authors of the statements, EPA’s 

reliance on their statements was neither arbitrary nor capricious). The Court further stated that it had said 

in an earlier case regarding a different agency, that: 

EPA was “entitled to rely on . . . representations by parties who were uniquely in a 

position to know the [relevant information].” Nat’l Ass’n of Regulatory Util. Comm’rs v. 

FCC, 737 F.2d 1095, 1125 (D.C. Cir. 1984); see also EchoStar, 292 F.3d at 752-53 

(rejecting petitioner’s claim that an uncorroborated and untested statement upon which 

the agency relied cannot constitute substantial evidence where the statement was given 

under oath, the affiant had personal knowledge of the facts, and the petitioner submitted 

no contradictory evidence). 

The HRS documentation record at proposal provides the Agency’s rationale for identifying a human food 

chain fishery in the Gowanus Canal. Section 4.1.3.3, Human Food Chain Threat – Targets, of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal states: 

People use the Gowanus Canal for fishing and crabbing, and several sources have 

reported fishing for human consumption [Ref. 13, p. 1; 14, p. 1; 15, pp. 1-2; 39, p. 3; 40, 

p. 2; 43, pp. 1-3; 45, pp. 1-2; 46, p. 3; 47, p. 1]. It is reported that people catch fish for 

consumption at the 3rd Street Bridge, which crosses the Gowanus Canal within the zone 

of sediment contamination, and at other bridges along the Canal [Figure 2 of this HRS 

documentation record; Ref. 13, p. 1; 14, p. 1; 15, p. 1]. 

Reference 13, an article from an online blog titled “New Yorkology,” states that “fisherman often line up 

at the Gowanus basin...[a]nd yes, they do catch fish to take home for dinner.” Reference 14, an article 

from another blog, titled “The Gowanus Lounge,” states that people “are fishing in the Gowanus Canal, 

catching fish and taking them home and eating them.” And Reference 15, a third blog, quotes a 

representative of a local industrial development corporation as saying, “People do use the bridges for 

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fishing. I don’t think it is a good idea to be eating the fish, but I’m not going to stop them.” Reference 39 

is an article from the New York Times dated June 8, 2001, in which the author describes “on different 

visits” seeing “fishing boats” on the Canal. Reference 40 details “existing waterbody uses of the Canal” 

and lists “fishing/crabbing (mostly south of 9th Street).” As an additional entry from the blog “The 

Gowanus Lounge,” Reference 43 provides “evidence that someone caught a striped bass in the... 

Gowanus Canal,” including a photograph. Reference 45 comprises documentation from U.S. Coast 

Guard Petty Officer Stephen Lucarino who, while in his official capacity aboard the Coast Guard small 

boat Station New York, observed people fishing in a number of specific locations on Gowanus Canal. 

Reference 46 is a New York Times article whose author was “a scientist for more than a dozen years with 

the Hudson River Foundation for Science and Environmental Research.” The portion of his article that 

focuses on Gowanus Canal describes the author fishing at a spot on the Canal which local residents report 

is frequented by fishermen. And finally, Reference 47 is an article in a blog titled, “Found in Brooklyn,” 

which describes an individual fishing for Atlantic Silversides in the Gowanus Canal. 

Regarding the ELM Group’s comments that “limited evidence of actual consumption” and “no 

compelling evidence of actual fish consumption from the Canal” is provided, the following information is 

noted. Two independent references described above, References 13 and 14, actually provide direct 

statements that people consume fish caught in Gowanus Canal. A third, Reference 15, indicates personal 

knowledge of people eating fish from the Canal (see notes regarding Reference 15 below). 

Six other references clearly document that fishing occurs on the Canal. Only one of the references (45) 

was generated via a personal request for information by a person (contractor) associated with the listing; 

all other references were from publicly available sources unrelated to the listing. None of the sources of 

information has anything to gain by making the statements found in the references. And the Court has 

stated that Circuit law makes it clear that “administrative agencies may consider hearsay evidence as long 

as it ‘bear[s] satisfactory indicia of reliability.’” The ELM Group has pointed to nothing indicating that 

the documentation of consumption is incorrect. 

Regarding the ELM Group’s statement that Reference 13 does not provide specifics regarding frequency 

of use, nothing in the HRS requires a frequency of fishing for a fishery to exist. 

Regarding the statements that Reference 13 does not cite what species are caught, Reference 23, the 

Gowanus Canal fish survey, provides substantial detail on the species available to be caught in the Canal. 

As discussed in Reference 23, there are 9 species of human food chain organisms present. 

Regarding that bluefish were caught in the Canal in Reference 14, but not mentioned in the species list in 

Reference 23, while the survey does not indicate bluefish being caught as part of the survey project, as 

mentioned in the next of the ELM Group’s comments, Reference 46 contains a firsthand account of a 

fisherman catching bluefish in the Canal. It is not surprising that the bluefish, a migratory species, was 

caught at a different time period than the survey events occurred. 

Regarding the ELM Group’s comment that Reference 15 does not indicate consumption, this statement is 

in error. The quote in the reference is, “I don’t think it is a good idea to be eating the fish, but I’m not 

going to stop them.” Being reluctant to stop someone indicates they are already engaged in the subject 

activity, hence, the speaker must be aware of persons eating the fish caught from the bridges of the 

Gowanus Canal. 

Regarding the assertion that “none of these resources (presumably the nine references of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal that indicate recreational fishing and crabbing, in some cases for 

consumption, in the Gowanus Canal) was scientific in nature,” as explained above, the Court has made it 

clear that non-scientific evidence can be used in an HRS evaluation as long as it is reliable. The 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

commenter has presented no contradictory information and there is no reason to question the accuracy of 

the statements in the above-described references. 

Based on the above discussion, the evidence presented in the HRS documentation package 

supports that the Gowanus Canal is fished for human consumption. Therefore, these comments 

have no effect on the HRS site score or on the decision to place the site on the NPL. 

Note that, even if the fishery were not scored as part of the human food chain threat score, the site 

would still score above the threshold for listing on the NPL by evaluating the environmental 

threat score, as explained in section 3.32, Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component – 

Environmental Threat Scoring Methodology, of this support document. 

3.29 Targets: Fishery Production 

Comment: The ELM Group commented on the productivity of the fishery in the Gowanus Canal. It 

stated that recent fish surveys conducted in the Canal for the USACE “yielded low catch rates, indicating 

a general lack of a productive fishery,” and that finding was also reported by the NYDC surveys as well, 

that none of the fish consumption documentation “relied upon quantitative surveys to determine actual 

angler behavior and fish consumption.” 

The ELM Group stated: 

It should also be noted that the fish survey conducted for the Army Corps by LMSE 

(2004) captured only 160 fish over 4 attempts using professional equipment throughout 

the Gowanus Canal. A total of 3 fish were captured in Reach 2, of which the Third Street 

Bridge is a part (LMSE, 2004). The Army Corps study identified limited abundance of 

fish in the Canal, supporting the notion that until significant habitat and water quality 

improvements are made, the Canal will not be a highly productive fishery. 

Response: EPA estimated the productivity of the fishery in the Gowanus Canal consistent with the 

instructions in the HRS. HRS Section 4.1.3.3.2.1, Level I concentrations, contains the instructions for 

estimating the fishery production. It states: 

Estimate the human food chain population value for each fishery (or portion of a fishery) 

as follows: 

• Estimate human food chain production for the fishery based on the estimated 

annual production (in pounds) of human food chain organisms (for example, fish, 

shellfish) for that fishery, except: if the fishery is closed and a hazardous substance for 

which the fishery has been closed has been documented in an observed release to the 

fishery from a source at the site, used the estimated annual production for the period 

prior to the closure of the fishery or use the estimated annual production from 

comparable fisheries that are not closed. 

• Assign a fishery a value for human food chain population from Table 4-18, 

based on the estimated human food chain production for the fishery. 

• Set boundaries between fisheries at those points where human food chain 

production changes or where the surface water dilution weight changes. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

This HRS section and HRS Sections 4.1.3.3.2.2 and 4.1.3.3.2.3, explain then how to assign the 

factor value for Level I, Level II, and potential fishery populations. 

The HRS documentation record at proposal, section 4.1.3.3.2.2, Level II Concentrations, page 32, 

states: 

People use the Gowanus Canal for fishing and crabbing, and several sources have 

reported fishing for human consumption [Ref. 13, p. 1; 14, p. 1; 15, pp. 1-2; 39, p. 3; 40, 

p. 2; 43, pp. 1-3; 45, pp. 1-2; 46, p. 3; 47, p. 1]. It is reported that people catch fish for 

consumption at the 3rd Street Bridge, which crosses the Gowanus Canal within the zone 

of sediment contamination, and at other bridges along the Canal [Figure 2 of this HRS 

documentation record; Ref. 13, p. 1; 14, p. 1; 15, p. 1]. The fish consumption rate for the 

Gowanus Canal fishery is not documented, so the fishery is assigned to the category 

“Greater than 0 to 100 pounds per year” [Ref. 1, p. 51621; 13, p. 1; 14, p. 1; 15, pp. 1-2; 

39, p. 3; 40, p. 2; 43, pp. 1-3; 45, pp. 1-2; 46, p. 3; 47, p. 1]. The category corresponds to 

the assigned Human Food Chain Population Value of 0.03 in Table 4-18 of the HRS, 

which is assigned as the Level II Concentrations Factor Value [Ref. 1, p. 51621]. 

Since an exact poundage of fishery production could not be determined but some fish are caught, a catch 

of greater than 0 pounds a year was estimated. According to HRS Table 4-18—Human Food Chain 

Population Values, a catch of greater than 0 to 100 pounds corresponds to the assigned human food chain 

population value of 0.03. This value was correctly assigned. 

Regarding the ELM Group’s comments that “significant habitat and water quality improvements” are 

needed in Gowanus Canal, this view is entirely consistent with the HRS evaluation. The observed release 

to surface water and the documentation of Level II contamination of the fishery clearly indicate impact of 

hazardous substances on the fishery in the Canal. 

Regarding the limited abundance of fish in the Canal, and the comment that the Canal is not a highly 

productive fishery, the assigned HRS population value for the fishery reflects the lowest possible value 

that can be assigned. 

Based on the above explanation, no change has been made to the human food chain threat score. This 

comment has no effect on the HRS site score or on the decision to place this site on the NPL. 

Note that, even if the fishery were not scored as part of the human food chain threat score, the site 

would still score above the threshold for listing on the NPL by evaluating the environmental 

threat score, as explained in section 3.32, Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component – 

Environmental Threat Scoring Methodology, of this support document. 

3.30 Targets: Fishery in Upper New York Bay 

Comment: Both the ELM Group and HydroQual commented on the presence of a fishery downstream of 

the Gowanus Canal. 

The ELM Group comments identified that there was a fishery in the Upper New York Bay that was not 

distinct from the Gowanus Canal fishery. It stated that: 

. . . the USEPA disregarded the findings of fish population studies in the Canal and Upper 

New York Bay that clearly conclude that the fish population [in the Canal] is composed 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

primarily of migratory fish consistent with the fish populations in the Upper New York 

Bay. 

It added that: 

Based on studies conducted for the USACE (LMSE, 2004), the fish population identified in the 

Gowanus Canal and Bay consists primarily of migratory species that are common in Upper New 

York Bay and the larger Hudson‐Raritan estuary. Striped bass was the dominant species captured 

during the survey, and is also abundant in Upper New York Bay. Very few resident fish species 

were identified during the adult fish survey, and little evidence of fish spawning in the Canal was 

apparent based upon the results of the ichthyoplankton survey (LMSE, 2004). Due to the 

migratory nature of the fish population in the Gowanus Canal, individuals likely spend a very 

small proportion of their lifecycle within the confines of the Canal. 

HydroQual questioned the relevance of the inclusion of a human food chain fishery in the Upper New 

York Bay. It stated: 

The statement is made in the HRS Document that 

“Residents also catch fish for consumption from the Gowanus Bay, just downstream of 

the site, and the rest of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary.” 

This statement is irrelevant in the Gowanus Canal HRS Document and should be 

removed since it relates to fishing done in the Gowanus Bay (which was deemed clean 

enough to serve as a reference location) and other Harbor areas. 

Response: The Gowanus Canal/Gowanus Bay/New York Harbor area was appropriately evaluated as a 

fishery (or portion of a fishery) and correctly assigned as a Level II fishery and as a potential fishery. 

HRS Section 4.1.3.3, Human food chain threat – targets, states: 

For a fishery that meets any of these three criteria [for actual contamination], but that is 

not wholly within the boundaries of the observed release, consider only the portion of the 

fishery that is within the boundaries of the observed release to be subject to actual human 

food chain contamination. Consider the remainder of the fishery within the target 

distance limit to be subject to potential food chain contamination. 

And HRS Section 4.1.3.3.2.3, Potential human food chain contamination, states: 

Determine those fisheries (or portions of fisheries) within the watershed that are subject 

to potential human food chain contamination. Do not include those fisheries (or portion 

of fisheries) already counted under the Level I or Level II concentrations factors. 

In the HRS documentation record at proposal, section 4.1.3.3.2.3, Potential Human Food Chain 

Contamination, includes the following: 

People catch fish for consumption from the Gowanus Bay, just downstream of the site, 

and the rest of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary. The fish consumption rate for 

the downstream fishery is not documented, so the fishery is assigned to the category 

“Greater than 0 to 100 pounds per year” [Ref. 1, p. 51621; 9, p. 2; 14, p. 1; 46, pp. 1-2; 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

48, pp. 8-12; 49, p. 1; 50, p. 1], which corresponds to the assigned Human Food Chain 

Population Value of 0.03 in Table 4-18 of the HRS [Ref. 1, p. 51621]. 

Regarding the ELM Group’s comment that the “fish population studies in the Canal and Upper New York 

Bay...clearly conclude that the fish population [in the Canal] is composed primarily of migratory fish 

consistent with the fish populations in the Upper New York Bay,” indicating that the fishery in the Upper 

New York Bay is not distinct from the Gowanus Canal fishery, it is not disputed that this can be so. 

However, the HRS clearly states in numerous places that portions of fisheries are to be scored differently 

when appropriate, such as when actual versus potential contamination is documented, as in HRS Section 

4.1.3.3, cited above. And HRS Section 4.1.3.3.2.1, Level I concentrations, states the following: “Set 

boundaries between fisheries at those points where human food chain production changes or where the 

surface water dilution weight changes.” In the case of the Gowanus Canal/Gowanus Bay/Upper New 

York Bay (continuous) fishery, according to the HRS, the Gowanus Canal portion of the fishery is to be 

scored differently based on the fact that it is documented to be subject to actual contamination (Level II). 

Regarding the ELM Group’s comments that “little evidence of fish spawning in the Canal was apparent,” 

and “individuals likely spend a very small proportion of their lifecycle within the confines of the Canal,” 

this information is not relevant to the HRS scoring of the human food chain threat. Throughout all of the 

sections of the HRS comprising the evaluation of the human food chain threat (HRS Sections 4.1.3.1, 

4.1.3.2, and 4.1.3.3 and subsections), there is no mention of any requirement for fish to spend any 

specified portion of their time in the subject fishery. 

Regarding the ELM Group’s comment that the fishing done in “the Gowanus Bay, just downstream of the 

site, and the rest of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary” “is irrelevant in the Gowanus Canal HRS 

Document,” the relevance of fishing in these water bodies is provided by HRS Section 4.1.3.3, Human 

food chain threat – targets. As cited above, a portion of this section states: 

For a fishery that meets any of these three criteria [for actual contamination], but that is 

not wholly within the boundaries of the observed release, consider only the portion of the 

fishery that is within the boundaries of the observed release to be subject to actual human 

food chain contamination. Consider the remainder of the fishery within the target 

distance limit to be subject to potential food chain contamination. [Emphasis added.] 

The italicized portion of the quote above applies to the Gowanus Bay/New York-New Jersey Harbor 

portion of the fishery. The target distance limit is defined in HRS Section 4.1.1.2, Target distance limit: 

The target distance limit defines the maximum distance over which targets are 

considered in evaluating the site. Determine a separate target distance limit for each 

watershed as follows: 

.... 

For sites consisting solely of contaminated sediments with no identified source, 

determine the target distance limit as follows: 

• If there is a clearly defined direction of flow for the surface water body (or 

bodies) containing the contaminated sediments, begin measuring the target 

distance limit at the point of observed sediment contamination that is farthest 

upstream (that is, at the location of the farthest available upstream sediment 

sample that meets the criteria for an observed release); extend the target distance 

limit either for 15 miles along the surface water or to the most distant 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

downstream sample point that meets the criteria for an observed release to that 

watershed, whichever is greater. 

• If there is no clearly defined direction of flow, begin measuring the target 

distance limit at the center of the area of observed sediment contamination. 

Extend the target distance limit as an arc either for 15 miles along the surface 

water or to the most distant sample point that meets the criteria for an observed 

release to that watershed, whichever is greater. Determine the area of observed 

sediment contamination based on available samples that meet the criteria for an 

observed release. 

Since the water bodies within the target distance limit are all considered coastal tidal waters (as shown on 

pages 23, 31, and 32 of the HRS documentation record at proposal), there is considered to be no clearly 

defined direction of flow. The water bodies within the target distance limit are shown on Reference 4 of 

the HRS documentation package at proposal. Even though, as HydroQual pointed out, the samples from 

Gowanus Bay do not show site-related contamination, because the Bay/Harbor are located within the 15-

mile target distance limit, they are considered by the HRS to be relevant to the HRS evaluation and they 

are subject to potential contamination. 

Based on the discussions presented above, the Gowanus Canal/Gowanus Bay/New York Harbor area was 

appropriately evaluated in accordance with the requirements of the HRS. This comment has no effect on 

the HRS score or on the decision to place the site on the NPL. 

Note that, even if the fishery were not scored as part of the human food chain threat score, the site 

would still score above the threshold for listing on the NPL by evaluating the environmental 

threat score, as explained in section 3.32, Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component – 

Environmental Threat Scoring Methodology, of this support document. 

3.31 Resources 

Comment: The ELM Group stated that at the Gowanus site “human contact with sediment through 

recreational use is unlikely,” and that “[t]his assertion is supported by the Army Corps’ and NYCDEP’s 

own findings, which indicate that the human population is not at risk from sediment pollutants 

(USACE/NYCDEP, 2004).” 

Response: The HRS score for the Gowanus Canal site did not reflect any value for recreational use of the 

Canal. 

In an HRS evaluation, recreation use of a surface water body is evaluated as part of the resources 

component of the drinking water threat of the surface water migration pathway. HRS Section 4.1.2.3.3, 

Resources, explains the process for assigning a resources factor value for the watershed: 

Assign a value of 5 if, within the in-water segment of the hazardous substance 

migration path for the watershed, the surface water is used for one or more of the 

following purposes: 

• Irrigation (5 acre minimum) of commercial food crops or commercial forage 

crops. 

• Watering of commercial livestock 

• Ingredient in commercial food preparation 

• Major or designated water recreation area, excluding drinking water use. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

 

That no value was assigned to the resource factor is documented in the Surface Water Overland/Flood 

Migration Component Scoresheet on page 3 of the HRS documentation record at proposal. This 

scoresheet identified that the Resource factor was “not scored.” 

However, evidence of recreational use of the Canal is documented in the HRS documentation record at 

proposal on page 23 which states that “[s]ome city dwellers have begun to use the Gowanus Canal for 

recreational purposes such as canoeing, diving, and swimming.” This information is supported by several 

references cited in the HRS documentation record at proposal (see Reference 7 of the HRS documentation 

record at proposal). While this recreational use of the Canal is not included in the HRS scoring, it will be 

considered during the risk assessment stage of the Superfund process. 

This comment has no effect on the HRS score for the site or on the listing decision. 

3.32 Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component – Environmental 

Threat Scoring Methodology 

Comment: HydroQual commented that the environmental “threat” was not scored because EPA indicated 

that the human intake evaluation qualified the site for listing. It continued stating that it is not clear if 

there were other reasons why the environmental “threat” was not scored. HydroQual asserted that if the 

environmental “threat” were scored, it would have produced a very low score and would not have 

materially increased the overall HRS score, stating that “[c]alculations performed during review indicate 

the environmental “threat” score would be at most 3.3.” 

 

Response: While the environmental threat was not scored at the time of proposal, had it been scored the 

environmental threat score would not have been 3.3 but 60.00. Furthermore, evaluating only this threat 

would result in an HRS site score of 30.00, which is above the threshold for listing on the NPL. 

However, the site score would not change if the environmental threat were scored, as the surface water 

pathway and site score as proposed are already at a maximum score of 50.00 for a site score under a 

single pathway. The rationale for an environmental threat score of 60.00 is described below. 

Likelihood of Release 

Likelihood of release for the environmental threat of the surface water/overland flood migration 

component was scored using the applicable standards in the HRS. Data used to document observed 

release by chemical analysis was obtained from Reference 16 of the HRS documentation record at 

proposal, and is presented in Tables 1 and 2 of the HRS documentation record at proposal. 

HRS Section 4.1.2.1.1, Observed Release, explains: 

If an observed release can be established for a watershed, assign an observed release 

factor value of 550 to that watershed, enter this value in Table 4-1, and proceed to section 

4.1.2.1.3 

As the observed release criteria were established for the watershed as explained on page 24 of the HRS 

documentation record at proposal, a release factor value of 550 was assigned to the watershed. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

Waste Characteristics 

The scoring of the waste characteristics for the environmental threat of the surface water/overland flood 

migration component was calculated as specified in HRS Section 4.1.4.2, Environmental threat – waste 

characteristics: 

Evaluate the waste characteristics factor category for each watershed based on two 

factors: ecosystem toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation and hazardous waste quantity. 

Additionally HRS Section 4.1.4.2.1.4, Calculation of ecosystem toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation 

factor value, states: 

Assign each hazardous substance an ecosystem toxicity/persistence factor value from 

Table 4-20, based on the values assigned to the hazardous substance for the ecosystem 

toxicity and persistence factors. Then assign each hazardous substance an ecosystem 

toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation factor value from Table 4-21, based on the values 

assigned for the ecosystem toxicity/persistence and ecosystem bioaccumulation factor 

value for the watershed and use it to assign the value to this factor. Enter this value in 

Table 4-1. 

Polychlorinated biphenols (Arochlor-1260) was the hazardous substance evaluated for toxicity/ 

persistence/bioaccumulation. As described in the Superfund Chemical Data Matrix, Appendix B-I, page 

BI – 10, polychlorinated biphenols have an ecosystem toxicity value of 1X104

 and a bioaccumulation 

factor value of 5X104

. This results in an ecosystem toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation factor value of 

5X108

. 

The hazardous waste quantity was calculated as outlined in page 21 of the HRS documentation record at 

proposal. A volume calculation was completed from data compiled from a December 2005 to January 

2006 sampling event by KeySpan (see Reference 35 of the HRS documentation record at proposal). 

Reference 51 of the HRS documentation record at proposal outlines specific details of the volume 

calculation method. The dimension of the source was calculated at 330,000 cubic yards, which was then 

divided by 2.5, according to Table 2-5 of the HRS, as the source type is “Other”. This results in a 

Volume Assigned Value of 132,000, which according to Table 2-6 of the HRS, results in a hazardous 

waste quantity factor value of 10,000. 

The environmental threat-waste characteristics factor category value was calculated as per HRS Section 

4.1.4.2.3, Calculation of environmental threat-waste characteristics factor category value: 

[m]ultiply the ecosystem toxicity/persistence factor value and the hazardous waste 

quantity factor value for the watershed, subject to a maximum product of 1X108

. Then 

multiply this product by the ecosystem bioaccumulation potential factor value for this 

hazardous substance, subject to a maximum product of 1X1012. Based on this second 

product, assign a value from Table 2-7 (section 2.4.3.1) to the environmental threat-waste 

characteristics factor category for the watershed. 

Applying the above method, the waste characteristics product is obtained by multiplying 1 • 104

(hazardous waste quantity factor value) X 5 • 108

 (ecosystem toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation value), 

which equates to a value of 5 • 1012. 

According to Table 2-7 of the HRS, the waste characteristics product equates to an assigned value of 

1,000. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

Targets / Sensitive Environments 

According to HRS Section 4.1.4.3.1, Sensitive environments, the sensitive environments along the 

hazardous substance migration path for the watershed are evaluated based on three factors: Level I 

concentrations, Level II concentrations, and potential contamination. 

Level I concentration for the target/sensitive environments was not evaluated, as sediment samples were 

used to meet observed release criteria. 

Level II concentrations are associated with sediment samples within the Gowanus Canal. The Gowanus 

Canal is part of the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary, designated by EPA as an “Estuary of National Significance” 

(i.e., a sensitive area) under the National Estuary Program (see Reference 9 of the HRS documentation 

record at proposal). According to HRS Table 4-23, sensitive areas identified under the National Estuary 

Program are assigned a value of 100 for the sensitive environment rating value. 

Those sensitive environments subject to potential contamination were evaluated using the methods 

outlined in HRS Section 4.1.4.3.1.3, Potential contamination, and Table 4-23 of the HRS. 

The Gateway National Recreation Area – Jamaica Bay Unit was evaluated as a sensitive environment 

subject to potential contamination, and was assigned a value of 100 points. 

Three Federally listed, three New Jersey State-listed, and two New York State-listed threatened/ 

endangered species habitats were identified as sensitive environments, and assigned a total value of 475 

points. 

One unique biotic community, the Lower Hudson River Estuary, was identified and assigned a value of 5 

points. 

Using the point scores assigned to each of the identified sensitive environments, a potential contamination 

factor value was calculated. As identified on page 51625 of the HRS, the formula for calculating the 

potential contamination factor value for the watershed was applied to the sensitive environments subject 

to potential contamination. 

The above sensitive environments subject to potential contamination were added to each other to obtain a 

value of 580. This value was then multiplied by the dilution factor of 0.0001, the dilution factor for a 

‘Large river’ as found on HRS Table 4-13 as applicable to the site. This equates to a value of 0.0058. 

This value was then multiplied by 0.1 as directed by the formula, resulting in a potential contamination 

factor value of 5.8X10-3. 

 

As per HRS Section 4.1.4.3.1.4, Calculation of environmental threat-targets factor category value, the 

values for Level I concentrations, Level II concentrations, and potential contamination were added to each 

other to obtain the environmental threat-targets factor category value for the watershed. Thus the value 

for Level II concentrations (100) was added to the value for potential contamination (5.8X10-3) for an 

environmental threat-targets factor category value of 100.0058. 

Environmental Threat Score 

As per HRS Section 4.1.4.4, Calculation of environmental threat score for a watershed, the 

environmental threat factor category values for likelihood of release, waste characteristics, and targets for 

the watershed were multiplied together and then divided by 82,500. Therefore, 550 (Likelihood of 

Release value) multiplied by 1,000 (Waste Characteristics value) multiplied by 100.0058 (Targets value) 

= 666.67. 

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Gowanus Canal NPL Listing Support Document March 2010

 155 

The environmental threat score for the watershed is subject to a maximum value of 60, therefore the 

environmental threat score for the watershed would be 60. 

4. Conclusion 

The original HRS score of this site was 50.00. Based on the above response to comments, the score 

remains unchanged. The final scores for the Gowanus Canal site are: 

 Ground Water Not Scored 

 Surface Water 100.00 

 Soil Exposure Not Scored 

 Air Not Scored 

HRS Site Score 50.00 
Attachment 1: 

Record of Meetings Regarding Proposed NPL Listing of 

Gowanus Canal 
Record of Meetings Regarding Proposed NPL Listing of Gowanus Canal – Last Updated 1/27/2010 

Following is a list of meetings and conference calls held by representatives of the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) with various outside parties regarding EPA’s proposal to place the Gowanus 

Canal on the Superfund National Priorities List (“NPL”). For meetings held prior to the close of the 

public comment period (July 8, 2009) EPA advised those with whom we met that comments on the 

proposed NPL listing should be in writing, submitted as a comment to the proposed rulemaking. For 

meetings held after the close of the public comment period on July 8, 2009, these meetings were 

informational in nature. 

Public Meetings:

April 14 , 2009(arranged by Congresswoman Velasquez) 

May 26, 2009 (arranged by Community Board 6) 

June 23, 2009 (arranged by New York City, Office of the Mayor) 

June 24, 2009 (arranged by New York City, Office of the Mayor) 

December 3, 2009 (arranged by US EPA) 

January 21, 2010 (arranged by US EPA) 

Other Meetings:

Date Attendees and Affiliation Subject 

4/15/09 NYS Dep’t. of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC): 

James Tierney, Sal Ervolino 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Angela Carpenter, 

Douglas Garbarini. 

Impact of NPL listing on 

planned water quality 

improvement projects 

4/20/09 New York City: Caswell Holloway, Dan Walsh, Angela 

Licata, Susan Kath, Mark McIntyre 

NYSDEC: Stuart Gruskin, Val Washington, Robert Shick 

U.S. EPA Region 2: George Pavlou, Walter Mugdan, John 

La Padula, Angela Carpenter, Douglas Garbarini, Joel 

Singerman, Christos Tsiamis, Brian Carr 

Impact of NPL listing on 

various projects of interest to 

the City, including 

redevelopment projects and 

water quality improvement 

projects. 

4/28/09 New York City: Dan Walsh, Mark McIntyre, Eugene 

Berardi, Angela Licata 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Douglas Garbarini, 

Eric Stern, Eric Schaaf, Virginia Capon, Brian Carr, 

NPL Listing process, 

Superfund process, and NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

4/30/09 Office of Congresswoman Yvette Clarke: Algene Sajery 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Berry Shore 

NPL Listing process, 

Superfund process, and NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

5/1/09 New York City: Anne Canty, Angela Licata, Roy Tysvaer, 

Keith Mahoney, Cavy Chu, Josslyn Shapiro, Shaminder 

Chawla, Kevin Clarke, Daniel Walsh, James Mueller, 

Michael Borsykowsky 

NYSDEC: Robert Schick, Gardiner Cross, Gary Kline 

US EPA Region 2: Douglas Garbarini, Jeff Gratz, Joel 

Singerman, Christos Tsiamis, Henry Mazzucca, Eric Stern, 

James Olander, Dennis Munhall 

Impact of NPL listing on NYC 

CSO projects 

5/6/09 Gowanus Canal Conservancy: Andrew Simons, Brett 

Wallace, Lauren Elvers Collins, Ted Wolff, John Muir 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Angela Carpenter, 

Douglas Garbarini, Christos Tsiamis, Natalie Loney, 

Michael McGowan, Brian Carr 

NPL Listing process, 

Superfund process, and NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

 1 
Record of Meetings Regarding Proposed NPL Listing of Gowanus Canal – Last Updated 1/27/2010 

Date Attendees and Affiliation Subject 

5/7/09 NYC: Caswell Holloway, Dan Walsh, Angela Licata, Susan 

Kath, Mark McIntyre, Holly Hester-Reilly, Josslyn Shapiro, 

Cavy Chu, Shaminder Chawla, Eugene Berardi

NYSDEC: Robert Schick 

US Army Corps of Engineers: Joe Seebode, Tom Hodson, 

Karen Ashten, Mark Lulka 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, John La Padula, 

Angela Carpenter, Douglas Garbarini, Joel Singerman, 

Christos Tsiamis, Virginia Capon, Brian Carr 

Water Resources Development 

Act (WRDA) process, 

Superfund process, and NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

5/7/09 NYS Senator Daniel Squadron 

US EPA Region 2: John La Padula, Berry Shore 

NPL Listing process, 

Superfund process, and NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

5/7/09 NYC: Caswell Holloway, Dan Walsh 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, John La Padula 

NYC proposed alternative 

approach. 

5/12/09 Center for Public Environmental Oversight: Lenny Siegel. 

PM Strauss & Associates: Peter Strauss 

US EPA Region 2: Dennis Munhall, Natalie Loney, Mel 

Hauptman, Joel Singerman, Christos Tsiamis 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

5/18/09 NYSDEC: James Tierney 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Christos Tsiamis, 

Kevin Bricke, Jeff Gratz 

Impact of NPL listing on 

planned water quality 

improvement projects 

5/20/09 National Grid: Tracey Bell, Charles Willard 

GEI Consultants: David Terry 

US EPA Region 2: Joel Singerman, Christos Tsiamis, 

Douglas Garbarini 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach; 

National Grid’s role 

5/20/09 Friends & Residents of Greater Gowanus: Marlene 

Donnelly, Lizzie Olesker, Mike Salvatore, Lisanne 

McTernan 

Urban Divers: Ludger Balan 

Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association: Gary Reilly 

US EPA Region 2: Joel Singerman, Christos Tsiamis, 

Natalie Loney 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

5/21/09 NYC: Dan Walsh, Keith Mahoney, Michael Mandac, 

Josslyn Shapiro, Cavy Chu, Holly Hester-Reilly, Shaminder 

Chawla, Angela Licata 

USACE: Karen Ashton, Mark Lulka, Roy Messaros 

NYSDEC: Robert Schick 

US EPA Region 2: Joel Singerman, Christos Tsiamis, 

Douglas Garbarini, Eric Stern 

NYC proposed alternate 

approach, technical issues 

5/21/09 Sive, Paget & Riesel: Jeffrey Gracer, David Yudelson 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Brian Carr 

Superfund process, NYC 

proposed alternate approach, 

impact of NPL listing on 

redevelopment 

5/22/09 NYC: Susan Kath, Mark McIntyre, Johanna Greenbaum, 

Robin Levine 

NYSDEC: Robyn Adair, Robert Schick, Gary Klein, Mike 

Lesser (all by phone) 

US EPA Region 2: Brian Carr 

Impact of NPL listing on NYC 

CSO work 

 2 
Record of Meetings Regarding Proposed NPL Listing of Gowanus Canal – Last Updated 1/27/2010 

Date Attendees and Affiliation Subject 

6/16/09 

(By 

Phone) 

NYC: Josslyn Shapiro, Chung Chan, John Gearrity, 

Johanna Greenbaum, Nnenna Lynch, Mark McIntyre 

US EPA Region 2: Joel Singerman, Christos Tsiamis, Brian 

Carr 

Impact of NPL listing on the 

Gowanus Green Project and 

other zoning issues 

6/19/09 NYC: Caswell Holloway (by phone), Dan Walsh, Johanna 

Greenbaum, William Daly, Angela Licata, Jessica Girioux, 

Steven Luftig (consultant), John Deeson (consultant) 

US EPA (HQ): Barry Breen, Elizabeth Southerland, 

Douglas Ammon, Terri Jenk, Ann Pontius, Helena Healy 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, John La Padula 

NYC proposed alternative 

approach. 

7/7/09 NYS Assemblywoman Joan Millman 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Berry Shore 

NPL Listing process, 

Superfund process, and NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

7/15/09 Natural Resources Defense Council: Eric Goldstein 

Environmental Defense Fund: James Tripp 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, John La Padula 

NPL Listing process, 

Superfund process, and NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

7/21/09 NYC: Caswell Holloway, Dan Walsh, Susan kath, Mark 

McIntyre, Johanna Greenbaum, Josslyn Shapiro, Anne 

Canty, Robin Levine 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, John La Padula, 

Christos Tsiamis, Brian Carr 

NYC proposed alternate 

approach 

7/22/09 National Grid: Tracey Bell, Charles Willard, Donna 

Riccobono 

GEI Consultants: David Terry 

Foley (outside counsel for NG): Russ Selman 

US EPA Region 2: Joel Singerman, Christos Tsiamis, Brian 

Carr, Colin Maromber (intern) 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach; 

National Grid’s role 

7/28/09 

(By 

phone) 

NYC: Howard Slatkin, John Gearrity, Josslyn Shapiro, 

Mark McIntyre, Nicole Rodriguez, David Karnovsky, 

Johanna Greenbaum 

US EPA Region 2: John LaPadula, Chloe Metz 

Risk assessment to support 

Public Place and Gowanus area 

re-zoning 

7/29/09 Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez 

US EPA (HQs): Administrator Lisa Jackson, James 

Woolford, Arvin Ganesan 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach. 

8/12/09 Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable 

NYC: Caswell Holloway 

US EPA Region 2: Brian Carr, Berry Shore, Natalie Loney 

NPL Listing process, 

Superfund process, and NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

9/16/09 Gowanus Green/Public Place: Alan Bell, Andrew Jackson, 

Adrienne Teleki, Mark Chertok, Kevin McCarty 

NYC: ___ 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, John La Padula, 

Douglas Garbarini, Joel Silverman, Christos Tsiamis, Chloe 

Metz, Brian Carr, Natalie Loney 

Impact of NPL listing on 

redevelopment; and risk 

assessment process 

9/16/09 Gowanus Canal Conservancy: Lauren Elvers Collins 

National Grid: Tracey Bell 

GEI Consultants: David Terry 

NYSDEC: Hank Willelm 

US EPA Region 2: Christos Tsiamis 

On-site meeting to discuss 

Sponge Park and the impact of 

the NPL listing 

 3 
Record of Meetings Regarding Proposed NPL Listing of Gowanus Canal – Last Updated 1/27/2010 

Date Attendees and Affiliation Subject 

9/16/09 

(By 

Phone) 

NYC: Mayor Michael Bloomberg 

US EPA (HQs): Administrator Lisa Jackson, Sarah Pallone 

NYC proposed alternative 

approach. 

9/18/09 

(By 

Phone) 

NYC: Caswell Holloway, Dan Walsh 

US EPA (HQs): Robert Sussman, Charles Imohiosen, 

NYC proposed alternative 

approach 

9/23/09 Friends & Residents of Greater Gowanus: Marlene 

Donnelly, Linda Mariano 

Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association: Katia Kelly, 

Glenn Kelly, 

CORD: Rita Miller 

CH2MHILL: Juliana Hess, Andy Judd, Patti White 

HDR: Michael Musso 

US EPA Region 2: John La Padula, Christos Tsiamis, 

Brian Carr, Nick Magriples 

On-site meeting to discuss 

planned work prior to NPL 

listing 

9/23/09 

(By 

phone) 

NYC: Mayor Michael Bloomberg 

US EPA: Administrator Lisa Jackson 

NYC proposed alternative 

approach 

9/30/09 NYC: Dan Walsh, Josslyn Shapiro, Cavy Chu, Shaminder 

Chawla, Andrew D’Amico 

US EPA Region 2: Joel Singerman, Christos Tsiamis 

NYC’s introduction of OER 

team and update on team’s 

work prior to NPL listing 

10/1/09 NYC: Caswell Holloway, Dan Walsh, Susan Kath, Angela 

Licata, Josslyn Shapiro, 

US EPA (HQs): Robert Sussman, Charles Imohiosen, Sarah 

Pallone, Stephanie Owens 

US EPA Region 2: George Pavlou, Walter Mugdan 

NYC proposed alternative 

approach 

10/2/09 National Grid: Tracey Bell, Charles Willard (via phone), 

Donna Riccobono, Donald Campbell, Andrew Prophete 

GEI Consultants: David Terry, Dennis Unites, Mike 

Zukauskas, Melissa Felter, Lawrence Liebs 

Foley (outside counsel for NG): Russ Selman, Bradley 

Rochlen 

Ostrow & Partners: Sam Ostrow 

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: Bonnie Barnett 

US EPA Region 2: Christos Tsiamis, Brian Carr 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach; 

National Grid’s role and 

technical issues 

10/8/09 

(By 

Phone) 

Gowanus Area Residents: Kevin Duffie, Kat1a Kelly, 

Marlene Donnelly, Rita Miller, Steven Miller 

US EPA (HQs): Barnes Johnson, Stephanie Owens 

US EPA Region 2: Natalie Loney, Walter Mugdan 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach; 

residents’ concerns. 

10/14/09 

(By 

Phone) 

NYC: Caswell Holloway 

US EPA (HQs): Robert Sussman 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

10/15/09 

(By 

Phone) 

NYC: Caswell Holloway 

US EPA Region 2: George Pavlou 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

 4 
Record of Meetings Regarding Proposed NPL Listing of Gowanus Canal – Last Updated 1/27/2010 

Date Attendees and Affiliation Subject 

10/16/09 

(By 

Phone) 

Office of NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery: Susan 

Leung, James Vogel 

US EPA (HQs): Charles Imohiosen 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

10/16/09 Con Edison: Eric Dessen, Mitch Bernstein 

US EPA Region 2: Brian Carr, Matthew Stuart 

Con Edison production of 

documents for Information 

request response; project status 

10/19/09 

(By 

Phone) 

NYC: Caswell Holloway 

EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

10/21/09 NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery, James Vogel 

Office of Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez: Dan Wiley 

Office of NYS Assemblywoman Joan Millman: Paul 

Nelson 

US EPA Region 2: George Pavlou, Walter Mugdan, John 

La Padula, Natalie Loney, Berry Shore 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

10/22/09 

(By 

Phone) 

Katia Kelley (Gowanus area resident) 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

10/26/09 

(By 

Videoconf.) 

FROGG: Marlene Donnelly 

CORD: Steven Miller, Rita Miller 

Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Ass’n.: Katia Kelly 

Gowanus Houses: Betty Lester 

Community Board 6: Roy W. Sloane 

Gowanus Area Residents: Cynthia Simmons, Bette Stoltz, 

Kevin Duffy-Acevedo 

RiverKeeper: Josh Verleun, Mike Pesa-Fallon 

US EPA (HQ): Robert Sussman, Charles Imohiosen, Sarah 

Pallone, Beth Zelenski 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Doug Garbarini, 

Christos Tsiamis, Dennis Munhall, Natalie Loney 

Superfund process; NYC 

proposed alternate approach 

10/26/09 NationalGrid: Brad Rochlen, Ann Land 

US EPA Region 2: Brian Carr, Elizabeth Cohen 

Review of EPA permitting 

files; project status. 

10/28/09 NYC: Caswell Holloway, Dan Walsh, Johanna Greenbaum, 

Josslyn Shapiro, Susan Kath, Angela Licata 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, John La Padula, Doug 

Garbarini, Joes Singerman, Christos Tsiamis, Dennis 

Munhall, Brian Carr, Elizabeth Cohen 

Project status. 

11/18/09 

(By 

Phone) 

NYC: Caswell Holloway 

US EPA (HQs): Robert Sussman 

Proposed alternate approach. 

12/4/09 

(By 

Phone) 

US Army Corps of Engineers: Joseph Seebode 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan 

Project status, proposed 

alternate approach 

12/29/09 Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation: 

William Appel, Gary Pollard, Jerome Krase, Buddy Scotto, 

Jeff Wyner, Tom McMahon 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Christos Tsiamis, Joel 

Singerman, Brian Carr, Natalie Loney 

Project status, Superfund 

process, proposed alternate 

approach 

 5 
Record of Meetings Regarding Proposed NPL Listing of Gowanus Canal – Last Updated 1/27/2010 

 6 

Date Attendees and Affiliation Subject 

1/14/10 NYC: Caswell Holloway, Robin Levine, Angela Licata, 

Carter Strickland, Paul Rush, Chris Boyd 

US EPA Region 2: Judith Enck, George Pavlou, Walter 

Mugdan, Dore LaPosta 

Superfund process, proposed 

alternate approach. 

1/20/10 CORD: Lucy DeCarlo, Rita Mallone 

Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association: Glenn Kelly 

Pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com: Katia Kelly 

Gowanus Neighborhood Association: Betty Lester 

FROGG: Marlene Donnelly 

Cobble Hill Association: Roy Sloane 

Mill Condos: Cynthia Simmons 

Sierra Club: Diane Buxbaum 

Riverkeeper: Josh Verleun 

Gowanus Area Resident: Steven Miller 

US EPA Region 2: Judith Enck, George Pavlou, Walter 

Mugdan, Christos Tsiamis, Natalie Loney. Beth Totman 

Superfund process, proposed 

alternate approach. 

1/20/10 NYC Councilman Brad Lander, and staff members Matt 

Kissler, Michael Curtin, Michael Freedman-Schnapp 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Christos Tsiamis, 

Natalie Loney, Berry Shore 

Project status, Superfund 

process, proposed alternate 

approach. 

1/21/10 Toll Brothers: David Von Spreckelsen, Nimita Shah 

US EPA Region 2: Judith Enck, George Pavlou, Walter 

Mugdan, Christos Tsiamis, Natalie Loney 

Project status, Superfund 

process, proposed alternate 

approach. 

1/26/10 Brooklyn Preservation Council Foundation: Robert Furman, 

Buddy Scotto, Eileen McGivney 

US EPA Region 2: Walter Mugdan, Christos Tsiamis, Beth 

Totman 

Project status, Superfund 

process, proposed alternate 

approach. 
Attachment 2: 

USACE Sampling and Analysis Plan 

i
ii

US Army Corps 

of Engineers 

New York District/Baltimore District April 2003 

DRAFT 

SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS PLAN 

GOWANUS CANAL 

PRELIMINARY HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, 

AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE INVESTIGATION 

KINGS COUNTY, NY 

Prepared by: 

Engineering Division 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

10 SOUTH HOWARD STREET 

Baltimore, MD 21201 
Sampling and Analysis Plan 

Gowanus Canal - Preliminary Hazardous, Toxic, 

and Radioactive Waste Investigation 

Kings County, NY 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Section Title Page 

1.0 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................1 

 1.1 Purpose.....................................................................................................................1 

 1.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................1 

2.0 CONTACT INFORMATION ........................................................................................1 

3.0 SAMPLING METHODOLOGY....................................................................................1 

4.0 SEDIMENT/SOIL SAMPLING ....................................................................................2 

5.0 EQUIPMENT DECONTAMINATION.........................................................................3 

6.0 SAMPLE PACKAGING AND SHIPPING ...................................................................3 

 6.1 Sample Packing Instructions....................................................................................3 

 6.2 Sample Shipping ......................................................................................................4 

7.0 DOCUMENTATION.....................................................................................................4 

 7.1 Field Log Book ........................................................................................................4 

 7.2 Sample Chain of Custody ........................................................................................5 

 7.3 Sample Documentation............................................................................................5 

 7.4 Sample Labels..........................................................................................................6 

7.5 Boring Logs..............................................................................................................6 

8.0 REFERENCES...............................................................................................................6

i
1.0 INTRODUCTION 

1.1 Purpose 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District is evaluating the feasibility of 

ecological restoration of the Gowanus Canal, Kings County, New York. The restoration 

may include dredging, stream bank stabilization, and shoreline softening. A geotechnical 

investigation is being performed to determine the soil properties of possible dredge 

material. Samples for chemical/Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste (HTRW) will 

be collected in conjunction with the geotechnical samples to evaluate the sediments for 

their suitability for disposal. 

This work is being performed in accordance with Engineering Regulation ER 1165-2-

132, “Water Resource Policies and Authorities, Hazardous Toxic, and Radioactive Waste 

(HTRW) Guidance for Civil Works Projects”. 

1.2 Objectives 

The objective of this investigation is to conduct an initial evaluation of the sediments to 

assess their contamination potential. 

 

2.0 CONTACT INFORMATION 

Points of Contact 

Richard Dabal 212-264-5746 HTRW Specialist, NY District 

Jackie Hamer 732-532-4359 Fort Monmouth Env. Lab QA/QC Chemist 

Analytical Laboratory Shipping Information 

Fort Monmouth Environmental Laboratory 

Bldg. 173 

Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703 

Note: If samples are to be delivered to the laboratory on a weekend, the laboratory must 

be notified ahead of time in order to ensure that someone is present to take receipt of the 

shipment. 

3.0 SAMPLING METHODOLOGY 

Dredged material and sediments beneath navigable waters proposed for dredging qualify 

as HTRW only if they are within the boundaries of a site designated by the EPA or a state 

for a response action under CERCLA. Although the material in Gowanus Canal does not 

1
qualify as HTRW, the material must still be tested and evaluated for its suitability for 

disposal in accordance with the following: 

3⁄4 Appropriate guidelines and criteria adopted pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean 

Water Act; 

3⁄4 Section 103 of the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA); and 

3⁄4 The Corps of Engineers Management Strategy for Disposal of Dredge Material: 

Containment Testing and Controls. 

The first step in the evaluation process is to conduct an initial evaluation of the sediments 

to assess their contamination potential. This investigation is designed to address that 

requirement. A total of thirty (30) samples will be collected and analyzed for volatile 

organics (VOA) + 15 (method 624/8260), acid-base-neutral (ABN) + 25 (method 

625/8270), pesticide/PCB (method 8081/808), priority pollutant metals (method 

200.7/60), and total coliform (method 9222B). 

One sample will be collected at each boring GC 03-1 through GC 03-30. The locations 

of the borings are as shown in the geotechnical subsurface investigation plan. Specific 

sampling depths will be selected in the field based on grain size results and other visual 

indicators. A sampling chart is provided in Table 1. 

4.0 SEDIMENT/SOIL SAMPLING 

Collection of soil samples at boring locations shall be conducted as follows: 

a) Soil samples for VOA analysis will be collected immediately upon opening the splitspoon. After the split spoon is opened and a fresh surface is exposed to the 

atmosphere, the sample collection process should be completed in a minimal amount 

of time. Visual inspection and an appropriate screening method may be selected to 

determine the interval of the soil core to be sampled. Removing a sample from a 

material should be done with the least amount of disruption (disaggregation) as 

possible. Following collection of the sample for VOA analysis, the remaining soil 

will be homogenized and the remaining samples collected. 

b) Soil shall be scooped from the center of both halves of the soil core, and placed in a 

stainless steel mixing bowl. The portion of the soil in the split-spoon which represents 

slough shall not be included as part of the sample, and no soil in contact with the 

split-spoon shall be included as part of the sample. The soil in the stainless steel 

mixing bowl will be homogenized by thoroughly mixing the soil until the sample is 

adequately mixed (i.e. a consistent physical appearance is obtained). Once mixing is 

complete, the sample should be divided in half and the sample containers filled by 

scooping sample material alternately from each half. Sample containers are being 

provided by the laboratory with pre-labeled for analytical method and with the 

required preservatives already in the container. 

2
c) Each sample jar will be labeled in waterproof ink to indicate the sample number, 

analytical parameters/method, preservation (if any), location, date and time of 

collection, and sampler. Each sample number and associated information will be 

entered on the lab provided chain of custody form. 

d) The sample containers should be tightly sealed, clearly labeled and placed on ice 

immediately. Package for shipment as described in Section 6.0. 

5.0 EQUIPMENT DECONTAMINATION 

Non-dedicated sampling equipment, such as the mixing bowl and split spoon samplers, 

must be cleaned between sampling episodes. Decontamination shall consist of washing 

the equipment with potable water to remove loose materials such as mud and dust, 

scrubbing the equipment with brushes and a phosphate-free detergent, and rinsing again 

with potable water. If possible, the final rinse will be performed with a steam-cleaner 

using potable water. 

6.0 SAMPLE PACKAGING AND SHIPPING 

Samples must be packaged carefully to avoid breakage or contamination and must be 

shipped to the laboratory at the proper temperature and within 48 hours. 

6.1 Sample Packing Instructions

In order to maintain chain of custody protocol and to prevent breakage of the sample 

containers, the samples shall be packaged as follows: 

a. After sample collection, make sure the lids are securely affixed to the properly 

labeled sample containers, to prevent loosening and possible leakage of contents. 

b. Place approximately a 3-inch layer of inert cushioning material in the bottom of a 

waterproof metal or equivalent strength plastic ice chest or cooler. 

c. Enclose the bottles in clear plastic ZipLoc-type bags, through which labels are 

visible, and seal the bag. Place the bottles so that they will remain upright, 

cushioned and separated in the cooler during shipment.

d. Put in additional packing material to partially cover sample bottles (more than 

halfway), to ensure that they do not shift during transport. 

e. Place sealed plastic bags of ice (double bagged in "ZipLoc" bags) around and on 

top of the samples bottles. If chemical ice is used (i.e. blue ice), bag it similarly. 

NOTE: Use enough ice in order to maintain samples at a temperature of 4°C 

during shipment. 

f. Seal the appropriate chain of custody form(s) in a ZipLoc-type plastic bag, and tape 

it securely to the inside lid of the cooler. 

g. Tape the cooler/ice chest drain shut. 

3
h. Close and lock/latch the cooler. Secure the lid by taping. Wrap the cooler 

completely with strapping tape at a minimum of two locations. Do not cover any 

labels. 

i. Attach a completed shipping label to the top of the cooler. 

j. Put "This Side Up" labels on top of cooler and on all 4 sides. Put "Fragile" labels on 

at least two sides. 

k. Affix numbered and signed custody seals on front right and back left of cooler. 

Cover seals with wide, clear tape. 

l. While packing each cooler for shipment, remember not to exceed the weight limit 

set by the shipper. 

6.2 Sample Shipping

Sample labels, field notebook information, and chain of custody forms are checked to be 

sure there are no errors in sample identification and to verify that all the required 

information has been supplied. 

As soon as the samples are ready for transport from the field to the Contract Laboratory, the 

laboratory point of contact (POC) shall be notified by telephone of the shipment along with 

the estimated time of arrival. Samples will be shipped to the laboratory via overnight 

carrier. The shipping address is provided in Section 2.0. 

7.0 DOCUMENTATION 

7.1 Field Log Book 

A logbook will be maintained to document all field activities. The logbook will be a 

bound notebook with water-resistant pages. The following guidelines will be followed 

when entering information into the logbook: 

a. All entries will be made legibly with indelible, dark blue or black ink. 

b. All time will be reported as military time. 

c. All pages in the log will be numbered consecutively, signed and dated. 

d. No blank pages or sections of pages will be allowed. If a page is not completely 

filled in, a line will be drawn through the blank portion and initialed by the person 

keeping the log. 

e. Errors will be corrected by drawing a single line through the error and initialing the 

change. 

f. At the end of each day, the logbook will be signed and dated. 

The field logbook will contain the following: 

a. Record at the start of each day, the date, time and weather. 

b. Note the people present throughout the day. 

c. Record PPE levels and any changes made during the day. 

4
d. Also note field instrument measurements and calibration. 

e. Record action taken, project progress and observations. 

f. Documentation of sample collection to include sample identification number, 

description of the sampling method, sampling matrix, sample location, time of 

collection, sampling depth, results of field screening, sample description, and type of 

analysis requested. 

g. Any deviation from the sampling plan shall be noted and explained. 

h. Record any unusual incidents, problems and accidents. 

The Field Notebook serves as a permanent and traceable record of all field activities related 

to a project and it will become a part of the project files. 

7.2 Sample Chain of Custody 

Evidence of the sample traceability from collection to shipment, laboratory receipt, and 

laboratory custody until proper disposal must be documented. Documentation will be 

accomplished through a Chain of Custody form that records each sample and the 

individuals responsible for sample collection, transfer, shipment, and receipt by the 

laboratory. This form must also contain pertinent information about sampling location, 

date, and times; signature of sampling technician, types and numbers of samples collected 

and shipped for analysis in each lot; parameters to be analyzed per sample; unique sample 

identification numbers assigned to the sample(s); and the project name and number. 

Samples shall be accompanied by an approved and completed chain of custody form during 

each step of custody, transfer, and shipment. When physical possession of samples is 

transferred, both the individual relinquishing the samples and the individual receiving them 

shall sign, date, and record the time on the Chain of Custody form. 

A sample is considered to be in a person's custody if the sample is: 

a. In a person's actual possession. 

b. In view after being in a person's possession. 

c. Locked up so that no one can tamper with it after having been in physical custody. 

d. In a secured area, restricted to authorized personnel. 

 7.3 Sample Documentation 

The chain of custody procedures are initiated in the field following sample collection. The 

procedures consist of: 

 (1) Preparing and attaching a unique sample label to each sample collected; 

 (2) Completing the chain of custody form; and 

 (3) Preparing and packaging the samples for shipment. 

5
6

7.4 Sample Labels 

Field personnel are responsible for uniquely identifying and labeling all samples collected 

during a field investigation. All labeling will be completed in indelible ink and be securely 

affixed to the sample container. All sample bottles shall be labeled containing the 

following information: 

 - Project number and site name, 

 - Unique sample identification number, 

 - Sample description, 

 - Parameters to be analyzed for/method numbers, 

 - Sampling date and time, 

 - Initials of sampling technician, and 

 - Method of sample preservation/conditioning used. 

7.5 Boring Logs 

Sampling depths and other pertinent information (such as staining or odor) regarding the 

sample will be recorded on the geotechnical boring log prepared for the boring. 

8.0 REFERENCES 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EM 200-1-3, Requirements for the Preparation of 

Sampling and Analysis Plans, September 1994. 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ER 1165-2-132, Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive 

Waste (HTRW) Guidance for Civil Works Projects, June 1992. 
TABLE 1: SAMPLING CHART 

Sample Sample Depth (ft) Location 

Sample Number start stop 

Matrix Sample 

Type 

Laboratory Analysis Remarks 

GC03-1 GC03-1-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-2 GC03-2-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-3 GC03-3-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-4 GC03-4-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-5 GC03-5-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-6 GC03-6-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-7 GC03-7-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-8 GC03-8-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

7
TABLE 1: SAMPLING CHART continued

Sample Location 

Sample Number 

Sample Depth (ft) Matrix Sample 

Type 

Laboratory Analysis Remarks 

GC03-9 GC03-9-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-10 GC03-10-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-11 GC03-11-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-12 GC03-12-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-13 GC03-13-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-14 GC03-14-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-15 GC03-15-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-16 GC03-16-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

8
TABLE 1: SAMPLING CHART continued

Sample Location 

Sample Number 

Sample Depth (ft) Matrix Sample 

Type 

Laboratory Analysis Remarks 

GC03-17 GC03-17-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-18 GC03-18-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-19 GC03-19-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-20 GC03-20-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-21 GC03-21-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-22 GC03-22-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-23 GC03-23-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-24 GC03-24-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25,), 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

9
10

TABLE 1: SAMPLING CHART continuedSample Location 

Sample Number 

Sample Depth (ft) Matrix Sample 

Type 

Laboratory Analysis Remarks 

GC03-25 GC03-25-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25, 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-26 GC03-26-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25, 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-27 GC03-27-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25, 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-28 GC03-28-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25, 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-29 GC03-29-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25, 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 

GC03-30 GC03-30-S1 Soil Primary VOA + 15, ABN + 25, 

Pest/PCB, PP Metals, and Total Coliform 
Attachment 3: 

Background Samples and Release Samples from the 

GEI Analysis 

i 
BACKGROUND SAMPLES AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS

SURFICIAL SEDIMENT

Attachment 3: Background Samples and Release Samples from the GEI Analysis BACKGROUND CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT A 3x MAX BG 

or MAX BG 

SQL

Field Sample No. GC-SED01 GC-SED02 GC-SED03

Depth in feet 1-2.5 1-2 0-1.5

Result Q SQL Result Q SQL Result Q SQL

 Aroclor-1242 0.031 U 0.031 0.025 U 0.025 0.027 U 0.027 0.031

 Aroclor-1248 0.065 J 0.031 0.037 0.025 0.13 0.027 0.39

 Aroclor-1254 0.11 0.031 0.051 J 0.025 0.082 0.027 0.33

 Aroclor-1260 0.072 0.031 0.039 0.025 0.041 0.027 0.216

Benzo(a)anthracene 1.9 1.2 2.4 J 3.7 1.4 0.52 5.7

Benzo(a)pyrene 1.5 1.2 1.7 J 3.7 1.1 0.52 4.5

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 1.1 J 1.2 1.3 J 3.7 0.43 J 0.52 3.7

4,4'-DDT 0.023 J 0.031 0.024 UJ 0.024 0.012 J 0.011 0.031

Dieldrin 0.031 U 0.031 0.024 U 0.024 0.011 U 0.011 0.031

Lead 232 13.5 450 12.2 375 1350

Underlined italics indicates maximum background (or max. background SQL if not detected above SQL)

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 4. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT B TRANSECT C TRANSECT D TRANSECT E

Field Sample No. GC-SED04 GC-SED05 GC-SED07 GC-SED08 GC-SED09B GC-SED10 GC-SED11 GC-SED12 GC-SED13B GC-SED14 GC-SED15

Depth in feet 0-2 0-2 0-2.5 1-2 0-1.5 1-3 0-2 0-2 0-1.5 0-0.75

 Aroclor-1242 0.68 J NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 0.12 J

 Aroclor-1248 0.24 J 0.18 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS

 Aroclor-1254 0.85 J 0.27 J 1.7 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 0.17 J

 Aroclor-1260 0.21 J 0.087 J 0.64 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 0.14

Benzo(a)anthracene 20 14 81 51 18 43 16 5.4 23 6

Benzo(a)pyrene 17 11 74 45 12 36 13 4.7 18 5.2

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 6.5 J 5.3 J 23 J 17 J 6.6 11 7 1.9 J 4.8 J 2.5 J

4,4'-DDT 0.065 NJ 0.07 NJ R R R 0.068 J

Dieldrin 0.02 J

Lead 249 193 1690 1520 278 507 J 528 357 J 703 J 812 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 4. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT F TRANSECT G TRANSECT H

Field Sample No. GC-SED16 GC-SED17 GC-SED18 GC-SED19C GC-SED20 GC-SED21B GC-SED22B GC-SED23 GC-SED24B

Depth in feet 0-2 0-2 0-1 1.5-2 0-1.5 1.5-3 0-1 0-2

 Aroclor-1242 0.08 J 0.089 J 0.076 J 0.9 J NS NS NS NS NS

 Aroclor-1248 NS NS NS NS NS

 Aroclor-1254 0.17 J 0.13 0.051 J 1 J NS NS NS NS NS

 Aroclor-1260 0.14 J 0.11 0.04 J 1.4 J NS NS NS NS NS

Benzo(a)anthracene 10 13 J 6.3 22 J 5.1 43 7.2 5.3

Benzo(a)pyrene 8.4 11 J 5.1 18 J 4.4 35 6.2 4.6

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 3.3 J 3.6 J 2.1 J 5.8 J 1.5 J 13 J 2.6 J 1.5 J

4,4'-DDT R R 0.052 NJ R 0.11 NJ R

Dieldrin R

Lead 927 J 215 J 339 J 690 J 268 1180 325 J 307

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

Surficial Sediment - 1
BACKGROUND SAMPLES AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS

SURFICIAL SEDIMENT

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 4. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT I TRANSECT J TRANSECT K

Field Sample No. GC-SED25B GC-SED26 GC-SED27 GC-SED28 GC-SED29 GC-SED31 GC-SED32 GC-SED33

Depth in feet 1-4 1-2 0.5-1 1.5-2.5 2.3-4.6 2.5-4.5 0.5-1.5 1.5-3

 Aroclor-1242 NS 0.36 J 0.29 J 0.4 J 0.31 J 0.47 J 0.037 J 0.4

 Aroclor-1248 NS

 Aroclor-1254 NS 0.6 J 0.2 J 0.82 J 0.64 J 0.53 J 0.038 J 0.49 J

 Aroclor-1260 NS 0.53 0.26 0.8 0.49 0.65 0.059 J 1.1

Benzo(a)anthracene 13 14 3.3 9.4 6 25 3.4 18

Benzo(a)pyrene 11 12 2.9 J 8.4 5.6 20 3.4 15

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 6 3.4 J 1.7 J 5.5 2.8 9.9 J 2.1 J 8.7 J

4,4'-DDT R 0.2 NJ

Dieldrin 0.2

Lead 352 560 339 552 924 1190 J 430 J 706 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 4. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT L TRANSECT M TRANSECT N TRANSECT O

Field Sample No. GC-SED34B GC-SED35 GC-SED36 GC-SED39 GC-SED40 GC-SED41 GC-SED43 GC-SED44 GC-SED45C

Depth in feet 2-3 0-4.5 2.5-4.5 1-2 2.5-3.5 0-4.5 2-3 0.5-2.5 1-1.5

 Aroclor-1242 0.57 J 0.69 6.2 0.011 J 0.036 0.013 J 0.95 J

 Aroclor-1248 2.6 R

 Aroclor-1254 5.7 J 0.7 J 0.94 0.94 J 0.0059 J 0.02 J 1.3

 Aroclor-1260 17 0.66 J 1.1 2.1 0.043 0.017 J 0.026 J 2.2 0.44 J

Benzo(a)anthracene 46 26 J 33 54 9.2 0.91 400 220 J 690 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 39 20 J 30 43 6.9 0.68 260 J 130 J 460 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 17 8.4 J 14 J 25 3 J 0.23 J 100 J 47 J 100 J

4,4'-DDT 2.4 J 0.2 NJ R 0.66 J 0.56 NJ

Dieldrin 0.48 NJ 0.13 0.093 J 0.16 J

Lead 1130 352 334 J 404 J 25.4 J 5.2 J 587 J 133 J 581 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 4. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT P TRANSECT Q TRANSECT R TRANSECT S

Field Sample No. GC-SED46C GC-SED47 GC-SED48 GC-SED49 GC-SED50B GC-SED51 GC-SED53 GC-SED54B GC-SED55

Depth in feet 1.5-2.5 1.5-2.5 0.5-1.5 2.5-3.5 2-5 0-1.5 0.5-1.5 0-2 1.5-2.5

 Aroclor-1242 3 J 2.4 1.2 0.39 0.65 0.23 0.19 J

 Aroclor-1248

 Aroclor-1254 5.1 4.6 3.8 J 1.2 2.2 J 0.93 0.47 J

 Aroclor-1260 6.3 6.5 4.7 0.2 0.87 1.3 J 0.65 J 0.39

Benzo(a)anthracene 210 170 J 230 670 630 J 190 160 52 J 88

Benzo(a)pyrene 130 110 J 140 J 370 J 480 J 130 J 110 38 J 66

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 41 J 37 J 49 J 110 J 170 J 51 J 30 J 13 J 33

4,4'-DDT 0.95 NJ 0.65 NJ 0.74 J 0.39 NJ R 0.32 J

Dieldrin 0.45 0.29 0.26 J 0.27 J 0.16

Lead 1100 J 961 J 557 J 848 J 1360 666 182 553 536 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

Surficial Sediment - 2
BACKGROUND SAMPLES AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS

SURFICIAL SEDIMENT

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 4. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT T TRANSECT U TRANSECT V TRANSECT W

Field Sample No. GC-SED58C GC-SED59 GC-SED60B GC-SED62C GC-SED64D GC-SED65 GC-SED67B GC-SED68 GC-SED69C

Depth in feet 0-5 0.5-1 0-2.5 0-2 2-4 0-1.25 0-1 0-1 0-1

 Aroclor-1242 1.9 1.5 0.26 0.2 J

 Aroclor-1248 2.7 J 0.61 J

 Aroclor-1254 1.5 2 0.76 J 0.38 J 0.47 2.9

 Aroclor-1260 1.4 0.79 J 0.57 J 0.26 J 0.11 1 2.3

Benzo(a)anthracene 200 J 450 200 52 J 260 J 200 J 8.7 19 18

Benzo(a)pyrene 120 J 340 J 140 38 J 190 J 140 J 8 16 17

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 34 J 90 J 48 J 13 J 47 J 45 J 3.3 6.1 9.9

4,4'-DDT 1.1 J 0.43 J 0.11 NJ R R R R

Dieldrin 0.0099 J 0.38 J

Lead 231 323 J 465 405 542 6.5 J 700 414 318

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 4. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT X TRANSECT Y TRANSECT Z

Field Sample No. GC-SED71C GC-SED72B GC-SED73E GC-SED74E GC-SED75C GC-SED76C GC-SED77 GC-SED78B GC-SED78B (dupes)

Depth in feet 2.5-4 0-2 1-2.5 0-0.7 0.7-1.5 2.5-3.4 0-3 0-1 2.5-5

 Aroclor-1242 0.076 J 0.049 J 0.25 J 0.34 0.23 J

 Aroclor-1248 0.19 J 0.34 J 0.47 J

 Aroclor-1254 0.084 J 0.37 J 0.69 0.47 J 0.25 J 0.34 J 0.63

 Aroclor-1260 0.089 J 0.36 0.44 0.32 J 0.16 0.2 0.48

Benzo(a)anthracene 23 0.34 J 17 5.1 0.28 J 11 5.6 7 22 25

Benzo(a)pyrene 38 J 60 J 14 0.5 0.5 9.8 6.3 5.3 14 J 15

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 19 J 37 J 5.9 2.2 J 0.19 J 4.7 2.7 2.6 J 5.7 J 6.9 J

4,4'-DDT 0.016 J R R R R

Dieldrin 0.01 J 0.012 J

Lead 274 J 10.7 335 J 226 J 5.6 J 314 258 J 221 372 511

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 4. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINANTED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT AA 4TH ST. BASIN (BET. I-J) 6TH ST. BASIN (BET. N-O)

Field Sample No. GC-SED79 GC-SED80 GC-SED82 GC-SED83 GC-SED84 GC-SED85B GC-SED86 GC-SED88 GC-SED89B GC-SED90B

Depth in feet 2.5-3.5 0-2 0-2 0-2 1-2 0-1 0-1 0.5-1 1.8-2.3 0-1

 Aroclor-1242 0.32 12 0.13 J 1 0.38 0.64

 Aroclor-1248 1.7 3.3 J 2.7 J 2.4 J

 Aroclor-1254 0.48 9.2 0.28 J 1.2 J 0.33 J 0.83 J

 Aroclor-1260 0.22 2.7 0.13 J 0.62 0.33 J 0.81 2.1 5.3 3.7 7.5

Benzo(a)anthracene 34 12 96 9.8 15 15 61 50 54 170

Benzo(a)pyrene 26 8.7 J 65 7.9 13 12 53 34 40 140

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 8.5 J 4 J 31 J 5 J 4.8 J 3.4 J 28 14 16 J 55 J

4,4'-DDT 0.041 J 0.013 J R R

Dieldrin 0.013 J

Lead 393 754 316 J 513 J 787 898 1340 570 1510 683

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

Surficial Sediment - 3
BACKGROUND SAMPLES AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS

SURFICIAL SEDIMENT

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 4. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect 7TH ST. BASIN (BET. Q-R) 11TH ST. (U-V) BET. J-K BET. K-L BET. L-M BET. O-R BET. R-S TRANSECT BB

Field Sample No. GC-SED92 GC-SED93 GC-SED94 GC-SED96 GC-SED97 GC-SED98 GC-SED102 GC-SED103 GC-SED105

Depth in feet 0-2 0-1 0.5-1.25 0-1 0.5-2 1-2 2-4 1-2 2.5-4

 Aroclor-1242 0.91 J 3.9 J 1.6 0.23

 Aroclor-1248 0.94 J 0.53 0.21

 Aroclor-1254 0.89 J 1.5 J 1.5 J 0.27 J 1.4 J 0.24 J 0.58 J 0.19 J 0.87

 Aroclor-1260 1.1 J 1.2 J 0.89 0.27 1.3 0.69 0.7 J 0.39 0.19 J

Benzo(a)anthracene 46 J 68 J 88 5.5 36 29 630 J 59 270

Benzo(a)pyrene 32 J 55 4.5 29 25 440 J 50 180 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 13 J 28 2.1 J 11 9.8 240 J 9.2 J 71 J

4,4'-DDT R R R 0.042 J 0.99 J R 1.5 J 0.16 J 0.49 J

Dieldrin 0.14 J 0.4 J 0.067 NJ 0.054 NJ

Lead 673 J 1650 J 978 315 1120 442 829 J 359 308

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 4. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

Surficial Sediment - 4
BACKGROUND AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS 

SUBSURFACE SEDIMENT

BACKGROUND CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT A 3x MAX 

BG or 

MAX BG 

Field Sample No. GC-SED01 GC-SED02 GC-SED03

Depth in feet 16-17 9.6-10.6 7.5-9.3

Result Q SQL Result Q SQL Result Q SQL

 Aroclor-1242 0.32 U 0.32 0.15 U 0.15 0.18 U 0.18 0.32

 Aroclor-1248 0.68 0.2 0.74 J 22.2

 Aroclor-1254 0.69 J 0.45 0.77 J 23.1

 Aroclor-1260 0.42 0.19 0.43 1.29

Benzo(a)anthracene 47 24 8.3 141

Benzo(a)pyrene 39 14 7.1 J 117

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 18 J 6.1 J 4.6 J ?

4,4'-DDT 0.079 J 0.069 NJ 0.071 UJ 0.071 ?

Dieldrin 0.062 U 0.062 0.059 U 0.059 0.071 U 0.071 0.071

Lead 1620 1840 1560 5520

Underlined italics indicates maximum background (or max. background SQL if not detected above SQL)

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 5. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT B TRANSECT C TRANSECT D TRANSECT E TRANSECT G

Field Sample No. GC-SED04 GC-SED07 GC-SED09B GC-SED11 GC-SED12 GC-SED14 GC-SED19C GC-SED20 GC-SED21B

Depth in feet 10.3-11.3 7.5-8.5 6-7 11-13 5.5-6.5 5.8-6.8 4-5 7-8

 Aroclor-1242 0.45 2.2 J 0.92 J

 Aroclor-1248 0.56 J 0.28 1.6 5 J

 Aroclor-1254 0.46 J 0.3 J 2.5 J 0.61 J 0.056 J 3.8 J

 Aroclor-1260 0.17 J 0.56 1.6 0.72 0.03 J 2.9 J 5.7 J 1.1 J

Benzo(a)anthracene 150 35 390 J 43 58 530 J 55 21 J 15

Benzo(a)pyrene 110 J 24 360 J 32 J 43 380 J 42 19 J 12

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 39 J 8.8 J 180 J 8.9 J 18 J 96 J 19 J 5.4 J 3.5

4,4'-DDT 0.092 NJ 0.096 NJ 0.18 NJ R 0.72 NJ R

Dieldrin 0.085 J 0.028 NJ

Lead 1400 1720 1420 1290 J 1200 1350 J 1230 J 1640 J 844 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 5. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT H TRANSECT I TRANSECT J TRANSECT K

Field Sample No. GC-SED22B GC-SED24B GC-SED27 GC-SED28 GC-SED30 GC-SED31 GC-SED32

Depth in feet 7-8 3-5 4.9-5.4 4.9-5.8 3.5-5.5 11.5-12.5 5.9-6.9

 Aroclor-1242 2 0.76 J 0.81 0.13 J

 Aroclor-1248 1.1

 Aroclor-1254 2.7 J 1.1 J 1.4 0.079 J 0.6 J

 Aroclor-1260 3.1 1.6 0.38 J 0.064 J 0.76 J 0.46

Benzo(a)anthracene 50 7.6 100 J 8.9 12 550 J 54

Benzo(a)pyrene 40 7.1 67 J 6.8 11 380 J 43

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 12 J 1.9 J 2.6 J 6.9 20 J

4,4'-DDT 0.13 NJ R 0.034 J

Dieldrin 0.83

Lead 964 J 495 1090 86.4 666 1260 J 1770 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 5. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

Subsurface Sediment - 5
BACKGROUND AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS 

SUBSURFACE SEDIMENT

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT L TRANSECT M TRANSECT O TRANSECT P

Field Sample No. GC-SED34B GC-SED35 GC-SED36 GC-SED37B GC-SED38 GC-SED39 GC-SED43 GC-SED44 GC-SED46C GC-SED48

Depth in feet 5.8-6.8 8.8-10.8 8-9 7-8 5.1-6.1 4.5-5.5 7.3-8.3 5.6-6.1 5-5.5 5-5.8

 Aroclor-1242 14

 Aroclor-1248 6.5 4.6 J

 Aroclor-1254 8.3 J 4.5 5.3 J

 Aroclor-1260 28 0.15 3.6 24 1.4 0.65

Benzo(a)anthracene 56 220 J 520 J 650 130 410 J 470 J 460 J 590 J 410 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 46 150 J 320 J 510 100 230 J 370 J 320 J 400 J 250 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 20 64 J 100 J 280 J 47 84 J 99 J 82 J 110 J 610 U

4,4'-DDT 1.6 J 0.4 NJ 0.69 J 0.42 NJ 1.8 NJ 0.24 NJ 0.16 NJ 0.18 NJ 0.31 NJ

Dieldrin 0.063 J 0.79 0.061 J 0.089 U

Lead 1550 207 1160 J 1250 901 316 J 564 J 784 J 960 J 894 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 5. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT Q TRANSECT R TRANSECT S TRANSECT U TRANSECT W

Field Sample No. GC-SED49 GC-SED51 GC-SED52 GC-SED54B GC-SED55 GC-SED57 GC-SED62C GC-SED63 GC-SED67B GC-SED69C

Depth in feet 5.4-5.9 6.7-7.2 3-6 4.5-5.7 10-11 7-9 3-4 3-3.5 7-8 6-7

 Aroclor-1242 0.32 J 0.36 J 0.14 J 1.7

 Aroclor-1248 0.65

 Aroclor-1254 1.4 0.99 J 0.27 J 0.93 J 2.7 0.5 J

 Aroclor-1260 0.67 J 0.59 J 0.51 0.29 J 1.1 0.4

Benzo(a)anthracene 140 J 880 J 480 560 J 38 77 270 J 56 350 J 13

Benzo(a)pyrene 110 J 630 J 320 J 390 J 28 59 190 J 40 J 240 J 10

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 32 J 180 J 95 J 130 J 12 21 14 J 69 J 4.6 J

4,4'-DDT 0.38 NJ 1.7 1.1 J R 0.28 NJ 0.24 NJ

Dieldrin 0.087 0.099 J

Lead 323 J 1270 147 364 490 J 42.1 655 317 995 28.9

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 5. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT X TRANSECT Y TRANSECT Z 4TH ST. BASIN (BET. I-J)

Field Sample No. GC-SED72B GC-SED74E GC-SED77 GC-SED81 GC-SED81 GC-SED82 GC-SED83 GC-SED85B GC-SED87

Depth in feet 5.5-7 5.3-6.3 14.5-15.4 8-11 13-13.5 12-12.8 11-11.9 8.5-9.3 4.4-6.2

 Aroclor-1242 5.4 0.064 J 3.5 3.6

 Aroclor-1248 4.9 0.1 J 2.9

 Aroclor-1254 2.7 J 2.3 J 0.23 J 3 J 7.7 J

 Aroclor-1260 1.7 0.45 0.11 J 0.11 J 0.8 5.3 2.5

Benzo(a)anthracene 33 J 47 J 97 43 J 83 14 100 67

Benzo(a)pyrene 26 J 40 J 75 32 J 65 9.7 71 40 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 11 J 17 J 27 J 11 J 21 J 4.7 J 27 J 17 J

4,4'-DDT R 0.6 J 0.019 J 0.021 J 0.053 J

Dieldrin 0.28 J 0.027 J 0.4 J

Lead 986 1070 J 173 J 292 114 J 438 J 1580 1820

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 5. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

Subsurface Sediment - 6
BACKGROUND AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS 

SUBSURFACE SEDIMENT

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect 7TH ST. (O-R) BET. I-J BET. K-L BET. L-M BET. M-N BET. N-O BET. P-Q BET. Q-R BET. R-S

Field Sample No. GC-SED91 GC-SED95 GC-SED97 GC-SED98 GC-SED99B GC-SED100 GC-SED101 GC-SED102 GC-SED103

Depth in feet 4.7-6.2 3.5-4.5 8.5-9 8.5-9.5 7.2-8.7 5-6 4-7 6.5-8.8 8.1-9.1

 Aroclor-1242 0.39 J

 Aroclor-1248 0.4 J 1.8 2.1 J 0.5

 Aroclor-1254 0.54 J 0.24 J 7.2 1.1 J 2.2 J 0.91 J

 Aroclor-1260 0.57 J 0.51 J 0.28 J 1.1 J 2.6 0.93 3.5 1.7

Benzo(a)anthracene 47 26 200 J 520 J 200 150 J 210 J 510 J 190 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 29 18 110 J 310 J 160 130 J 150 J 390 J 140 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 9.9 J 7 J 77 J 31 J 56 J 220 J

4,4'-DDT 0.17 NJ 0.3 NJ 1.1 J 1.7 J 0.49 NJ

Dieldrin 0.076 J 0.14 J 0.52 0.19 J

Lead 834 J 809 2030 1090 809 701 847 559 J 19.7

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 5. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

Subsurface Sediment - 7
BACKGROUND SAMPLES AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS 

NATIVE MATERIALS

BACKGROUND CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT A 3x MAX BG 

or MAX BG 

SQL

Field Sample No. GC-SED01 GC-SED02

Depth in feet 19-20 17.1-18.1

Result Q SQL Result Q SQL

 Aroclor-1242 0.096 U 0.096 0.1 U 0.1 0.1

 Aroclor-1248 0.096 U 0.096 0.28 0.84

 Aroclor-1254 0.096 U 0.096 0.1 U 0.1 0.1

 Aroclor-1260 0.096 U 0.096 0.14 0.42

Benzo(a)anthracene 110 J 120 360

Benzo(a)pyrene 87 J 82 J ?

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 370 U 370 25 J 370

4,4'-DDT 0.077 NJ 0.036 J ?

Dieldrin 0.0096 J 0.08 U 0.08 0.08

Lead 11.6 U 827 2481

Underlined italics indicates maximum background (or max. background SQL if not detected above SQL)

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT B TRANSECT C TRANSECT D

Field Sample No. GC-SED04 GC-SED05 GC-SED07 GC-SED08 GC-SED08 GC-SED09B GC-SED09B GC-SED10 GC-SED10 GC-SED11

Depth in feet 18.5-19.5 11.5-12.5 14.25-14.75 10.5-11.5 19-20 12-13 18.5-19.5 12.5-13 15.75-16.25 19-20

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248 1.2 0.85 J

 Aroclor-1254 2.1 3.3 J

 Aroclor-1260 1.4 3.4 0.65 J

Benzo(a)anthracene 15 J 580 J 110 J 360 J 240 J 520 J 0.74 85 0.49 24

Benzo(a)pyrene 11 J 450 J 87 J 320 J 210 J 440 J 0.64 65 0.33 J 20

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 4 J 140 J 30 J 87 J 67 J 130 J 0.14 J 27 J 0.082 J 7.2

4,4'-DDT 0.3 J 0.046 NJ 0.55 NJ 0.11 J 0.46 R

Dieldrin 0.0082 J

Lead 1.4 J 1090 9 999 2.4 J 1120 5.4 4.5 5.7 1.6 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT E TRANSECT F

Field Sample No. GC-SED13B GC-SED13B GC-SED14 GC-SED15 GC-SED15 GC-SED16 GC-SED16 GC-SED17 GC-SED17 GC-SED18 GC-SED18

Depth in feet 9.6-10.6 14.6-15.6 11.2-11.9 8.8-9.8 13.2-13.8 7-7.5 14.5-15.5 8.3-8.7 19.5-20 7-8 15-16

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248

 Aroclor-1254

 Aroclor-1260

Benzo(a)anthracene 44 190 J 28 J 120 J 9 J 57 J 140 J 110 J 2.5 88 J 45 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 32 J 140 J 20 J 93 J 7.4 J 41 J 90 J 86 J 2.2 61 J 35 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 10 J 45 J 36 U 26 J 3.4 J 13 J 32 J 22 J 0.83 J 20 J 9.7 J

4,4'-DDT 0.087 NJ R 0.071 NJ 0.083 NJ

Dieldrin 0.03 NJ 0.045 NJ

Lead 23 J 4.4 J 3.1 J 2.8 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

Native Materials - 8
BACKGROUND SAMPLES AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS 

NATIVE MATERIALS

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT G TRANSECT H TRANSECT I

Field Sample No. GC-SED20 GC-SED22B GC-SED23 GC-SED23 GC-SED24B GC-SED24B GC-SED25B GC-SED26 GC-SED26 GC-SED27

Depth in feet 15.8-16.8 19.3-20 5.5-6.2 17.5-19 12.6-13.4 15.3-16.3 9-10 5.3-8 14.3-14.8 12.5-12.9

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248 0.18 J

 Aroclor-1254 0.28 J

 Aroclor-1260 0.31 J

Benzo(a)anthracene 0.096 J 7.7 20 25 18 980 J 44 420 82 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 0.055 J 5.8 17 18 11 J 730 J 31 J 290 J 53 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 1.6 J 5.8 J 6.3 J 2.2 J 9.4 J 350 U

4,4'-DDT R 0.82 J 0.069 NJ R 0.031 J

Dieldrin 0.0012 J 0.007 J 0.18 U

Lead 215 825 4.4 2.4 J 4.4

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT J TRANSECT K TRANSECT L

Field Sample No. GC-SED28 GC-SED29 GC-SED29 GC-SED30 GC-SED30 GC-SED31 GC-SED32 GC-SED33 GC-SED33 GC-SED35 GC-SED36

Depth in feet 19-19.3 7.4-8.4 13.9-14.9 10.8-11.3 15.3-16.3 16.5-18 13-14 10.2-11 17.4-18.2 15.3-17.3 19-20

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248

 Aroclor-1254

 Aroclor-1260

Benzo(a)anthracene 0.16 J 45 J 0.37 J 48 J 4.4 48 J 240 J 100 J 510 J 160 J 110 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 0.12 J 34 J 0.27 J 36 J 3.3 J 38 J 180 J 69 J 370 J 120 J 79 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 11 J 0.07 J 11 J 1.1 J 15 J 60 J 26 J 160 J 53 J 30 J

4,4'-DDT 0.085 NJ 0.098 J 0.012 J 0.089 NJ 0.38 NJ 0.35 0.16 NJ 0.49 J

Dieldrin 0.0086 J 0.027 J 0.003 J 0.19 J 0.021 J

Lead 3.9 6.5 3.6 6.3 2.6 J 3.3 J 5.8 J 2.5 J 3.1 3 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT M TRANSECT N TRANSECT O TRANSECT P

Field Sample No. GC-SED39 GC-SED40 GC-SED41 GC-SED43 GC-SED44 GC-SED46C GC-SED47 GC-SED47 GC-SED48

Depth in feet 10-10.5 5-6 7.3-8.3 9.9-10.4 13.3-13.9 9-10 4.5-5.5 11.8-12.2 10-11

 Aroclor-1242 1.4 J

 Aroclor-1248

 Aroclor-1254

 Aroclor-1260 5.7 0.044 J

Benzo(a)anthracene 210 J 140 J 180 J 180 J 720 J 76 J 270 J 150 150 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 120 J 98 J 140 J 120 J 450 J 50 J 170 J 110 J 92 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 37 J 41 J 35 J 30 J

4,4'-DDT 0.015 NJ 0.15 NJ 0.73 J 0.045 NJ 0.11 NJ 0.036 U 0.048 NJ

Dieldrin 0.7 NJ 0.013 J 0.015 J 0.008 J

Lead 1320 J 5.2 J 8.9 J 2.9 J 1.9 J 5 J 5.7 J 1.6 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

Native Materials - 9
BACKGROUND SAMPLES AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS 

NATIVE MATERIALS

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT Q TRANSECT R

Field Sample No. GC-SED49 GC-SED50B GC-SED50B GC-SED51 GC-SED52 GC-SED53 GC-SED54B

Depth in feet 10-11 6-7 15-16 12.5-13.2 15-16.7 7.4-8.7 12.7-13.7

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248

 Aroclor-1254

 Aroclor-1260

Benzo(a)anthracene 130 J 150 J 95 J 64 J 31 J 100 J 120 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 92 J 110 J 70 J 45 J 17 J 75 J 77 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 25 J 35 J 16 J 23 J

4,4'-DDT 0.079 U 0.24 NJ 0.13 NJ 0.097 NJ 0.1 NJ 0.094 J 0.2 NJ

Dieldrin 0.018 J

Lead 3.7 J 10 5.2 2.8 1.8 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT S TRANSECT T

Field Sample No. GC-SED55 GC-SED56 GC-SED56 GC-SED57 GC-SED57 GC-SED58C GC-SED58C GC-SED59 GC-SED59 GC-SED60B GC-SED60B

Depth in feet 12-13 5.8-6.2 6.7-7.2 13.5-14 15-15.8 8-10 13.25-15 6-7.25 16.5-17.5 6.8-8 13-14.4

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248

 Aroclor-1254

 Aroclor-1260 0.049 J

Benzo(a)anthracene 190 190 J 110 320 J 71 J 210 J 0.075 J 260 J 0.38 J 230 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 120 J 130 J 76 J 200 J 46 J 160 J 170 J 0.26 J 160 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 41 J 48 J 29 J 69 J 54 J 57 J

4,4'-DDT 0.056 NJ 0.52 0.22 NJ 0.2 NJ 0.2 NJ 0.22 NJ

Dieldrin

Lead 4.3 J 154 117 2.5 6.6 J 4.7 2.2 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT U TRANSECT V

Field Sample No. GC-SED62C GC-SED63 GC-SED63 GC-SED64D GC-SED64D GC-SED65 GC-SED65 GC-SED66C GC-SED66C GC-SED66C

Depth in feet 18.4-19.4 9-10 14.5-15 5.6-6.6 15-15.5 3-4 10.8-11.8 3-5 11.5-12.5 19-20

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248

 Aroclor-1254

 Aroclor-1260 0.2 J

Benzo(a)anthracene 0.11 J 150 J 0.44 200 400 J 370 650 J 0.21 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 0.089 J 100 J 0.34 J 130 J 250 J 230 J 450 J 0.15 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 0.094 J 53 J 98 J 73 J 160 J 0.05 J

4,4'-DDT 0.13 NJ 0.0027 J R 0.066 0.59 NJ

Dieldrin 0.014 J 0.031 J 0.076 J

Lead 3.4 6 J 7.2 J 97.3

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

Native Materials - 10
BACKGROUND SAMPLES AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS 

NATIVE MATERIALS

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT W TRANSECT X

Field Sample No. GC-SED67B GC-SED68 GC-SED69C GC-SED70B GC-SED70B GC-SED70B GC-SED71C GC-SED72B

Depth in feet 17.4-18.4 7-8 9.5-10.2 4-5 6-6.5 8.5-9.5 13.5-15 13.5-14.5

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248

 Aroclor-1254

 Aroclor-1260

Benzo(a)anthracene 0.07 J 160 J 130 J 67 88 220 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 110 J 91 J 46 69 170 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 34 J 16 J 24 J 59 J

4,4'-DDT 0.022 J 0.095 J

Dieldrin 0.0036 J

Lead 540 318 J 258 J 15.1 J 8.3 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect TRANSECT Y TRANSECT Z TRANSECT AA

Field Sample No. GC-SED73E GC-SED74E GC-SED74E GC-SED75C GC-SED77 GC-SED79 GC-SED80 GC-SED80 GC-SED81 GC-SED82 GC-SED83

Depth in feet 3.8-4.8 8.3-9.3 14.3-15.3 9.5-11.5 17.6-18.6 7.5-8.2 12-13 19-20 18-20 19-20 17.9-18.9

 Aroclor-1242 0.094 J 0.68

 Aroclor-1248

 Aroclor-1254 0.14 J 1.1 J

 Aroclor-1260 0.092 J 0.28 J

Benzo(a)anthracene 20 71 J 0.067 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 18 56 J 0.05 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 9.2 J 22 J

4,4'-DDT 0.046 J 0.24 J

Dieldrin 0.048 J

Lead 170 J 351 J 4.2 J 8.5 J 4 J 4.2 4 J 8.3 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect 4TH ST. BASIN (BET. I-J) 6TH ST. BASIN (BET. N-O)

Field Sample No. GC-SED84 GC-SED84 GC-SED86 GC-SED86 GC-SED87 GC-SED87 GC-SED88 GC-SED88 GC-SED89B GC-SED89B GC-SED90B GC-SED90B

Depth in feet 6-7 18-19 10.5-11.5 18.5-19.5 12.7-13.3 19-20 9.9-10.4 15.9-16.9 8-8.5 12.8-13.8 6.5-7 15.5-16

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248

 Aroclor-1254

 Aroclor-1260

Benzo(a)anthracene 85 99 6.1 29 0.095 J 67 J 34 J 9.1 220 190

Benzo(a)pyrene 65 J 69 J 4.1 J 21 0.078 J 47 J 25 J 7.9 150 J 130

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 25 J 22 J 1.4 J 7.7 J 0.088 J 10 J 2.6 J 51 J 43 J

4,4'-DDT

Dieldrin

Lead 5.3 2.2 J 10.2 9 7 2.4 9.1 2.5 30 4.5 2.7 2.3 J

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

Native Materials - 11
BACKGROUND SAMPLES AND RELEASE SAMPLES

FROM THE GEI ANALYSIS 

NATIVE MATERIALS

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect 7TH ST. BASIN (BET. Q-R) 11TH ST. BASIN (U-V)

Field Sample No. GC-SED91 GC-SED91 GC-SED92 GC-SED92 GC-SED93 GC-SED93 GC-SED94 GC-SED94

Depth in feet 10.2-11.2 16.5-17.2 7.1-8.1 18.5-20 11-12 18.5-19.5 10.75-11.25 19-20

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248 0.42 J

 Aroclor-1254 0.38 J 0.61 J

 Aroclor-1260 0.34 J 0.29

Benzo(a)anthracene 640 J 140 J 120 140 79 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 400 J 87 J 67 J 95 J 51 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 120 J 23 J 29 J

4,4'-DDT 0.41 R 0.099 J

Dieldrin 0.031 J 0.009 J

Lead 690 J 1.9 J 3.7 9.5 2.9 3.6 535 39.7

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect BET. I-J BET. J-K BET. K-L BET. L-M BET. M-N BET. N-O

Field Sample No. GC-SED95 GC-SED95 GC-SED96 GC-SED96 GC-SED97 GC-SED98 GC-SED99B GC-SED100

Depth in feet 12-13 18.5-19.5 14-15 16.5-17 15.5-17 16-16.8 9.5-11 10-10.6

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248 0.02 J

 Aroclor-1254 0.05 J

 Aroclor-1260 0.19

Benzo(a)anthracene 240 J 46 J 13 J 20 J 11 J 96 J 73 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 170 J 34 J 8.1 J 14 J 6 J 66 J 50 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 59 J 13 J 25 J 18 J

4,4'-DDT 0.031 J 0.049 NJ 0.084 NJ

Dieldrin 0.0083 J

Lead 3.8 3.6 3 10.4 4.8 6.6 11.3 J 33.8

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

CONTAMINATED CONCENTRATIONS

Transect BET. P-Q BET. Q-R BET. R-S TRANSECT BB

Field Sample No. GC-SED101 GC-SED101 GC-SED102 GC-SED103 GC-SED104 GC-SED104 GC-SED105

Depth in feet 7.9-9.1 13.6-14.1 14-15.7 11.1-12.1 3.7-5.1 7-7.5 9-10

 Aroclor-1242

 Aroclor-1248 0.34 0.4 J

 Aroclor-1254 0.17 J 0.23

 Aroclor-1260 0.39 0.21

Benzo(a)anthracene 200 J 260 J 81 J 260 J 7.3 17 J 18 J

Benzo(a)pyrene 140 J 200 J 48 J 170 J 5.3 13 J 12 J

Indeno(123-cd)pyrene 44 J 21 J 34 J 3

4,4'-DDT 0.16 NJ 0.36 0.3 J 0.49 J R

Dieldrin

Lead 49.3 3.5 2.4 J 2.2 J 298 7 7.3

Bold/highlight = observed release

Blank spaces indicate U or UJ (data removed for ease of use)

All results in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)

J - Estimated concentration

NJ - The analyte is presumptively present at an approximate concentration

R - The reported results or detection limits are estimated or rejected based upon the recovery

NS - Not sampled or analyzed for specific analyte

Note: Data was tabulated from Reference 35, Table 6. Sample and transect locations presented on pages 542-544 of Reference 35

Native Materials - 12