Cleaning Up a Toxic Past: NYC Superfund Sites

Behind the bustling streets and rich history of New York City is a lesser-known story concerning areas filled with toxic pollution, industrial runoff, and environmental damage. These regions are known as Superfund sites: regions that are so contaminated with hazardous waste that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has marked for cleanups. The Superfund program was launched in 1980 under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). This allows the EPA to restore the country's most polluted sites and hold the responsible parties accountable for the damage they caused.

So, why are these sites important? It's because of their major impacts on people in these areas and the environment. Especially in cities like NYC, the Superfund sites are located in densely populated communities that expose residents to harmful chemicals while they often don't realize it. This program not only removes dangerous waste but makes nearby neighborhoods safer and more livable again.

Let's explore some of the notable Superfund sites in New York City to see a snapshot of their history and new efforts to help these areas.

Gowanus Canal

Formerly an industrial transportation route, the Gowanus Canal is a nearly 2 mile-long canal located in Brooklyn. Many historic industries operated along this canal, leaving behind layers of coal tar, oil, and heavy metals. It was declared a Superfund site in 2010 and the EPA's goals for restoration include dredging toxic sludge and layering clean material above the canal bed. However, the work has also created local issues such as traffic congestion and affecting the aquatic wildlife.

Newtown Creek

Located between Brooklyn and Queens, Newtown Creek is one of the most heavily polluted waterways in America. This waterway has faced a century of chemical dumping, including a massive underground oil spill. While it was listed as a Superfund site at the same time as the Gowanus Canal, the EPA has not set a plan for cleaning and revitalizing this area. So far, the agency has set many companies responsible for damages to Newtown Creek, such as BP, Exxon Mobil, the city itself, along with many other corporations.

Wolff-Alport Chemical Company

From the 1920s to 1954, this chemical company imported and processed monazite sand which is rich in thorium and uranium. The company disposed of these radioactive contaminants into nearby sewers and soil. Added to the Superfund list in 2014, cleanup efforts involve replacing the contaminated soil, demolishing affected buildings, and using water jets to remove the toxins.

Meeker Avenue Plume

Found on the banks of Newtown Creek is the city's newest Superfund site: the Meeker Avenue Plume (2011). This region has been devastated by decades of chemical use, primarily dry-cleaning chemicals like trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) that have seeped into the groundwater and soil. These substances have been found to create vapors that leak into basements in local homes and businesses, presenting risks to residents. Efforts so far consist of treating hazardous groundwater and installing air purifiers in affected buildings.