geographic information systems and the passaic river remediation project centaur strategies, llc...

Geographic Information Systems

andThe Passaic River

Remediation Project

Centaur Strategies, llcP.O. Box 33, Verona, NJ 07044

(973) 239-9466

GIS & The Passaic River Remediation Project

Centaur Strategies, llc ©2007



The Passaic RiverCovering parts of northeastern NJ and southeastern NY, drains almost 935 square miles and is the second largest river in NJ stretching approximately 85 miles from the Bernardsville Mountains and emptying into the Newark Bay.

The Lower River Basin

Along 17 miles that run from the Dundee Dam in Garfield, NJ down to the Newark Bay just on the perimeters of the recently renamed Newark Liberty Airport, is the Lower Passaic River Basin. Some would call it The Forgotten River. Others would rather not mention it at all.

Dioxin in the Passaic River (16)





The Stew:The Lower Passaic River Basin1. The industrial revolution began along the Passaic

River2. Overcrowded development, housing,

manufacturing, supermarkets and shopping malls 3. Rerouting the river for Route 80 (think flooding)4. Many water sewage plants strategically positioned

adjacent to the river5. They do use the river as a sewer disposal









The Tire Story

In 2002, 4,000 tires

were hauled out of an 800-foot stretch of river

between Paterson and Fair Lawn.





Tires & The River: A Really Strange New Jersey Thing?

The Passaic RiverNot Just Tires

Raw Sewage PCBs and other Toxic $&*% DDT Heavy Metals Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons Dioxin And So Much More…

GIS & The Passaic River Remediation ProjectCentaur Strategies, llc ©2007

GIS & The Passaic River Remediation ProjectCentaur Strategies, llc ©2007

Introducing The Known Polluters(According to the USEPA)1) The Ashland Chemical Company

Site 2) The Hilton Davis Site:Responsible Parties

Thomasset Colors, Inc.Hilton Davis Chemical Co.Sterling Winthrop, Inc.Freedom Chemical CompanyEastman Kodak CompanyDrum Service of Newark, Inc.360 North Pastoria Environmental CorporationH.S. Acquisition CorporationNoveon Hilton Davis Inc.SDI Divestiture CorporationSTWB Inc.

2) The Hilton Davis Site: Continued:

PMC Global, Inc.Plastics

Manufacturing Smithkline

BeechamBayer Corporation

3) The Pitt-Consol Chemical Company Site

Responsible PartiesE.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.Pitt-Consol

Chemical Co.4) The Benjamin Moore &

CompanyGIS & The Passaic River Remediation

ProjectCentaur Strategies, llc ©2007



5) The Lucent Technologies SiteResponsible Parties

Lucent TechnologiesAT&T Corporation

Inc.RTC Properties, Inc.

6) The Monsanto Company SiteResponsible Parties

Monsanto CompanyMotor Carrier Services Co.

7) The Public Service Electric and Gas Company Essex Site

Responsible PartiesPSE&GPublic Service Enterprise Group

8) The Public Service Electric & Gas Harrison Site

Responsible PartiesPSE&G

Public Service Enterprise Group

The Sherwin Williams Company 9) The Sherwin Williams Company

Site

10) American Modern Metals Corporation Site

Responsible PartiesAmerican Modern Metals

Corporation DiLorenzo Properties CompanyMarshall Clark Manufacturing

CorporationKearny Industrial Associates, LPS&A Realty Corporation

Introducing The Known Polluters





11) The Atlantic Richfield SiteResponsible PartiesAtlantic Richfield CorporationAmerada Hess Corporation

12) The Franklin Plastics SiteResponsible PartiesFranklin Plastics CorporationFranklin-Burlington Plastics,

Inc.Spartech Corporation 13) The Stanley Works Site

14) The Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company Site

Responsible PartiesSafety-Kleen Envirosystems

CompanyBristol-Myers-SquibbPropane Power CorporationWilson Five CorporationApollo Development and Land

Corporation 15) The Napp Technologies SiteResponsible PartiesPurdue Pharama Technologies,

Inc.Nappwood Land Corporation






16) The Hexcel SiteResponsible PartiesHexcel CorporationFine Organics Corporation 17) The Getty Newark Terminal SiteResponsible PartiesChevron Texaco CorporationGetty Petroleum CorporationGetty Realty GroupTexaco, Inc.Texaco Refining and Marketing, Inc.Power Test of New Jersey, Inc.






18) The Diamond Alkalai SiteResponsible Parties

Diamond Shamrock Chemicals CompanyDiamond Alkalai CompanyDiamond Shamrock CorporationMaxus Energy CorporationOccidental Electrochemicals CorporationOccidental Petroleum CorporationOccidental Chemical CorporationChemical Land Holdings Inc.Tierra Solution IncorporatedTierra Solutions, Inc.Oxy-Diamond Alkali Corporation






Diamond Alkali: Superfund Site EPA ID# NJ980528996





Diamond Alkali:So unknown, yet so much trouble

Manufactured Agent Orange Agent Orange was used to wipe out the Vietnam

countryside during the 1960’s-70’s Police Action. Apparently, Diamond Alkali had used the Passaic

River has a place for "run off." So sitting at the floor of the Passaic River,

specifically in Newark is: 2,3,7,8 Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin





Better known and simply put: Dioxin

Dioxin (4)





According to a recent Cornell University Study:

This EPA Superfund Site has the highest concentration (50,000 ppm) of dioxin in the country, dioxin can be found 6 miles upstream. The EPA conceptual plans are to either cap off this site, not actually removing any of the toxic dioxin, but just sealing it up. The present NJDEP would like to do the same. Or dredging has been strongly suggested but never done. The present EPA would like to continue research.

Diamond Alkali: Superfund Site EPA ID# NJ980528996





The Passaic River:Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse…

“800,000 people in 23 towns use 83 million gallons of Passaic River water each day.” The Record

‘Although the Passaic Valley Water Commission says the situation is not unusual,’ it seems gravely odd and dangerous that “we pour sewage into the river, then we cook, bathe and drink from it.” The Record

PVWC is one of four sewage treatment plants that use the River and some have very antiquated systems.





YIKES!





WARNING:“Contaminated sediments take a large toll on human and ecological health across the Nation. Threats cited in EPA’s Contaminated Sediment Management Strategy include possible juvenile neurological and IQ impairment from food chain poisoning, increased incidence of cancer and long term damage to aquatic ecosystems.”

A study by the EPA





Along the bottom and throughout thismutable river, sits (creeps?) Agent Orange and other deadly chemicals that are harmful to all living creatures. And most people that consume their water from the Passaic

River are probably unaware of these hazardous materials. To be fair, The Passaic River Water Authority uses a massive

filtration system for sewage that goes into the water and of course, potable water (water used for drinking).

Besides sewage disposal, the River suffers from overflow and run off during very heavy rains.

The Passaic River:So, if I think about this:





WARNING:

“Evidence indicates that the ecology of the Passaic River has been adversely impacted by the presence of these hazardous substances. This impact is reflected in the State of New Jersey’s prohibition of the sale and consumption of striped bass, blue crab and other seafood in the Passaic River. Some of these hazardous substances may also cause cancer in humans.”

NJDEP





"Who’s Doing What?" A Strong Sign of Progress

On June 9, 2004, the Passaic River Institute held its first symposium "Who’s Doing What?" at Montclair State University.

More info on this group and its mission can be found at http://pages.csam.montclair.edu/pri/background.html

Organizations, Government entities, Scientists, Politicians and Citizens join together at these panels to discuss the environmental despair of the Passaic River and the various organizations and programs focused on its remediation.





The Greater Newark Conservancy’s Environmental Justice Program

Works with organizations in almost every major New Jersey city : http://web.njit.edu/~cecc/webdev/conservancy/2005f/environmental.htm

Help to counteract trends that show a disproportionate amount of toxic waste, air pollution, water pollution and open-space depletion in several urban communities.





What is Environmental Justice?The United States E. P. A. Defines:

“The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people, including a racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.”





It would appear:

There are many groups interested in the improvement of the Passaic River.

There has been explorative research, experimentation, hot spots cited, financially supported scientific research, and accountability on the part of some of the companies that are guilty.





GISplays a

significant role in solving the problem:

http://web.njit.edu/~cecc/webdev/conservancy/2005f/environmental.htm





GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, is “computer software that links geographic information (where things are) with descriptive information (what things are).” GIS & The Passaic River Remediation




How does it work?

What is GIS?

GIS combines layers of information offering an almost 3-dimensional view of that location. A GIS can link data sets together like longitude and latitude of the river with testing information, hot spots and remediation.





Why GIS?

GIS helps these agencies share their data. By creating a shared database, one organization can benefit from the work of another—data can be collected once and used many times.





Who’s Working on the Remediation?To Name a Few: USACE USEPA NJDEP Passaic River Coalition - The “Face the

River, Fix the River™” campaign for the Lower Passaic River





Do They Have A GIS System for the Passaic River?

USACE - Yes USEPA - Yes NJDEP - Yes Passaic River Coalition - Yes





According to Dr. Kirk Barrett, Director, Passaic River Institute, Montclair St. U., Coll. of Science & Math: “There are many organizations with GIS's related to the Passaic River; the USACE, USEPA, NJDEP all have strong GIS capability in house. But, there isn't one unified GIS, nor is there one publicly available over the internet.”

GIS & The Passaic River Remediation




Dr. Kirk Barrett, Director of MSU Passaic River Institute and the panel of leaders of environmental agencies that lead off the Second Passaic River Symposium. From left to right, Dr. Barrett; Alan Steinberg, Reg. 2 Admin. of the U.S. EPA, Lisa P. Jackson, Comm. of the NJ DEP, Col. Aniello Tortura, NY District Commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Lisa Baron, NJ Department of Transportation and Mark Stout, Assistant Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Transportation

GIS for Public Use

Orange County Water Authority of New York Detailed information compiled over the last

ten years Effective for every aspect of the community From city and rural planning to environmental

protection and sustainability to include public access to the results of bio-monitoring streams and wells, watershed development, and monitoring contamination sites





GIS OCWAOn-line and available for anyone

Allows an in-depth look (literally) at the water, land, stream and bio-monitoring of Orange County, New York, (a major watershed area).

GIS has assisted New York and Orange County citizens and officials alike to maintain their number one resource, the waterways.





Right To Know

GIS is at the core of the democratic process .

On the OCWA, everyone has access to understanding and participating in the development, planning, remediation and sustainability of their own community.





Asthma trends in America indicate relationships between race and socio-economic status: Minority and the poor are more susceptible to asthma. Through this research, they are trying to determine if the root cause for high incidences are directly related to environmental hazards.

They are concentrating on Newark, the Passaic River and the various toxins in and around that area.

They are using GIS to determine this by overlapping toxic sites with neighborhoods with people victim to asthma.

Cornell UniversityLINKAGE: Asthma and The Environment





“The limited access by and availability to the public to such critical technologies have created barriers for Environmental Justice communities’ ability to perform timely spatial analysis…

And exclusion from key policy making decisions.”

http://www.crp.cornell.edu/projects/WebGIS_2000/home/EJ.asp

Cornell UniversityStudy: Some Conclusions:





Public Information Access:The Big Map

According to Former Gov McGreevey:“We will have one state map that we will

live by and not one dollar of taxpayer money will be spent to subsidize sprawl anymore”





http://www.nj.gov/dca/osg/resources/maps/prelimmapsinfo.shtml

The BIG Map Landscape Project

Aligning State regulations and funding programs with the State Plan.

It will draw heavily upon the Endangered and Nongame Species Program’s Landscape Project.

The map is using GIS. Overlaps natural resources, existing

development, infrastructure availability and state planning areas.

GIS data includes endangered and threatened species habits.





This map provides builders and planners with transparent predictable guide for where the state will encourage and support development

The DEP has provided an online discussion board for individuals and groups to view the map and to offer input or raise concerns.

The BIG Map Landscape Project





GIS and Sustainable Development

More so now than ever before, our quality of life is directly affected by the quality of our air, our water and the biodiversity that surrounds us.

“Mother Earth has a fever and we can all feel it.”

Chief Looking Horse





Sustainable Development Sustainable development is a

process that will leave future generations choices.

Achieving this requires economic, environmental, and social imperatives.

“Many businesses are thinking of the world beyond today.

“They are adopting eco-efficiency and eco-innovation to improve the prospects for tomorrow.”





“To some degree, these changes are a result of continuing pressures from customers, investors, employees, legislators, and, increasingly, from banks and insurance companies.”

Eco-Efficiency: The Business Link to Sustainable Development, Book by Livio D. Desimone, Frank Popoff, World Business Council for Sustainable Development.; MIT,

2000

Sustainable Development and Business





QUESTION:Can the earth continue to provide and regenerate the resources we need for supporting life and encourage development as we know it?…





Could You Imagine?





The Passaic River… A Destination Resort

Could You Imagine?





A Family Outing at The Banks of The Passaic

River

Could You Imagine?





Could You …Imagine?





Could You Truly Imagine?





Could You JustImagine?





Could You Really…

Imagine?





Could You Imagine?





The Environmental Issue A Political Issue? ---How strange for it to be--- No, It’s Personal! It’s not an economical issue. It’s shouldn’t be a financial issue. It’s a personal issue.





This Technology

GIS allows us to measure our assets Understand our patterns of change Better understand the resources we are

using Identify the impact of human-induced

geographic change – A Good Thing In NJ! GIS is also helping us better utilize the

resources we have by leveraging geographic information with analysis tools that support planning as well as operational activities.





New Jersey Water Watch Cleanups Education Water Monitoring http://www.njwaterwatch.org/

montclair





Making a Difference

The Passaic River Institute

Environmental Research and Education

College of Science and Mathematics at MSU





Making a Difference

Brookhaven National Laboratory www.bnl.gov

Columbia University, Geochemistry Division -Lamont Earth Observatory of Columbia University www.ldeo.columbia.edu

Drew University, Dept. of Biology depts.drew.edu/biol

Earth Tech, Inc. www.earthtech.com

The Greater Newark Conservancy’s Environmental Justice Program web.njit.edu/~cecc/webdev/conservancy/2005f/environmental.htm

The Ironbound Community Corporation, Newark, NJ www.ironboundcc.org





Making a Difference

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration www.noaa.gov

National Science Foundation www.nsf.gov

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science Research and Technology New Jersey Department of Transportation, Office of Maritime Resources





Making a Difference

New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC), Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute www.meadowlands.state.nj.us/commission/index.cfm

NY/NJ Baykeeper www.nynjbaykeeper.org

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Fish Wildlife and Marine Resources www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr





Making a Difference

Passaic River Coalition - The “Face the River, Fix the River™” campaign for the Lower Passaic River

Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners www.pvsc.com

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

www.panynj.gov





Making a Difference

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Earth and Environmental Sciences Dept. www.rpi.edu/dept/geo

Rutgers University, Cook College, N.J. Agricultural Experiment Station aesop.rutgers.edu

US Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, Harbor Programs Branch www.nan.usace.army.mil/

harbor/archive/index.htm





Making a Difference

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refugegreatswamp.fws.gov

US Geological Survey www.usgs.gov/

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) www.epa.gov

William Paterson University, Environmental Science www.wpunj.edu/cos/envsci-geo





Making a Difference

Making a Difference

League of Women Voters, Ridgewood, NJ

The Lower Passaic River Ecosystem Restoration Project (LPRERP)

Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. Montclair State

University, Dept. of Earth & Environmental Studies and Passaic River Institute





Wanna Help?

Participate in NJ Water Watch

Write to the NJ Legislation

Get Involved Don’t turn your back! AND BOYCOTT THE

Very Strange PASSAIC RIVER TIRE DISPOSAL Ritual





THANK YOU!

geographic information systems and the passaic river remediation project centaur strategies, llc...

Documents

largest river

forgotten river

passaic rivernot

passaic rivergis

lower river basinalong

hilton davis chemical

hilton davis site

ashland chemical company