kosciuzko bridge replacement project
Environmental Planning & Management, Inc., as subconsultant to Parsons Transportation Group, completed a Hazardous Material Investigation as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Kosciuszko Bridge Reconstruction Project, located along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway over Newtown Creek, in Kings and Queens Counties, New York.
A Hazardous Material Screening Assessment was first conducted to identify potentially contaminated areas along the project. The screening study included a visual site inspection to identify current land use; identification of prior land use dating to 1888, and review of Federal, State, and local agency records. The assessment focused on identifying underground or aboveground storage tanks, hazardous waste generators, and properties with reported hazardous material spills.
Once potential sources of contamination were identified, a Subsurface Sampling Investigation was conducted that included collection and analysis of soil and groundwater samples from suspect areas. The sampling results were then used to evaluate impacts to each of the project’s five alternatives.
Hazardous Material impacts were a high-profile Stakeholder issue due to the area’s industrial nature, as well as the presence of an approximate 17 million gallon underground oil spill within the project limits in Brooklyn. Evaluating Newtown Creek sediment quality was also important since construction will likely require dredging of the creek. EPM’s major responsibilities for the project included:
- A Screening Survey to identify potential contaminant sources;
- A Subsurface Sampling Investigation to characterize site specific conditions;
- Evaluate Construction Impacts to the five Project Alternatives;
- Participate in Community Outreach Meetings to present the findings; and,
- Prepare the Contaminated Material portions of the EIS.