ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
REPORT
Region II
May 1983
&EPA
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
DATE- 09 JUN 1383 REGION II
SUBJECT: Final Region II Environmental Management Report
/
FROM Jacqueline E. Schafer
Regional Administrator (2-RJ
II "
T0: William D. Ruckelshaus L/
Administrator (A-100)
I am pleased to transmit Region II1s final Environmental
Management Report (EMR) and the four state Environmental
Status Reports that provide the technical documentation for
it.
I look forward to discussing the report with you in the
future. Should anyone on your staff have questions or
comments on the EMR, please have them contact Herbert
Barrack, Assistant Regional Administrator for Policy and
Management, at FTS 264-2520.
Attachments
EPA Form 1320-6. (Re»-3-76)
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
09 JUN B83
SUBJECT. Final Environmental Management Report
FROM- Jacqueline E. Schafer
Regional Administrator (2-RA)
T0 Lew Crampton, Director
Office of Management Systems & Evaluation (PM-222
I am pleased to transmit Region II's final Environmental
Management Report (attached). The EMR represents an intensive
Region-wide effort to assess environmental progress, describe
existing conditions, and identify remaining priority problems.
The states in this Region reviewed the draft EMR and the
Environmental Status Reports that provided the technical
documentation for it. The states contributed additional data
and some very helpful comments, both of which are reflected
in this final report.
We have made some recommendations in the Executive Summary on
future directions for the EMR initiative. Briefly, our
recommendations are that Headquarters formally respond to the
specific requests made by the Regions for Headquarters
assistance in solving priority problems, and that Headquarters
provide the Regions with a detailed proposal on use of the
EMRs in national guidance, resource allocations, and
accountability systems.
I look forward to hearing from you on these issues. If you
or your staff have any questions on the EMR, please contact
Kevin Bricke, Chief of the Policy and Program Integration
Branch, at FTS 264-4296.
EPA Form 1320-4 (Rev. 3-76)
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REGION II
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
MAY 1983
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REGION II
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
PART I: OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL
STATUS AND TRENDS 5
Introduction 5
Summary of Environmental Quality
in Region II 6
Air Quality 6
Surface Water Quality 9
Surface Drinking Water 12
Ground Water 13
Non-Hazardous Wastes 14
Hazardous Wastes 14
Pesticides 15
Radiation 15
PART II: DISCUSSION OF SIGNIFICANT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND IMPLICATIONS
FOR AGENCY MANAGEMENT 16
Summary Table of Priority Problems 17
Detailed Analysis of Priority Problems 19
Air Quality 19
Surface Water Quality 29
Ocean Water Quality 42
Surface Drinking Water 45
Ground Water 50
Pesticides 54
Non-Hazardous Wastes 5~5
Hazardous Wastes - RCRA 56
Hazardous Wastes - Superfund 58
Radiation 60
Technical Appendices 1-4:
Environmental Status Reports for
New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico,
and the Virgin Islands
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REGION II
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
As a pilot effort during FY 1983, the Regional Administrators
of EPA were asked to prepare Environmental Management Reports
(EMRs) describing the status of environmental quality in all media,
establishing Regional priorities, and identifying the state and
federal actions either underway or needed to address those
priorities. Taken together, the ten Regional EMRs will
provide an overview of national environmental quality, and
can be used to guide national priority setting and resource
allocations.
Region II chose to construct its EMR from the Environmental
Status Reports (ESRs) that it regularly develops in conjunction
with New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
as part of the State/EPA Agreement process. The Region
completely updated each ESR, obtained state input on both the
ESRs and a preliminary EMR, revised the ESRs based on state
comments, and appended them to this final EMR as technical
documentation.
The EMR is composed of an overview of environmental status
and trends (Part I), a discussion of the most significant
environmental problems and their implications for Agency
management (Part II), and four state ESRs that provide
supporting information (Appendices 1 through 4).
MAJOR FINDINGS
Preparing the EMR gave Region II the opportunity to look back
over the past decade and to assess the progress that has been
made by EPA and the states. Dramatic improvements are evident
in many areas. In air quality, for example, widespread
progress has been made even though difficult problems persist:
0 In 1966, 70 percent of the monitoring sites in New York
showed violations of the primary standard for particulate
matter. By 1976, the figure had dropped to 4 percent.
0 Limits on sulfur in fuels are largely, responsible for
bringing all sites in the Region into attainment of the
primary annual standard for sulfur dioxide.
0 There have been substantial reductions in the number of
violations of the carbon monoxide standard, and a steady
decrease in ambient lead levels near traffic centers.
Although both carbon monoxide and lead are localized
problems, carbon monoxide in the New York City metropolitan
area remains serious enough to be a priority one problem
for the Region.
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Ozone has been identified as the major air quality problem in
Region II at present, and toxic air pollutants are an emerging
problem.
Progress has also been made in the water quality area:
0 The discharge of raw or inadequately treated wastewater has
been reduced through the construction of municipal sewage
treatment plants. In New York, almost 69,000 of the 70,000
miles of streams are in compliance with water quality
standards.
0 No significant upward or downward trends in water quality
were identified in either New Jersey or Puerto Rico.
However, localized improvements are evident. In New Jersey
for example, water quality conditions in Raritan Bay and
Upper New York Harbor have improved in just the last few
years, following upgrading of municipal treatment facilities
in those areas. In Puerto Rico, data collected between 1980
and 1982 show that water quality along the Condado and Isla
Verde areas has improved to the point of being fit for
direct contact recreation.
0 Water quality in the Virgin Islands has been generally
maintained at its original excellent level, and localized
problems, such as those due to industrial discharges along
the south shore of St. Croix, have been improved.
Progress in the control of conventional pollution from muni-
cipal discharges is encouraging, although serious problems
persist in the New York City metropolitan area and in Puerto
Rico. The problem in the New York City metropolitan area is
complicated by the fact that there are twenty-two applications
for 301(h) discharge waivers in this area.
Ocean dumping remains a top priority for the Region, and more
recently, problems with acid lakes in the Adirondack region of
New York and with toxic contamination of certain water bodies
in New York and New Jersey have become major concerns.
Drinking water is generally good throughout the Region, but
localized problems require priority attention. In the Virgin
Islands, for example, only 17 percent of the public water
supply systems in 1981 were in full compliance with national
drinking water standards pertaining to microbiological quality.
In addition, contamination of groundwater supplies on Long
Island, and in parts of New Jersey and Puerto Rico has been
identified as a priority problem for the Region.
Hazardous waste management and the clean-up of uncontrolled
hazardous waste sites are particular concerns for Region II,
which has 1100 treatment, storage, and disposal facilities
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(TSDs), and 96 of the 418 sites (or 23 percent) on the
National Priorities List for Superfund. The siting of new
hazardous waste facilities and the expeditious clean-up of
uncontrolled hazardous waste sites are of the utmost importance
to Region II.
In all, the Region has identified 13 top priority problems:
Air Quality
0 Ozone in metropolitan New York City and in New Jersey
statewide,
0 Carbon monoxide in metropolitan New York City,
0 Toxic air pollutants.
Surface Water Quality
0 Toxic contamination of selected New York and New Jersey
waters,
0 Conventional pollution from municipal discharges in the
metropolitan New York City area (New York and New Jersey),
0 Conventional pollution from municipal discharges in Puerto
Rico (islandwide),
0 Acid lakes in New York.
Ocean Water Quality
0 Ocean disposal of dredged material, sewage sludge, and
chemical wastes.
Surface Drinking Water
0 Persistent violations in public water supply systems in the
Virgin Islands.
Ground Water
0 Contamination of groundwater supplies on Long Island,
New York and in New Jersey and Puerto Rico.
Hazardous Waste
0 Siting of new hazardous waste facilities,
0 Timely issuance of RCRA permits.
Superfund
0 Superfund sites on the National Priorities List.
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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Region II intends to continue working with the states over
the coming months to update the data in the ESRs, and to
refine the data analyses and presentations. The ESRs, along
with the EMR, will be a major source of information for the
Regional Administrator and the state Commissioners as they
establish their priorities for the next fiscal year, negotiate
strategies and work plans, and make resource decisions.
Over the longer term, the Region plans to track the progress
made in dealing with the priority problems identified in the
EMR. In line with this, Region II recommends that Headquarters
take the following steps:
0 Formally respond to the Regions' specific requests for
Headquarters assistance on priority problems in the EMRs,
0 Provide the Reigons with a detailed proposal on how the
EMRs will be used on the national level, including their
role in the formulation of budget and operating year
guidance, the allocation of national and Regioral resources,
and the development of indicators for accountability systems,
0 Obtain the Regions' views on this pilot EMR project, and
their suggestions on the timing, content, format, and other
aspects of future EMR development.
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PART I: OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS AND TRENDS
INTRODUCTION
Region II comprises the states of New York and New Jersey,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territory of
the Virgin Islands.
New York, the Empire State, is the second most populous
state in America. It has 17,602,000 people, most of whom
(85 percent) live in major urban centers (New York City,
Buffalo, Albany). New York's principal industries are
manufacturing (books, clothing, Pharmaceuticals), finance
(banking, trade, insurance), and communications. Agriculture
(32 percent of the state's land area is in farms), livestock,
timber, and fishing also play major roles in the state's
economy. The average per capita income in 1981 was $11,440.
New Jersey, the Garden State, has a smaller population
(7,404,000) but one of the highest popluation densities in
the country (945 people per square mile). Its major urban
areas account for 89 percent of the population. The major
industries are chemical manufacturing agriculture (22 percent
of the state's land area is in farms), fabricated metals
manufacturing, trade, and services. New Jersey's 1981- per
capita income was $12,115.
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an island with a population
of 3,188,000. Approximately 62 percent of the people live in
urban areas; the population density is 928 per square mile.
The principal industry of the island is manufacturing (petro-
chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, food products). In 1981 the per
capita income was $3,502.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is a group of three large islands
(St. John, St. Croix, and St. Thomas) and 50 smaller islands.
The population is 95,000, and the population density is'758
per square mile. About 25 percent of the people live in
urban areas. The principal industries are tourism, rum
distilling, and petroleum refining. In 1975, the per capita
income was $5,367.
New York is the largest of the four areas (49,600 square miles),
followed by New Jersey (7,800 square miles), Puerto Rico
(3,400 square miles), and the Virgin Islands (133 square miles).
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SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN REGION II
Region II is diverse in both its demographic characteristics
and its environmental conditions. Major urban centers, such
as the metropolitan New York City area, contrast with sparsely
populated regions, such as upstate New York and portions of
the Caribbean. Large industrial centers exist throughout
New York and New Jersey, and the problems associated with
industry are evident. Of particular note are the many hazardous
waste sites in Region II, especially Superfund sites. And
yet, there are also valuable national resources here, including
the Pinelands and the Great Swamp in New Jersey, the Adirondack
Park System in New York, the Rain Forest in Puerto Rico, and
the Mangrove Swamps in the yirgin Islands.
There have been substantial environmental improvements in
Region II over the past decade. In many respects, the air
and water have become cleaner and more useful to man. Strides
have been made in protecting health and enhancing the environment,
The following sections summarize the status of environmental
quality in Region II, with an emphasis on trends related to
current problems. These discussions are based on the technical
data presented in the Environmental Status Reports (ESRs)
for the states in this Region (Appendices 1 through 4).
AIR QUALITY
PARTICULATE MATTER
In New York, and New Jersey, airborne particulate matter was
greatly reduced during the late 1960's and early 1970's. By
the end of the 1970's, most areas in both states had attained
the primary standard. In New- York, for example, sites exceeding
the particulate matter standard decreased from 70 percent in
1966 to 4 percent 1976.
There remain, however, several areas where violations of
either the primary or secondary standard occur. The most
important of these are the Niagara Frontier in New York,
several urban areas in northeastern New Jersey, and the
Catano Air Basin in Puerto Rico.
SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2)
There has been a significant decline in the number of monitor-
ing sites in Region II where either the primary or short-
term S02 standard is exceeded. This improvement is largely
due to the limits on sulfur in fuels that were established
in the early 1970's. In New York, for example, the number
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of sites exceeding the primary standard decreased from ten
in 1973 to zero in 1977. In New Jersey, SC>2 concentrations
were reduced by more than 80 percent in major urban areas.
The ambient SC>2 levels are in all cases below the national
primary annual standard, but some violations of the short-term
standard still occur.
-Increased SC>2 emissions could occur in the future if an up-
swing in the economy leads to revitalization of heavy industry
in the region, or if coal conversions are instituted by
utilities and industry. These problems are of special
concern in New York's Niagara Frontier and in the New York
City metropolitan area.
There may be SC>2 problems in Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands, which current modeling efforts will uncover. These,
however, are of less magnitude than those in New York and
New Jersey.
OZONE (03)
Violations of the ozone standards are the major air quality
problem in Region II. The ozone standard is exceeded in all
of New Jersey and in New York State from New York C^y to
Albany.
In New York, 1981 data show that there were 24 days when
the ozone standard was exceeded. Although this is a decrease
from earlier years (e.g., 45 days in 1977), it is uncertain
whether this is a downward trend or the result of meteorological
factors. New Jersey's trend in ozone concentrations is also
difficult to discern.
Locations in Region II where ozone problems are most severe
include areas in and downwind of New York City and the Philadelphia
metropolitan area, and all of New Jersey.
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)
There have been substantial reductions over the past decade in
the number of violations of the CO standard in Region II. In
New York, for example, the number of days during which the
standard was exceeded outside of New York City was reduced
from 47 in 1973 to 6 in 1981. In nearby New Jersey, the
frequency of violations has decreased by more than 75 percent
since 1977. This progress can be attributed to the Federal
Motor Vehicle Control Porgram and to the state's Inspection
and Maintenance program.
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While there has been a downward trend, significant problems
still remain in metropolitan New York City and in several
urban areas of New Jersey, and potentially in San Juan,
Puerto Rico. "Hot-spot" modeling studies are still defining
the extent of the CO problem in New York City and New Jersey.
LEAD (Pb)
There has been a steady decrease in ambient Pb levels at
sites near traffic due to the increasing use of unleaded
gasoline. Violations of the Pb standard have been recorded
in Region II in San Juan and Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and
at some sites near traffic and industrial centers in New
Jersey. Continued monitoring will reveal whether lead in
these areas will remain a problem.
A new monitoring network has been established in the Region
which focuses on neighborhoods with high traffic densities.
These sites should be more representative of urban areas.
Monitoring will also continue near major industrial plants
in New York and New Jersey.
NITROGEN DIOXIDE ( NC>2 )
Ambient N02 concentrations in Region II have been well
below the air quality standard in recent years. No definite
trends can be discerned over the past five years, although
N02 concentrations decreased during the 1970's, largely
due to auto-emission controls.
AIR TOXICS
There is very limited information regarding the sources and
effects of toxic air contaminants although the potential to
contaminate the atmosphere is high due to emissions from
landfills, combustion of illegally contaminated fuel oils,
toxic waste handling and disposal facilities, and municipal
waste incinerators. EPA has implemented regulations covering
a few toxics under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous
Air Pollutants program, which has been delegated to the
states, but much work remains to be done in the area of toxic
air pollutants.
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SURFACE WATER QUALITY
There are sharp contrasts in surface water quality throughout
Region II. in general, heavily populated and highly indus-
trialized areas correlate with poor water quality. In rural
areas, with little or no industrial or municipal wastes,
water quality can be excellent. The ocean waters of the New
York Bight present special problems. Water quality degradation
is associated with both point and non-point sources.
TOXIC MATERIALS
Potentially, the most significant water quality problem in
Region II is contamination by toxic substances. Municipal
and industrial direct and indirect discharges, residual
wastes (sludges), sewer overflows, oil and hazardous material
spills, landfill leachate, and other sources contribute to
the toxics in Regional waters. New York has initiated a
toxics monitoring program, but most toxics monitoring is
still conducted on a case-by-case basis. As additional
monitoring is conducted, new toxics contamination problems
may be discovered. For this reason, toxics are considered
to be both an existing and a potential, health and environmental
problem throughout the Region.
In New York, sampling to date has indicated that the priority
basins for controlling toxics are the Erie-Niagara, Upper
Hudson, and Mohawk river basins. Toxics are a priority in
the New Jersey Atlantic Coastal, Raritan River, Hackensack
River, and Passaic River basins. Further studies are needed
to determine the magnitude of toxics contamination. Toxics
monitoring networks are now being established.
ORGANIC OXYGEN-DEMANDING MATERIALS
The discharge of raw sewage and inadequately-treated waste-
waters has substantially decreased over the past decades.
In New York, the number of municipal sewage treatment plants
has increased from 298 to 509 since the 1950's. Of the
70,000 miles of streams in New York, approximately 68,840
are in compliance with applicable water quality standards.
Improvements have been made in New Jersey and the Caribbean,
but to a lesser extent. There are still several areas of
Region II with streams receiving large volumes of inadequately
treated municipal wastewaters. These cause, among other
things, depletion of dissolved oxygen in the receiving waters.
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In New York, the priority basins for controlling organic
oxygen-demanding materials are the Mohawk, Lower Hudson
(notably New York City area) and Long Island Sound/Atlantic
Ocean. In New Jersey, the Raritan River and Passaic River
basins are the most severely impacted. All basins in Puerto
Rico, except the offshore islands, are priorities, and in
the Virgin Islands municipal discharges are a priority in
the waters around St. Thomas.
INFECTIOUS AGENTS
Like organic oxygen-demanding materials, infectious agents
are frequently associated with raw or inadequately treated
municipal wastewater. As such, the trends and current status
are the same as those discussed above.
Several additional problem areas, however, can be highlighted.
All shellfish beds in the New York City area are closed to
harvesting for human consumption due to high coliform levels.
Swimming is frequently restricted at a number of New York and
New Jersey beaches due to high bacteria levels. Many inland
waters in New Jersey are similarly restricted for contact
recreational activities. In Puerto Rico, bilharzia continues
to present a health hazard in both lakes and streams.
NUTRIENTS
Nutrient contamination is a problem in Puerto Rico: approxi-
mately 68 percent of the lakes there are eutrophic. Nutrients
associated with non-point sources have also caused significant
water quality problems in New Jersey. While many plans,
rooted in Best Management Practices, have been developed,
relatively little has been done over the years to implement
these plans. Control of nutrients is a priority in the
eastern region of Puerto Rico.
MARINE POLLUTION
The large quantities of raw and inadequately treated municipal
wastes, and present and past industrial discharges in the
Hudson/Raritan estuaries, combined with the ocean dumping of
dredged material and sewage sludge have impacted finfish
populations and shellfish beds in the New York Bight. Marine
pollution has contributed to three major pollution problems:
(1) the closure of shellfish beds due to bacterial contamination,
(2) toxic contamination of sediments and fish from the New
York Bight Apex to the continental shelf-slope break, and
(3) coastal eutrophication.
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NON-POINT SOURCES
Many stream segments and lakes throughout Region II are
impacted by non-point sources of pollution. Sediment,
nutrients and pathogens are the primary contaminants causing
the bulk of the water quality problems, and in many cases,
combine with pollutants from point sources to further
exacerbate water quality problems. In impaired segments with
relatively small drainage areas and few land use types, the
identification of the sources of pollution to justify and
direct implementation expenditures can be straightforward.
However, in impaired segments with fairly large drainage
areas and numerous land use types, the procedures for
identifying the critical pollution sources to justify and
direct implementation expenditures can be complex.
The principal non-point sources of pollution in Region II
are urban runoff and combined sewer overflows, agricultural
runoff from cropland and animal husbandry, runoff from new
construction, and hydrologic/hydrographic modifications.
SPECIAL WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
LOSS OF WETLANDS IN PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico has lost about 70 percent of its wetlands (mangroves
and sea grass beds) since 1900. There were about 36,000 acres
of mangrove swamps in 1900; today only 12,000 acres remain. The
loss of this vital habitat results in the loss of fish nursery
areas. In addition, overfishing and the loss of mangroves result
in the reduction of available food fish stocks? many people
on the island depend on these areas for food and/or livelihood.
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ACID LAKES IN NEW YORK
Many lakes in the Adirondack Mountains have become acidified
to the point where they are devoid of fish, and in other lakes
the fish population is greatly diminished. Of the 849 ponded
waters surveyed in the Adirondacks since 1972, 212 ponds,
representing 10,460 acres, were found to have pH values below
5.0. These ponds are no longer capable of supporting viable
fisheries. Another 256 ponds, representing 63,248 acres, are
classified as "endangered", (i.e., pH of 5.0 to 6.0). The
extent of the acid precipitation on another 2,028 lakes and
ponds is unknown, but plans to sample these 59,430 unclassified
acres are currently being developed.
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SURFACE DRINKING WATER
In terms of existing standards, the quality of drinking water
provided in New York and New Jersey is excellent; the vast
majority of public systems are in full compliance with the
microbiological and turbidity standards and no significant
violations of the inorganic, organic, or trihalomethane
standards have occurred. In Puerto Rico, the quality of
drinking water is generally good, despite the relatively poor
quality of surface waters. The quality of drinking water in
the Virgin Islands is generally poor with regard to the
microbiological and turbidity standards.
In New Jersey and the Virgin Islands, there are persistent
violations of the monitoring and reporting requirements of
the drinking water regulations. Most of these violations
occur in the numerous small and very small systems located
throughout New Jersey and the Virgin Islands.
There are also concerns with insufficient water quantity in
the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and New Jersey. In 1981
there was a major drought in the New Jersey-New York metropolitan
area.
Region II initiated an intergovernmental plan of action to
provide federal assistance to the Virgin Islands to plan,
construct, and operate water supply production and distribution'
systems throughout the Islands. The Governor and the Legislature
of the Virgin Islands funded the purchase and installation of
three large and three small desalination plants. These
plants are now on line and have allowed the Virgin Islands
to discontinue the costly task of barging in drinking water
daily from Puerto Rico. The existing distribution system
has been rehabilitated and expanded with federal support
through the initiative led by Region II. In addition, Region
II is working with the Virgin Islands Department of Conservation
and Cultural Affairs to formulate and implement a Comprehensive
Water Resources Management Plan. This plan is scheduled to
be completed in June 1983.
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GROUNDWATER
Groundwater is used extensively in Region II as a source of
drinking water. Approximately 22 percent of New York's
population (3.5 million people) is served by public groundwater
systems, and another 2.5 million people use private wells.
In New Jersey, almost 40 percent of the-population (just
over 1 million people) is served by public groundwater systems.
These sources of underground drinking water are extremely
vulnerable to contamination. The introduction of pollutants
atop a groundwater system can have serious effects on that
system. Better monitoring techniques have made the detection
of chemicals and contaminants in relatively low levels possible,
Toxics and other contaminants in drinking water, even in small
quantities can pose a significant public health threat.
Nitrates and salt-water intrusion are also serious problems.
The major problem currently faced in the drinking water
program is contamination of groundwater sources by toxic
'. ppllutants.
More and more, toxic contamination is being found in public
water supply wells. On Long Island, New York, approximately 30
public wells are closed or restricted due to contamination
by synthetic organics and nitrates. In New Jersey, 74 wells
have been closed since 1971. The extent of groundwater
contamination in the Caribbean is currently unknown, although
surveys now being conducted have found organic chemicals in
wells throughout Puerto Rico.
The lack of national drinking water standards for toxics has
hampered the response to groundwater problems in Region II,
although in some cases, the states have become active. New
Jersey recently passed Bill No. 280 which establishes testing
requirements for organics, compliance timeframes, and public
notification requirements.
Region II currently has two aquifers designated as Sole Source
Aquifers (SSA) under Section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking
Water Act: The Buried Valley Aquifer in New Jersey, and the
Aquifer Underlying Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island.
During the past four years, petitions have been submitted to
the Region for six other sole source designations, three in
New York and three in New Jersey. Three of these petitions
have been recommended for designation by Region II to the
Office of Drinking Water. Public hearings for two more of
the petitions were held in 1983, and one other petition has
had its comment period extended.
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NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE
There are three major non-hazardous waste management problems
in Region II. These are:
0 Commingling of hazardous wastes in municipal
landfills,
0 Exhaustion of available disposal volume in-active
sites currently in use by both urban and rural areas, and
0 Contamination of groundwater by uncontrolled
municipal dumps.
These problems are predominantly found in New York and New
Jersey, but affect urban areas in Puerto Rico as well.
Contamination of surface waters and groundwater supplies has
occurred as a result of leaching of viral, bacterial, and toxic
contaminants from municipal landfills.
HAZARDOUS WASTE
The sound management of hazardous wastes is the major environ-
mental concern in Region II. There are substantial numbers of
generators, transporters, and treatment-storage-disposal (TSD)
facilities throughout New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico.
There are almost 100 uncontrolled hazardous waste sites in
the region which are on the National Priorities List: 26 in
New York, 65 in New Jersey, and 5 in Puerto Rico. In addition,
there are numerous sites that are not on the National Priorities
List but that may require some clean-up effort.
There are very few commercial, off-site hazardous waste
management facilities in the Region, and because the manifest
systems are just now becoming operational, the volume and
characteristics of the wastes to be dealt with are not fully
known. New facilities will be needed in the future, and
their siting will likely be a significant problem.
Unintentional spills of oil and hazardous materials have
significant impacts on the waterways throughout Region II.
Both surface water-and groundwater are affected.
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PESTICIDES
Recent data show that in general pesticide misuse violations
by manufacturers, distributors, and retailers cause no
noticeable environmental harm. However, there have been
many incidents involving pest control operators; the use of
mist blowers and hand sprayers causes the most harm.
RADIATION
In Region II, radioactive materials are used for electric
power generation and for research and development purposes.
There are several nuclear power plants in New York and New
jersey, and several under construction. Of greater concern,
however, are ore processing and radioactive waste sites.
Various levels of contamination have been found at these
sites.
The Niagara Falls Storage Site in New York is a concern.
Pitchblende and uranium ore processing residues have been
stored there since the 1940's. Portions of this site have
radioactive soil at a level that prevents unrestricted use of
the land.
Two sites in New Jersey, at Wayne and Middlesex, are also of
concern. These sites were used for processing and/or storage
of radioactive materials in the development of the atomic
bomb during World War II.
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PART II: DISCUSSION OF SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
AND IMPLICATIONS FOR AGENCY MANAGEMENT~~~
This section presents an analysis of Region II's most
significant environmental problems and their implications
for Agency management. The following discussions, conclusions,
and recommendations are based upon the technical information
in our state Environmental Status Reports (ESRs)
(Appendices 1-4).
The significant problems are divided into three categories:
0 Current environmental problems are instances of present
environmental conditions that violate ambient standards
(air), impair designated uses (water), or otherwise result
in adverse effects on human health or the environment.
0 Potential environmental problems are instances in which
present environmental conditions are not known to be violating
standards, impairing uses, or causing adverse effects, but
where existing sources or new or expanding sources could
result in future environmental problems. This includes
areas where there is insufficient data to determine whether
a problem currently exists, as well as areas where trends
data show that environmental quality may soon be impaired.
0 Emerging problems are those environmental or management
problems identified by the Region that are not currently
being dealt with by the Agency, but that may require Regional
or national attention.
Each problem, whether current, potential or emerging, is ranked
as either Priority 1 or Priority 2:
0 Priority 1 problems are those few environmental problems or
issues that are of the highest priority in one or more states
and that are considered to be of overriding importance by
Regional managers. Priority 1 problems have implications
for Agency management that deserve the Administrator's
attention.
0 Priority 2 problems while important, are not as critical
as Priority 1 problems, whether because they are less
severe, affect a smaller area in the Region, pose a less
immediate threat to the environment, or have no significant
implications for Agency management.
Table 1 presents the ranking of current and potential
environmental problems and emerging problems in Region II.
16
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TftBLE 1
RANKING OF SIGNIFICANT ENVIK3EMEETIIRL PROBLEMS IN REGION II*
Priority 1
Priority 2
UK QUALITY
Xeoiio
* Hutn^iolltan Now
York City (C|*
* Now Jersey state-
wide (C)
Carlvm Monoxide In
Metropolitan Nw York
City (C)
lUxIc Mr Pollutants
IE)
Carbon K*ioxldii
* Urban oruas of Nuw
Jersey (C)
• San Juan, PR (C)
'pjtal Bu9(>ufkJud
Partlculates
• Niagara Frontier,
New York (C)
• Northeastern New
Jersey (P)
* Catwo, Puerto
Rico (C)
1.01*1
• Nuar traffic ami
IfxkitJtrlal centers
In Nuw Jersey (C)
• Nuw York (P)
• Snn Juan I
Ouiynaln, PR (PI
Sulfur nloxldu
• rwtr*j|)olltfMi HUW
York City ml
lunawniKla, NY (P)
• Guayanllla, PR (P)
• St. Crolx I
St. Thtmas, VI IP)
Coal Conversions In
Now York and Now
Jersey (P)
EUKMCE HATER QUALITY
XJK|C contamination of
lelocted New York and Now
lersey waters (C)
Conventional pollution from
flunlclpal discharges In tlie
•utropolltan Nuw York City
(NY and HJ) area (C)
Conventional pollution fro*
municipal discharges In
Puerto Rico 1C)
Acid Lakes In Nuw York (C)
Need for data to determine the
oMtont of contamination of
surface waters by tonics (P)
Conventional pollution frnm
municipal discharges In Nuw
York and New Jersey outslikt
the metropolitan New York City
area (C)
Conventional pollution from
nrm-polnt sources of pollution
fpl
H-l
Loss of wetlands In coastal
linen of New York and Nuw
Jersey (Cl
Loss of wetlands In Puerto
Rico (C)
UCEAN HATER OUALITY
Urine pollution cousutl by
Ji:ean tllspnsl chemical wastes (C)
SURFACE WINK IKS HM>M
Hirslatunt violations In
lubllc water sui|>ly SyBtumn
n the Virgin Islands let
Insufficient -water quantity
In the Virgin Inlands, IMuitn
Rico, and New Jorsuy (C)
Nood for certified labora-
tories' to analyze public
water supply al«ples In '
Puerto Rico (P)
Persistent monltorlnu Mid
reporting violations In
puMlc water supply systems
In New Jurssy (C)
cnriiNU M\rr»
CnrillwIosHon of
groundwater supplies
on ltentlal
priority can-
didates IP)
Not*! for fin I
oral nl/m-
(or I"-
Invol rwll
-------
There follows a detailed analysis of each current, potential,
and emerging problem. For problems that are ranked Priority
1, the following information is provided:
0 Relative importance of the problem,
0 Causes of the problem,
0 Barriers to solving the problem,
0 Present and planned state and EPA actions, and
0 Needed Headquarters assistance.
For problems that are ranked Priority 2, a summary is provided
of the problem and of any present or planned actions to solve
it.
18
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PRIORITY I AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS
0 Ozone in Metropolitan New York City and in New Jersey
Statewide (C)*
Relative Importance;
New York City - While several Air Quality Control Regions
(AQCRs) in New York State have had violations of the ozone
(03) standards and are currently not in attainment, the
problem is particularly severe in metropolitan New York City.
During 1981, all properly sited 03 monitoring sites in this
AQCR violated the 03 standard. In addition, 03 is a major
problem downwind of New York City, extending into portions
of Connecticut in Region I. Ozone is a major problem in New
Jersey as well (see below).
The production and transport of 03 in the New York City area
has been evaluated, and local and downwind data from 1979
through 1981 were used in modeling for the Ozone State
Implementation Plan (SIP). The modeling results indicate
that about a 60 percent reduction in volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) emissions will be needed in the New York
City metropolitan area in order to meet the 03 standard
area-wide.
.New Jersey - The national ambient air quality standard for 03
is not being attained anywhere in the state. Since the peak
03 concentrations are found downwind of urban areas with
high emissions of 03 precursors, the cities upwind of New
Jersey play an important role in the state's 03 problem.
Similarly, New Jersey contributes to the high 03 concentrations
found downwind in Connecticut.
Causes; Ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but rather
is formed by the reaction of VOCs and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
in the presence of sunlight. Control programs for 03 are
based on the regulation of VOCs. These compounds are emitted
from a variety of stationary and mobile sources.
In the metropolitan New York City area, the major source of
VOCs is the heavy motor vehicle traffic in the area. Stationary
sources, e.g., dry cleaners and gas stations, are also a
significant source of VOCs.
* C= current environmental problem
p= potential environmental problem
E= emerging problem
19
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In New Jersey, there are a variety of sources of VOCs, including
industrial and mobile sources. Industrial sources include
petroleum refineries, chemical manufacturers, dry cleaners,
industrial solvent users, automobile assembly plants, and
gasoline distributors.
Barriers; The two major barriers to solving the 03 attainment
problem in both the metropolitan New York City area and urban
areas of New Jersey are the limitations of the present air
quality model and the extent of needed control measures.
Limitations of the Model - The model that is currently recom-
mended by the Agency to determine the relationship between
precursor emissions and ambient ozone has been criticized
because it is capable of predicting only the reduction in
gross emissions over the entire metropolitan area that would
be needed to attain the ozone standard. The model cannot
predict the effect of source-specific control measures on
future 03 levels. Consequently, an improved model that is
capable of establishing a source-receptor relationship is
needed to provide a stronger basis for determining appropriate
control measures. Such a model is under development within
EPA, but will not be available until mid-1985.
Extent of Control Measures Needed - Emissions of VOCs in the New
York City metropolitan area must be reduced by 60 percent in
order for the 03 standard to be attained. Reasonably available
control measures can obtain, at most, only a 50 percent emission
reduction. Additional control measures, sometimes described
as "extraordinary", are needed to provide the other 10 percent.
The existing model predicts that VOC emissions in New Jersey's
four AQCRs must be reduced by the following amounts in order
to attain the 03 standard statewide:
New Jersey/New York/Conn 60%
Metropolitan Philadelphia 44%
Northeast Penn./Upper Delaware Valley 28%
New Jersey Intrastate 29%
The implementation of reasonably available control measures
can provide for attainment of the 03 standard in all AQCRs
in New Jersey, except the New Jersey-New York-Connecticut
AQCR. There, such measures can obtain only a 44 percent
reduction versus the 60 percent reduction that is needed.
Additional control measures, sometimes described as
"extraordinary", are needed to provide the other 16 percent.
New Jersey has an additional barrier to attaining the 03
standard, since much, if not most, of the VOC emissions in the
Philadelphia metroplitan area are emitted in the Pennsylvania
part of the metropolitan area. If the control programs needed
to attain the 03 standard are not fully implemented in
Pennsylvania, 03 concentrations in New Jersey could remain
well above the standard despite New Jersey's attempts to control
VOC emissions.
20
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Before all of the reasonably available control measures can
be implemented in both New York City and New Jersey, additional
analysis of some of those measures is needed. This is particularly
true for the potentially most effective measures, which are
Stage II gasoline station vapor recovery and motor vehicle
tampering prevention. The extraordinary measures require
not only further technical analysis, but also the right
conditions for successful implementation, including interstate
cooperation, political and social acceptance, new technology,
and additional funds. Some of the extraordinary measures
being considered by the state are controls on architectural
coatings (paints), alternative fuels, outboard motors, and
consumer and commercial solvent use. Uncertainty exists as
to whether these measures can be implemented and be suffi-
ciently effective to provide for attainment of the ozone
standard by 1987 (as required by the Clean Air Act).
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions:
New York City - New York is cooperating fully with EPA in
its efforts to develop a model of the ozone problem in the
northeastern United States. In addition, the state has
recently prepared an ozone SIP revision that provides for
development and implementation of a majority of the reasonably
available control measures. The state has indicated that it
will supplement this SIP revision with a commitment to develop
and implement the remaining reasonably available measures and
to do the same for extraordinary measures. These additional
commitments are expected to provide for attainment of the ozone
standard. The state is in the process of preparing information
on the reasonably available control measures. For example, it
has conducted surveys to determine the extent of the motor
vehicle tampering problem, and is cooperating with other states
to collect information on Stage II vapor recovery.
New Jersey - New Jersey, like New York, is cooperating fully
with EPA in its .efforts to develop a model of the ozone
problem in the northeast. In addition, the state has recently
prepared a SIP revision that provides for the development
and implementation of reasonably available and extraordinary
control measures. It is also pursuing the enforcement of
measures contained in" earlier SIP revisions. The state is
in the process of preparing information on the reasonably
available control measures. For example, the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection is working with the
state's Division of Motor Vehicles to improve the motor
vehicle Inspection and Maintenance program, and is cooperating
with other states to collect information on Stage II vapor
recovery. New Jersey is also gathering information that can
be used in developing and evaluating the effectiveness of
extraordinary measures.
21
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Agency Actions - EPA is continuing its efforts to apply a more
reliable and supportable air quality model to the northeastern
United State in general and to the New York City metropolitan
area in particular. In addition, the Regional Office is pro-
viding assistance to both New York State and New Jersey in
evaluating the availability and effectiveness of control measures,
and is working with both states on developing approvable SIPs.
Needed Headquarters Assistance;
0 Provide technical assistance in the development of VOC
control measures, particularly for Stage II vapor recovery,
and for anti-tampering, where EPA draft material needs to
be finalized,
0 Develop a technical data base for other promising extra-
ordinary measures,
0 Assist in reducing the price differential between leaded
and unleaded gasoline (a principal motivation for tampering),
0 Support adequate funding for public transportation (a pre-
requisite for successful implementation of transportation
controls),
0 Support research at the laboratory in Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina on the application of urban photochemical
dispersion models for large metropolitan areas, and research
on the regional oxidant model developed as a result of the
Northeast Corridor Regional Modeling Project (NECRMP), and
0 Develop a better means of assuring that interstate air
pollution problems are addressed, including possible
revisions to the Clean Air Act.
0 Carbon Monoxide in Metropolitan New York City (C)
Relative Importance: Carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations are
believed to exceed air quality standards at many intersections
in the metropolitan New York City area, particularly in
Manhattan, resulting in much of the area being classified as
non-attainment. New York State is currently conducting a
"CO Hotspot Study" to determine the magnitude of the problem.
Causes; The CO non-attainment problems in metropolitan New
York City are due to the tremendous number of motor vehicles
that are operated in this area.
22
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Barriers: The three major barriers to solving the CO non-
attainment problem in the metropolitan New York City area
are inadequate definition of the problem, difficulty in im-
plementing transportation control measures, and insufficient
tailpipe controls.
Definition of the Problem - Uncertainties remain regarding
the magnitude and extent of the CO problem in the New York
City metropolitan area. The lack of a good definition of
where, and how severe the air quality problem is, hinders
the development of control measures. An ongoing hotspot
study, when completed, should provide a better definition of
the problem. However, the study must resolve difficult
questions regarding the proper application of various dis-
persion models, before the results can be made available.
Implementation of Transportation Control Measures - The most
effective carbon monoxide control measures are those that
curb vehicle use. These transportation control measures are
usually controversial and bring out vocal opponents. Imple-
mentation also involves extensive planning (i.e., public
consultation and engineering) and commitments in terms of
funding and schedules by both state and local agencies.
Some measures, such as transit improvements, are also very
costly. Although there have been some transportation control
measures implemented, including bus lanes and park-and-ride
fringe parking lots, a decade of effort has yielded, at
best, only modest success.
Tailpipe Controls - The carbon monoxide problem, because it is
widespread over the New York City metropolitan area can also
be managed effectively by controlling tailpipe emissions.
However, more stringent federal standards for new vehicles
are not being considered by EPA, and the Agency has recommended
that the Clean Air Act's carbon monoxide standard for automobiles
be relaxed.
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions; The 1979 New York
SIP revision included a program to reduce directly vehicle
exhaust emissions and to reduce indirectly vehicle emissions
stemming from inefficient vehicle use practices. Exhaust
emission reductions will be achieved primarily through the
replacement of older, more polluting vehicles by newer,
cleaner vehicles and through implementation of the state's
motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program.
Examples of measures that have been designed to reduce vehicle
use include improvements to public transit, park-and-ride
fringe parking lots, exclusive bus and carpool lanes, carpool
programs, and parking controls.
23
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The magnitude and extent of the CO hotspot problem in New York
City is being studied by the state. As soon as this study is
completed, the state, in conjunction with local agencies, will
develop and implement the necessary transportation control
measures. This program will be embodied in a revised SIP. In
addition, the state is developing a more stringent inspection
and maintenance program which should lead to reduced tailpipe
emissions.
Agency Actions - EPA will continue to provide the assistance
and policy direction necessary for New York State to complete
successfully the hotspot study and to revise the SIP.
Needed Headquarters Assistance:
0 Flexible interpretation of the requirements of the Clean
Air Act with regard to the provisions of the New York State
Implementation Plan. Since preliminary information shows
that the CO problem in this area is widespread and severe,
it would not be reasonable to expect the entire problem to
be corrected in short order. Headquarters must consider
the nature of this problem when evaluating the adequacy of
the state's efforts to correct it. The benefits of such
flexibility would be the continuation of efforts by the
state to correct the CO problem.
0 Support carbon monoxide emission standards for new cars and
trucks that are as stringent as technically possible. This
would lead to a further reduction in emissions in New York
City (by at least 5 percent) and provide for faster attainment
of standards in this area.
0 Support continued strong Federal Motor Vehicle Control Pro-
gram (FMVCP) standards by developing technical information
on transportation control measures, I/M for heavy duty
gasoline and diesel vehicles, and anti-tampering programs.
0 Support public transportation programs since increased use
of mass transit would cause a decrease in energy use, as
well as a decrease in the ozone, carbon monoxide, and lead
air quality problems.
0 Toxic Air Pollutants (E)
Relative Importance; The presence and the potential effects
of toxic air contaminants are growing concerns in Region II,
especially i-n heavily industrialized and densely populated
areas of New York and New Jersey. To date, there has been
only limited ambient air monitoring for toxic substances in
these areas.
24
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Causes; The major sources of toxic air emissions are industrial
processes and combustion of chemical wastes.
Barriers: The regulation of toxic emissions has been and
continues to be a difficult task because:
- The routine detection of toxic substances in the atmosphere
requires the use of sampling instruments and techniques
that are still in a developmental stage;
- There is a scarcity of information on potential health
effects, particularly at low levels; and
- Without this information, it becomes extremely difficult to
establish acceptable exposure limits and resultant control
requirements.
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions: Both New York and
New Jersey are developing inventories to identify the sources
of toxic air emissions. In the absence of federal standards
for ambient levels of toxics, both states are also attempting
to develop state toxics standards.
EPA has assisted both New York and New Jersey by evaluating
the potential health effects of toxic air emissions applicable
to the setting of ambient levels of toxics. EPA is also
managing contracts to support revisions of New Jersey's
incinerator regulations and to determine levels of toxic
substances in fuels derived from wastes.
Needed Headquarters Assistance;
0 Increased support for research and development studies
on the health effects of low levels of toxic substances
in air; continued support for the development of instru-
mentation and monitoring methods for air toxics,
0 Funding to support both Regional and state efforts to
establish an air toxics monitoring network. This baseline
data would allow EPA to define the mangnitude and extent
of the air toxics problem and to develop the necessary
regulations, and
0 Promulgation of regulations for additional toxic air
pollutants (under NESHAPS or other mechanism).
25
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PRIORITY 2 AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS
0 Carbon Monoxide in"Urban Areas of New Jersey (C)
Many locations in New Jersey are in violation of the national
ambient air quality standards for CO. Some parts of north-
eastern New Jersey recorded as many as twenty-five violations
of the 8-hour CO standard in 198.1. The CO non-attainment
problems in urban areas of New Jersey are due to the tremendous
number of motor vehicles that are operated in these areas.
Uncertainties exist regarding the severity of the CO problem
in urban areas of the state. New Jersey relied upon the
hotspot model developed by'GCA Inc.,. to define the magnitude
and extent of the CO problem. Additional federal resources
are needed by the state to undertake a follow-up monitoring
program, which is an essential part of validating the model
results. New Jersey will also continue to rely heavily upon
its inspection and maintenance (I/M) program, which is being
upgraded and expanded, to attain CO air quality standards.
0 Carbon Monoxide in San Juan, Puerto Rico (C)
One carbon monoxide monitoring site in San Juan has reported
many violations of the 8-hour average air quality standards.
Additional monitoring data will be needed to determine the
extent of this automotive pollution problem in Puerto Rico.
° Total Suspended Particulates in the. Niagara Frontier (C)
While air quality in the Niagara Frontier region has been
improving, some parts of Buffalo and Lackawanna do not meet
the particulate standard. Also the existing problem could
become worse and violations of the standard may return to
other areas as the economy improves and industries reactivate
closed plants in parts of the region.
0 Total Suspended Particulates in Northeastern New Jersey (P)
Total suspended particulate concentrations in some urban
areas of northeastern New Jersey have come close to the
primary air quality standard. More data are needed to
determine whether this problem is a major one in the state.
0 Total Suspended Particulates in Catano, Puerto Rico (C)
Primary and secondary air quality standards for total suspended
particulates (TSP) are not met in the Catano air basin, con-
sisting of portions of the municipalities of Bayamon, Guaynabo,
and Toa Baja and the municipality of Catano. Point sources,
such as industrial plants, power plants, and mineral products
processes, are the major contributors to this problem. Area
26
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sources, such as agricultural burning, open burning, and
fugitive dust, also contribute to the problem.
The effects of potential area sources, including reentrained
dust from paved roads, and the actual level and impact of
background concentrations, requires further study. There is
a strong possibility that excessive area source emissions
may be the root cause of the observed standards violations.
The Commonwealth's local air pollution control agency does
not have the personnel to carry out the receptor analysis
needed to identify the specific sources contributing to the
problem. Therefore, the Region has proposed that the receptor
modeling analysis be performed by a contractor working under
EPA's guidance.
0 Lead Near Traffic and Industrial Centers in New Jersey (C)
Due to the high traffic density in the state, lead (Pb)
concentrations have violated the air quality standard.
Violations are still being recorded near a lead plant in
Pedricktown. Additional monitoring will be provided by the
recently improved state Pb network, to gather more complete
information on airborne Pb concentrations due to traffic
and industry.
0 Lead in New York (P)
All monitored areas of New York State currently have lead
(Pb) concentrations well below the air quality standard.
Lead concentrations at these sites have continued to decline
over the past decade. However, a new Pb monitoring network,
which is now being established, will focus on neighborhoods
with high traffic densities. These sites should be more
representative of Pb levels in urban areas.
0 Lead in San Juan and Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (P)
Violations of the Pb standard have been recorded, at the EPA
trace metals sites in the San Juan and Guaynabo areas.
Routine monitoring of Pb levels was begun in January 1982,
and should reveal, after a year or two of data collection,
whether airborne Pb is a problem.
0 Sulfur Dioxide in Tonawanda and Metropolitan New York City (P)
Both the Niagara Frontier and New York City currently have
concentrations below the sulfur dioxide (802) standards.
However, recent reductions in SC>2 concentrations in the
Niagara Frontier may be due, in part, to the economic problems
that have caused shutdowns of heavy industry in the region,
and therefore, may pose a potential maintenance problem
27
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should economic conditions change. Similarly, while the SC>2
concentrations at New York City sites are currently below
the air quality standards, coal conversions by utilities and
industry could narrow the gap between present values and the
standards. Even without coal conversions, the high density
of residential and industrial sulfur emissions from home and
process heating may cause problems with maintaining the SO2
air quality standards.
0 Sulfur Dioxide in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico (P)
Air quality modeling is being done in Guayanilla to assure
that S02 concentrations remain below the national ambient air
quality standards.
0 Sulfur Dioxide in St. Croix and St. Thomas (P)
Dispersion modeling analysis indicates that SC>2 concentrations
are near the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
limit in the industrial basin on St. Croix. A power plant on
St. Thomas could cause isolated problems there.
0 Coal Conversions in New York and New Jersey (P)
The recent decline in fuel oil prices has diminished the
interest of utilities and industries in burning coal.
However, if oil prices increase in the future, a resurgence
of interest in coal conversions would be likely. Many large
combustion sources desiring to reconvert to coal would not
wish to do so under the existing emissions regulations. If
widepread conversion under relaxed emissions limitations
were allowed to take place, attainment of the national ambient
air quality standards or PSD increments for sulfur dioxide
and particulate matter could be endangered. This situation
is most critical in the New Jersey-New York-Connecticut
AQCR, where there are several large sources that might wish
to convert to coal and where interstate air quality impact
issues come into play. Therefore, an effort to accomplish
conversion to coal while meeting air quality requirements
needs to be developed within the framework of the previously
mentioned economic and policy forces.
28
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PRIORITY 1 SURFACE WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
0 Toxic Contamination of Selected New York and New Jersey
Surface Waters (C)
Relative Importance:
New York - Monitoring in some areas of the state has iden-
tified toxic contamination in aquatic sediments and fish.
The areas currently considered most impacted by toxics are
the Mohawk River, the Upper and Lower Hudson River basins,
and the Niagara River. Sediments are known to be contam-
inated in many areas, including the New York Bight, the
Hudson River, Lake Ontario, and the Niagara River. Biomon-
itoring of fish taken from these areas has indicated the
presence of varying degrees of contamination by a wide range
of toxics, including PCBs.
New Jersey - In New Jersey, toxicants have been identified in
the water column, sediments, and fish flesh in different
areas of the state. Toxic substances are most notably found
in areas that are heavily industrialized, such as in the
Hackensack, Raritan, and Passaic basins. The Ventron site in
the Hackensack Meadowlands is highly contaminated with mercury
in the sediments, and mercury is above background levels in
the biota. Ammonia discharged by municipal plants can reach
toxic levels in the Passaic and Hackensack basins. Elevated
PCB levels and high metal concentrations have been recorded
in Raritan Bay. sediments.
Causes: There are multiple pathways for toxic substances
to reach the water environment. These include direct industrial
discharge, industrial wastes contributory to municipal systems,
and runoff and leachate from landfills. In both New York
and New Jersey, the primary sources of toxic water problems
are direct and indirect industrial discharges.
Barriers: One of the major barriers to solving this problem
in both New York and New Jersey is that not all of the sources
of toxic contaminants have been identified.
For those areas where .toxics-laden sediments have been iden-
tified, there are two major barriers to solving the problem.
The first barrier is that it is often difficult to determine
the best control option; for example, whether to dredge the
sediments and deal with disposal problems at another site,
or to leave the material in-place. Second, once the best
control option is agreed upon, there is the problem of the
costs involved and the difficulties of dedicating sufficient
funds for the job.
29
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Present and Planned State and EPA Actions;
Pretreatment Programs - For controlling indirect industrial
discharges, both New York and New Jersey have identified
their local publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) that are
required to develop pretreatment programs. The New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has
determined that a total of 58 POTWs require pretreatment
programs. Of these 58 POTWs, 50 have received federal grants
for pretreatment program development. To date, thirteen
POTWs have completed their final submission. In FY'83,
Region II has committed to approve/disapprove at least 19
local POTWs' pretreatment programs.
In New Jersey, the pretreatment regulatory program has been
delegated to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Pro-
tection (NJDEP). In addition to 32 POTW pretreatment programs,
a statewide 201 pretreatment grant has been awarded to NJDEP
for development of pretreatment capabilities in areas not
designated by DEP for local POTW pretreatment programs.
Permit Programs - Industrial discharges are regulated
through the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(SPDES) in each state by incorporating toxics limitations in
discharge permits. Both New York and New Jersey conduct
monitoring activities to identify and confirm the presence
of toxics.
The issuance of second round permits with incorporation of
more rigorous toxic discharge limitations, while a difficult
task, should somewhat control industrial sources. For those
priority waterbodies where toxics have been identified as an
existing or potential problem, "State of the Art", resource
intensive determinations will be required in placing toxic
discharge limits in NPDES permits (Best Professional Judgment
coupled with Best Available Technology for direct dischargers,
Pretreatment limits for indirect). Once source control problems
have been solved, the problem of mitigation of inplace toxic
pollution must be solved as well.
Other Programs - In New York, the Niagara River Toxics
Committee, a cooperative effort of Canada, New York State
and EPA, will address toxic substances and identify priority
projects and actions to further control toxic pollutant
discharges below levels that would adversely affect human
health and the environment. The techniques developed through
this program can then be applied, where appropriate, to
other areas of the state where toxic contamination is known
or suspected.
30
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New York also has an ongoing fish flesh monitoring program
that analyzes fish tissues for toxic substances. Both New
York and New Jersey are expanding their toxic monitoring
data bases.
Both New York and New Jersey, along with Region II, have
placed toxics high on their lists of environmental problems
that require additional resources. With increased emphasis
on industrial pretreatment programs and identification of a
state's priority waterbodies, additional data will be generated
which will aid in the identification of toxic water quality
problems.
Needed Headquarters Assistance:
0 Issue the final national ambient water quality document on
dioxin,
0 Reassess priority pollutants on a continuing basis,
0 Develop mechanisms for updating criteria, and
0 Provide information to the states on additional toxics to
aid them in adopting their own water quality standards for
toxics.
*****
o
Conventional Pollution from Municipal Discharges in the
Metropolitan New York City (NY and NJ) Area (C)
Relative Importance: Conventional pollution from municipal
discharges is a major contributor in the New York City area
to water quality violations, including closed swimming and
shellfish areas. In New York Harbor and adjacent waterways,
there are twenty-two facilities which have applied for 301(h)
waivers. While these waivers, if granted, would save the
applicants and local and federal governments money, the
granting of 301(h) waivers will increase the projected pollutant
loadings in the New York Harbor area.
Causes; A major cause of conventional water quality standards
violations in the metropolitan New York City area is inadequately
treated discharges of municipal wastes. This problem is com-
pounded by the addition of combined sewer overflows into the
area's waterways.
Barriers: The prinicipal barrier to solving these problems
has historically been the inability and/or unwillingness of
municipalities to secure and commit the financial resources
31
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required to construct and operate these facilities, and the
lack of a clear enforcement/compliance policy by the regulatory
agencies to force this municipal commitment. While the con-
struction grant program and the state operation and maintenance
aid program have often helped to solve problems of this
nature, they have not provided a panacea.
The time necessary to make 301(h) waiver decisions is a new
and important barrier. Since the New York Harbor area is
extremely complex and the effects of individual discharges
cannot be isolated, this area must be studied as a whole.
While these studies are well underway, they will take some
time to complete. During this period, the implementation of
secondary treatment will be delayed and 301(h) applicants in
the area will discharge at present treatment levels, which
in some cases is either a raw or primary effluent.
Present and Planne'd State and EPA Actions:
New York Harbor Area - Recently promising events have been
the drafting of a National Municipal Compliance Strategy by
the EPA Office of Water Programs Operations (OWPO) and EPA1s
establishment of an interagency committee (composed of EPA,
the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(NYSDEC), the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
(NJDEP) and the Interstate Sanitation Commission (ISC)) to
address and assess complex interstate issues regarding the
interaction of the proposed 301(h) discharge waivers in the
New York Harbor area.
ISC has completed a final report with conclusions on New York
Harbor (March 1983). This report, based on a dissolved oxygen
analysis, concluded: 1) that no summertime waivers in the New
York Harbor complex should be granted; and 2) that seasonal
(cold weather) waivers might be possible. Based on this
report, ISC has determined noncompliance with its water
quality standards for all twenty-two facilities within its
jurisdiction. The ISC is currently writing a proposal for
Phase II studies.
Neither NYSDEC nor NJDEP met the March 29, 1983 deadline for
submittal of the required state determinations. NYSDEC re-
quested a 6-month extension and was granted an extension of
45 days from April 20, 1983 to submit all of its required
determinations. NJDEP did submit three negative determinations,
two requests for additional information, and a request for an
extension for the remaining facilities. NJDEP has been
granted a 45-day extension from May 3, 1983 to submit all of
its determinations except for Passaic Valley, for which it
has been granted a 90-day extension.
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EPA limited these ex-tensions to 45 days to keep the 301(h)
process moving in a timely manner. EPA has also returned
four applications in the New York Harbor area for non-
compliance with 301(h) criteria.
In the near future, EPA should receive all the required state
determinations from both NYSDEC .(June 3, 1983) and NJDEP
(June 17, 1983), except for Passaic Valley (August 3, 1983).
If any of these state determinations are negative, EPA will
return the applications as ineligible for 301(h) waivers.
New York - A recent promising event has been the development
and initiation by the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (NYSDEC) of the Integrated Compliance Strategy
(ICS). The strategy attempts to bring all available tools
to bear on permit violators in a synchronized, methodical
manner to cause compliance.
In the near future, several factors should combine to enhance
municipal compliance. These include: recently refined develop-
ments in the program areas of compliance status tracking, dis-
charge monitoring report review, tephnical assistance (including
design and start-up assistance), operator training and certifi-
cation, better permit/enforcement/grants coordination, and use
of enforcement tools in a timely manner. The ICS previously
mentioned should accomplish all this and improve the focus
and direction of state efforts.
The ICS is intended to make the water compliance program more
water quality responsive by establishing priorities that
focus compliance efforts on serious water quality
violations or use impairments.
New York State's Priority System, which was extensively
revised in FY'82, was amended in February 1983. These re-
visions have strengthened the water quality linkage and have
adequately reflected our segmentation policy. The Priority
System has also been impacted by the December 1982 modification
to the New York City Consent Decree, which included provisions
for the interim step of advanced preliminary treatment at
North River and Red Hook facilities. The Consent Decree also
directed that future priority systems insure that funds
allotted to the state will be made available to New York
City in a consistent proportion until such facilities are
funded, and placed limits on the grant increase reserve.
New Jersey - In FY'83, New Jersey is developing alternative
municipal sewage treatment plant financing mechcanisms including
the following concepts: 1) private investment in the design,
construction, and operation of wastewater treatment facilities,
and 2) establishment of a bank to act as a revolving fund to
provide funds for completing planned projects.
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On March 6, 1981, the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (NJDEP) promulgated regulations concerning the
New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES).
These regulations implement the New Jersey Water Pollution
Control Act. The act grants NJDEP the authority to issue
permits for discharges to the surface and ground waters of
the state. Section 9 of the act provides the necessary statutory
authority for the state to "establish and charge reasonable
annual administrative fees, which fees shall be based upon,
and shall not exceed, the estimated cost of processing,
monitoring and administrating the NJPDES permits". These
annual fees are computed according to a sliding scale formula
which relates the administrative costs to the total quantity
of pollutants discharged by the permittee.
The NJDEP fee system has been successful based on the fact
that its program is now self-supporting and the fact that
NJDEP has collected over 95 percent of the assessed fees ($1.6
million) in billing year 1981. The other 5 percent are pending
through administrative actions.
Agency Actions: EPA will continue to provide technical assis-
tance and policy direction to both states as necessary. In
New York, a commitment to coordinated state/federal enforcement
efforts has recently been made with initiation of the Significant
Non-Compliance Action Program (SNAP) between NYSDEC and EPA.
Needed Headquarters Assistance;
General
0 Finalize the Municipal Enforcement Policy,
0 Issue the final Construction Grant regulations,
0 Finalize the 16 national categorical pretreatment standards,
and
0 Issue the revised regulation defining secondary treatment.
New York Harbor 301(h) Issue
0 Establish an overall technical approach to the toxics issue,
0 Evaluate the Plans of Study (POS) and applications in the New
York Harbor with respect to toxics,
0 Establish a standard POS for monitoring and evaluating the
interrelated effects of toxics,
0 Provide technical assistance on other selected issues of
the New York Harbor applications,
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o
Provide the Region with the National Contractor's review
of the New York Harbor applications, and
Assist the Region in obtaining adequate resources to complete
the Regional review, evaluation, administration and decisions
on the New York Harbor 301(h) applications.
*****
0 Conventional Pollution from Municipal Discharges in
Puerto Rico (C")
Relative Importance: Contact recreation is precluded due to
bacterial contamination in many areas of Puerto Rico, includixig
the beaches on the coast and the bigger lakes. In addition,
some potential drinking water reserves are contaminated.
Some lakes are rapidly eutrophying and bilharzia continues
to present a health hazard in both lakes and streams.
Causes; Inadequately treated municipal discharges are a major
contributor to water quality standards violations. The
problems associated with municipal discharges in Puerto Rico
are primarily attributed to the need to improve operation
and maintenance practices at most existing sewage treatment
plants (STPs) and to the inability of the Commonwealth to
provide required matching funds for construction grants
money, thus delaying construction of new facilities. The
situation is aggravated by frequent hydraulic overloads and
raw discharges at existing STPs.
Barriers; The principal barrier to solving these problems
has historically, been the inability and/or unwillingness of
municipalities to secure and commit the financial resources
required to construct and operate these facilities, and the
lack of a clear enforcement/compliance policy by the regu-
latory agencies to force this municipal commitment. While
the construction grant program and the state operation and
maintenance aid program have often helped in solving problems
of this nature, they have not provided a panacea.
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions: Puerto Rico is
settingpriorities and coordinatingcapital expenditures
for new and for ongoing construction at existing STPs.
Priorities are also being set for operation and maintenance
cost requirements. The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority
(PRASA) is preparing a master financial plan which will
address both existing and future wastewater treatment facility
construction needs.
Section 501 of Public Law 97-357, which amended Section 202
of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, was enacted on
October 19, 1982. This amendment, directed at Puerto Rico's
unique problem, extended the obligation date of Fiscal Year
1981 monies for twelve months and enabled these monies and
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any unobligated funds available for obligation (as loan
funds) to cover the non-federal -share of the cost of five
regional systems - Aguadilla, Arecibo, Mayaguez, Carolina,
and Camuy-Hatillo. The passage of this amendment ensures
the completion of these facilities in the near future. On
March 17, 1983, the loan agreement to implement this provision
was signed by the Government of Puerto Rico and EPA. EPA,
in conjunction with the Environmental Quality Board (EQB),
will continue to process 201 grant applications. EPA will
continue to provide policy and technical assistance.
Agency Actions: EPA will continue to provide technical
assistance and policy direction to Puerto Rico as necessary.
The Significant Non-Compliance Action Program (SNAP) between
the Government of Puerto Rico and EPA should also yield
positive results.
Needed Headquarters Assistance;
0 Finalize the Municipal Enforcement Policy,
0 Issue the final Construction Grant regulations,
0 Finalize the 16 national categorical pretreatment standards,
and
0 Issue the revised regulation defining secondary treatment.
0 Acid Lakes in New York (C)
Relative Importance; In New York the mitigation of the adverse
environmental impact of acid deposition is a high state priority.
Some,lakes in the Adirondack Mountains have become acidified
to the point where they are devoid of fish and in other lakes
the fish population is greatly diminished. Of the total
acreage of lakes (212 lakes), 3.8 percent are classified as
"critical" (pH less than 5.0).
Another 256 lakes, accounting for 22.4 percent of the total
acreage, have a summer pH of between 5.0 and 6.0 and are
classified as "endangered". "Endangered" waters often have
impaired fisheries and sometimes may be devoid of fish.
36
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Causes: Research has shown that this acidification is the
result of excess sulfate and nitrate ions which have entered
the water in the form of acid precipitation or dry deposition.
This may occur as a result of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
dioxide that are emitted by sources located as far away from
the Adirondacks as the Midwest.
During the meteorological transport of these pollutants, they
are chemically converted in the atmosphere to the sulfates
and nitrates which ultimately end up acidifying lakes. In
addition to the acidification of lakes, acid precipitation
has the potential to damage crops, buildings and monuments,
and to reduce forest productivity.
Barriers; Studies and surveys have been conducted concerning
the acid precipitation problem. The primary barrier to
solving the acid lake problem is the lack of scientific
information to ascertain definite cause/effect relationships.
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions; In order to
better define the extent of the problem, New York State has
an ongoing program to monitor airborne sulfate concentrations
and wet deposition data.
EPA's current legal authority to regulate long-range transport
of the precursors to acid rain formation is not yet clearly
defined. While EPA recognizes the potential deleterious
effects of acid deposition, EPA believes that current research
on source-receptor relationships is inconclusive and requires
more study.
In 1980, the Interagency Task Force on Acid Precipitation was
established to develop and implement a national 10-year
research program designed to increase our understanding of
the causes and effects of acid rain.
As a result of the program, a series of special assessment
documents will be issued. The first of these reports, known
as the Critical Assessment Document/ is a comprehensive review
of the existing scientific information on acid deposition.
It will be available after March 1983.
Needed Headquarters Assistance:
0 Continued support for research to better define the cause
and effects of acid rain.
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PRIORITY 2 SURFACE WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
0 Need for Data to Determine the Extent of Contamination of Surface
Waters by Toxics (P)
Currently, neither EPA nor the states have complete information
about discharges of toxic substances to the water environment,
or about the fate or distribution of these substances once
released to the waters. Toxic contaminants may move in the
water column to affect fish and wildlife and water supplies,
may be deposited in the sediments of streams and lakes, or may
accumulate and concentrate in the flesh of fish and other
living organisms. Given the potential health impacts of
toxics, there is a clear need to develop a more complete
toxics data base.
Toxics may reach the water environment through direct industrial
discharge or by being part of a municipal discharge, or through
runoff and leachate from landfills. As additional monitoring
is conducted and potential toxic problems are examined, addi-
tional areas of toxic contamination may well be identified.
EPA and the states are directing more and more monitoring
resources to address known or suspected toxic problems.
Both EPA and the states conduct toxic monitoring in the water
column, sediment and in fish flesh. This monitoring has
usually been performed on a case by case basis when toxic
contamination has been suspected. Problems that have been
uncovered have had monitoring resources directed to them to
measure their extent and impact. These have included, for
example, mercury in the Hackensack M-eadowlands of New Jersey,
cadmium at Foundry Cove in New York, PCBs in the Hudson River,
Mirex in Lake Ontario, and toxics in the Niagara River.
States are identifying priority waterbodies to which they are
directing their monitoring and clean-up activities. New York
is developing a coordinated Toxic Substances Control Program
to determine, on a priority basis, waterways and ground waters
affected by toxic pollutants, a system of investigating and
determining toxic effects on the water environment, the deve-
lopment of remedial and mitigative plans, and the maintenance
of information on toxic substances. New Jersey, with the
aid of Region II, has been conducting a bioassay screening
program and mutagenicity testing of industrial effluents as
a precursor to initiating intensive chemical analyses and
bioassay studies to isolate toxic chemical(s) and then to
impose effluent limitations on same.
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0 Conventional Pollution from Municipal Discharges in New York
and New Jersey, outside the Metropolitan New York City Area (C,
A major cause of water quality standards violations in New
York and New Jersey is the discharge of inadequately treated
municipal wastes. These discharges also contribute to the
closing of swimming and fishing areas, the contamination of
drinking water, and the eutrophication of lakes. The principal
barriers to solving this problem have been the inability or
unwillingness of municipalities to secure and commit sufficient
funds for the construction and operation of municipal treatment
facilities and the lack of a clear enforcement/compliance
policy by the regulatory agencies. Recent promising events
have been the drafting of an EPA Municipal Compliance Strategy,
the adoption by New York of an Integrated Compliance Strategy,
and the present work in New Jersey on development of alternative
municipal sewage treatment plant financing mechanisms.
0 Conventional Pollution Problems Associated with Nonpoint "'
Sources of Pollution (C)
Many stream segments and lakes in New York and New Jersey
are impacted by nonpoint sources of pollution. These sources
include urban stormwater runoff, livestock, agricultural
and silvicultural runoff, runoff from construction sites,
inadequately treated sewage from septic systems, and dredging.
These sources contribute nutrients, organics, sediment,
bacteria and pesticides.
In Puerto Rico, nonpoint sources impact potable water supplies,
fish propagation and water quality preservation. High bacteria
and nutrient levels and low dissolved oxygen levels are found
in many streams. Those streams draining into water supply
reservoirs (Rio de la Plata and Rio Grande de Loiza) are of
major concern. In addition, nitrate contamination of potable
groundwater sources is of concern in the Southern basin.
These problems result in part from the uncontrolled and poor
waste disposal operations of thousands of dairy, hog and
poultry farms which are estimated to generate over 763,000
dry tons/ year of animal waste.
In New York State, detailed studies will soon be completed
to provide prototypical.solutions to urban runoff and agri-
cultural problems through National Urban Runoff Projects
(NURPs) and Model Implementation Projects (MIPs) respectively.
In New Jersey, stormwater management and local water quality
detection and enforcement programs are being put into place.
In Puerto Rico, an animal waste control program will soon be
completed.
39
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0 Loss of Wetlands in Coastal Zones of New York and New Jersey (C)
In and around the highly developed metropolitan areas of New
York and New Jersey, urban sprawl continues to destroy
wetlands. The loss of wetlands in coastal zones contributes
to the loss of fisheries spawning habitat and fisheries
resources, and decreases water quality. Estimates indicate
that New York and New Jersey have lost over 40 percent of
their wetlands since the 1930's. The piecemeal alteration and
destruction of wetlands through draining, dredging, filling,
and other means has had an adverse cumulative impact on
natural resources of the coastal zone. The destruction of
wetlands, and/or their degradation, represents an irreversible
and irretrievable loss of valuable aquatic resources.
The further loss of wetlands may arise from continued unwise
land use practices. The Corps of Engineers and EPA can
prevent or minimize any further degradation of this important
natural resource by carefully reviewing Section 404 permit
applications for construction projects, or in the provision
of financial or technical assistance for EPA or Corps funded
activities. Activities in wetland areas should be scrutinized
so that losses are avoided or minimized wherever possible.
0 Loss of Wetlands in Puerto Rico (C)
Puerto Rico has lost about 70 percent of its wetlands (mangroves
and sea grass beds) since 1900. There were about 36,000
acres of mangrove swamps in 1900; today only 12,000 acres
remain. The loss of wetlands results in the loss of fisheries
habitat and food sources; many people on the island depend
on these areas for food and/or livelihood.
The cause of the problem is the lack of -suitable areas in
which to accommodate future commercial, industrial and residential
growth. The piecemeal alteration and destruction of wetlands
through draining, dredging, filling, and other means has had
an adverse cumulative impact on the mangroves.
The main tools for protecting Puerto Rico's wetlands are the
Army Corps of Engineers' Section 10 and 404 permit programs,
and the coordinated application of EPA's 404(b)(l) guidelines
and enforcement for the discharge of dredged and fill material.
In cases where there are no practical alternatives to dredging
of filling of mangroves, permittes are required to plant new
mangroves of equal or greater proportions than the area to be
disturbed. These plantings are usually planned and supervised
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Mayaguez Field Office.
The recent development of general permits for minor activities
has helped to free up permit review and processing personnel
so that they may place more effort on longer projects.
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A special coordinated effort is in progress to protect the
mangroves, sea grass beds, and Phosphorescent Bay of the La
Parguera area from the proliferation of unpermitted stilt
homes which lack waste treatment systems. This will be
accomplished through the proposed creation of a national
marine sanctuary and a Memorandum of Agreement between the
Governor and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prohibit the
construction of new stilt homes and to provide strict enforcement
of permit regulations.
The preservation of the mangrove and sea grass beds of La
Parguera is considered an important component for the
maintenance of the world-famous Phosphorescent Bay, because
of the filtering and nutrient absorption abilities of these
plants. A coordinated federal/state effort has recently
been undertaken which resulted in the hundreds of acres of
wetland/lagoon complexes adjacent to Cano Frontera being
declared "Waters of the United States". This determination
will bring a large proposed filling operation for a low cost
housing project under the strict requirement of the Corps of
Engineers permit program and is expected to significantly
reduce the adverse impacts to these wetlands.
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PRIORITY 1 OCEAN WATER QUALITY PROBLEM
0 Marine Pollution Caused by Ocean Disposal of Dredged Materials,
Sewage Sludge, and Chemical Wastes (C)
Relative Importance: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) monitors marine "health" impacts on
northeast coastal waters. NOAA research reveals that many
fishery resources which occur from the coastal waters off
the New York Bight (NYB) apex to the outer continental
shelf-slope break show unexpectedly high levels of petro-
leum hydrocarbons and PCBs. Measurements of trace metals
and organic contaminants in sediments collected over a
broad area of the continental shelf indicate that the sea-
ward extent of pollution may be greater than earlier expected.
Shellfish beds from the entrance to New York Harbor to a
distance of six miles (in radius) from the sewage sludge
dump site have been closed since 1974 by the Food and Drug
Administration due to bacterial contamination. NOAA studies
have also identified a higher incidence of skeletal deform-
ities, mutagenic aberrations, and various shell and skin
lesions in organisms collected inshore and in and around
sewage sludge, and dredged material dump sites.
Causes: These marine impacts are due to several sources,
including pollutants carried from estuaries such as the
Raritan and Hudson River complex. However, a significant
cause of the problem is ocean dumping; large quantities of
pollutants are ocean dumped including dredged materials,
sewage sludge and chemical wastes.
Of the over 250 sewage treatment plants which had generated
sewage sludge for ocean disposal, only 28 continue to dis-
pose of their sludge in the ocean. The ocean disposal of
sewage sludge is estimated to account for one to ten percent
of the total contaminant input to the Apex, but it is respon-
sible for nearly 25 percent of the PCBs and nearly 50 percent
of the mercury entering the Bight. EPA had interpreted the
Ocean Dumping Act as calling for an end to sewage sludge
dumping on or before December 31, 1981. A challenge by
New York City resulted in a 1981 Court Order requiring EPA
to revise its regulations to include a balance of land-based
versus ocean disposal alternatives when determining "unrea-
sonable degradation". EPA was also ordered to act on New
York City's petition to redesignate the 12-mile site and
on its application for continued dumping.
42
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The affected New York and New Jersey authorities continue to
use the 12-mile site. Consent Agreements with the NJ author-
ities are being challenged by the National Wildlife Federation
(NWF) et al. (filed December 1982). Continued use of the 12-
mile site is expected to generate significant controversial
public reactions.
Nearly 150 industries have ceased ocean dumping, but much con-
troversy surrounds the four remaining industrial plants which
ocean dump: Allied Chemical, NL Industries, and DuPont (2 plants)
There is significant opposition from Congress, fishermen,
shore communities, and environmental groups to the continued
use of the ocean for the disposal of industrial wastes.
EPA is in the process of designating a site in the ocean for
the burning of some kinds of hazardous and toxic wastes
(i.e., toxic organic wastes, principally organohalogens). At
present there are three firms seeking to establish port faci-
lities to temporarily handle these waste-s which are now stored
on land. Significant public controversy is associated with
the establishment of thes^ facilities.
Barriers; The major barrier to the discontinuance of ocean
dumping is the difficulty of finding cost effective and
environmentally sound alternatives. Two major reasons for
this difficulty are the volume of wastes generated and the highly
urbanized nature of the area.
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions: Regional activities
include oversight of provisions of permits issued by EPA/COE
for use of the dump site; development, participation in and
evaluation of monitoring activities at the dump site; enforce-
ment of alleged violations of permit provisions; and the
drafting of sections of the EPA annual report to Congress
and the London Dumping Convention.
EPA is seeking public comment on the petitions to redesignate
the 12-mile site, on possible redesignation of an enlarged
60-mile site, and on the proposed designation of the 106-mile
site in the Federal Register of December 20, 1982 (60-day
comment period).
In response to court orders, the petitioners were notified
(December 1982) of certain deficiencies and granted 90 days
(subsequently extended to May 1983) to provide additional
information to support their petition.
Upon receipt of additional information from petitioners and
public comment in response to the Federal Register notice,
the action on the petitions will be formulated and a public
notice placed in the Federal Register. Future actions include
regulation revision, action on permit applications (currently
incomplete), and preparation of responses to the NWF lawsuit.
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Needed Headquarters Assistance;
0 Complete the development of a marine strategy which will
identify the relationships between the Office of Water's
marine programs—including ocean dumping and incineration
at sea— to provide for a well-coordinated, integrated
marine program,
0 Revise the ocean dumping regulations and criteria,
0 Act on petitions to redesignate the NYB Sewage Sludge
(12-Mile) Site and the alternate Sewage Sludge (60-Mile)
Site,
0 Develop criteria for the selection of ocean dump sites,
0 Develop and implement a monitoring program for ocean disposal
related activities-Regional monitoring program (helicopter)
and Headquarters monitoring program (ANTELOPE), and
0 Complete the site designation process (EIS and rulemaking)
on the Cellar Dirt, Mud, and New Jersey/Long Island Dump
Sites.
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PRIORITY 1 SURFACE DRINKING WATER PROBLEM
Persistent Violations in Public Water Supply Systems in
the Virgin Islands (C)
Relative Importance: Water quality problems in the Virgin
Islands Housing Authority projects are critical. An estimated
population of 10,000 living in the 80 projects are supplied
water which consistently violates the Territorial standards
for turbidity and coliforms.
Causes: The microbiological problem in the Virgin Islands
is caused by:
0 Inadequate disinfection,
0 Turbidity interference with disinfection,
0 Infiltration because of inadequate pressures in the
distribution system, arid
0 The nature of the catchment system.
The Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs (DCCA)
chemistry laboratory has been unable to achieve EPA certifi-
cation for most of the parameters specified in the National
Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Laboratory
problems are being addressed through the FY'83 State/EPA
Agreement and Consolidated Grant to the Virgin Islands.
Barriers: The barriers to solving the problems are:
1) Reluctance of small purveyors to provide and maintain
adequate disinfection,
2) Increased purveyor water cost if catchment systems are
eliminated, and
3) Prohibitive cost of extending transmission mains and
pumping water to remote areas of the islands.
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions;
A comprehensive water resources management plan is being
developed for the improvement, expansion and management of
the Virgin Islands water supply. It will deal with short-
term and long-term plans to manage all aspects of water
supply: quality, quantity, distribution, and institutional
considerations.
45
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In addition, DCCA has contracted for the development of an
"Operation and Maintenance" booklet for catchment systems •
which will be distributed throughout the islands upon completion,
Needed Headquarters Assistance; None.
46
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PRIORITY 2 SURFACE DRINKING WATER PROBLEMS
0 Insufficient Water Quantity in the Virgin Islands, Puerto
Rico, and New Jersey (C)
Virgin Islands - The Virgin Islands is no longer experien-
cing the chronic and serious water shortages of prior years.
However, major water supply problems remain; including the
cost of water, the quality of water, the need for an improved
accountability system, a deteriorated distribution system,
and the need for an overall systematized management and
decision making approach to water supply.
This problem exists in the Virgin Islands because of a lack
of conventional water supply sources such as ground water
and surface bodies of water. As a result, the Virgin Islands
purveyors must depend primarily- upon desalted sea water and
catchment of rainwater as sources for drinking water. Prior
to the recent installation of new desalination units, the
dependability of desalted sea water was unreliable because
the previous units were capable of only intermittent operation.
With the installation of the new units, the quantity problem
has been reduced substantially in the areas served by central
water distribution systems.
The quantity problem persists in areas where purveyors are
dependent upon catchment of rainwater supplemented by
trucked-in water from the central systems.
Puerto Rico - Erosion occurring in water supply reservoir
watersheds is causing a rapid depletion of storage capacity.
Lakes Loiza (Carraizo) and LaPlata are the major sources of
potable water for the San Juan metropolitan area (80 percent),
serving approximately two million people.
Lake Loiza has already lost 60 percent of its capacity. It
is projected to be completely filled by 2020 at current
sedimentation rates. LaPlata, built nine years ago, has
been estimated to have a higher rate of sedimentation than
Loiza. The continued erosion and resulting sedimentation
of the reservoirs have the potential for depleting the water
supply of 80 percent of the metropolitan San Juan population.
The most critical sediment sources, islandwide, have been
identified as uncontrolled residential, commercial and public
facilities construction activities, sand and gravel mining
operations, and cropland erosion. This problem is especially
acute in areas with steep slopes, where many of these activities
occur. Moreover, pesticides and fertilizers attached ±o
soil particles are transported to the lakes and threaten the
quality of the waters.
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New Jersey - Northeastern New Jersey's water supply shows
serious shortages especially during drought periods. Water
demand forecasts show a potential drought condition deficit
of 107 million gallons per day by 1990. The overall state
deficit by 1990 is projected to be 181 million gallons per
day.
Drought situations are a major cause of water quantity
shortfalls, with summer tourism, groundwater contamination
and development of critical watershed areas contributing
to the problem. Experience from drought situations indicates
that the water quantity problem is exaggerated by poor
interconnection capabilities, which prevent dependable
distribution during drought conditions.
0 Need for Certified Laboratories to Analyze Public Water
Supply Samples in Puerto Rico (P)
Some of the Puerto Rico Department of Health's (PRDOH) old
laboratory equipment became inoperative in 1982. PRDOH has
not been performing the analyses required in the national
interim primary drinking water regulations. Another problem
encountered by PRDOH is that three chemists and one microbiologist
have left the program and have not been replaced. In addition,
the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority's (PRASA)
chemistry laboratory, which also performs some analyses as the
purveyor for public water supplies, has not been able to
achieve PRDOH certification.
In order to solve the1, 'equipment problem, PRDOH requested and
received additional funds from EPA for the procurement of
laboratory equipment. The equipment was purchased, but as of
April 1983, it was not in operation. PRDOH and EPA have re-
cently agreed upon a recertification plan which requires
PRDOH to have the laboratory equipment on line by June 1983
and to hire and train three replacement chemists. In addition,
PRDOH is to take prescribed steps to achieve recertification
of its laboratory by September 1983. If recertification is
not obtained as planned, EPA will require PRDOH to cut the
chemist positions and contract with a certified private lab
for the required analysis.
As for PRASA's water supply laboratory, PRDOH is going to
assess the capability and certification potential of the
laboratory. If it is determined to be non-certifiable, PRDOH
will require PRASA to contract with an approved private
laboratory to conduct the required analysis.
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0 Persistent Monitoring and Reporting Violations in Public
Water Supply Systems in New Jersey (C)
In FY'81, 60 percent of New Jersey's public water supplies
were in full compliance with the national drinking water
standards pertaining to microbiological contaminants. Of the
40 percent that were out of compliance, 14 percent were
persistent violators and the rest were intermittent violators.
The national average in 1981 for persistent bacteriological
violations is 0.9 percent. With regard to turbidity, 97
percent of the systems met the standards with only 1 percent
characterized as persistent violators and 2 percent intermittent
violators.
The persistent violations problem in New Jersey is caused by:
0 Failure of some purveyors to submit their monthly report to
NJDEP, and
0 Failure on the part of NJDEP to initiate adequate enforcement
action against repeated violators.
Major problems stem from water purveyor non-compliance with
rules concerning regulated contaminants, and from the state
not evaluating an adequate number of public non-community
supplies.
Improved drinking water quality has been identified as a
priority in the State/EPA Agreement for FY'83. Comprehensive
local programs to address regulated contaminants in both
public non-community and non-pubic water supplies do not now
exist statewide. To maximize use of state and federal
resources, a cooperative delegation of program responsibilities
for non-community supplies to the local level is being
developed by NJDEP.
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PRIORITY 1 GROUND WATER PROBLEM
0 Contamination of Groundwater Supplies on Long Island,
New York, and in New Jersey and Puerto Rico (C)
Relative Importance: There is increasing concern in Region
II over the presence of unregulated contaminants in both
public and non-public systems. The incidence of contamination
of drinking water sources, particularly groundwater sources,
has been increasing. In New Jersey, New York, and Puerto
Rico both public and non-public wells have been affected
by unregulated contaminants.
Long Island, New York - In New York State, there are currently
about six million people, including two and a half million
on Long Island, that rely on ground water as their sole or
primary source of water supply.
The aquifer system on Long Island is presently experiencing
localized contamination problems. At present, approximately
30 of the 1,000 major public drinking water wells
are closed or restricted in their use because of contamination
by synthetic organics and nitrates. Although Long Island's
groundwater resource has these contamination problems in a
number of localities, it is still relatively clean, especially
in large areas of Suffolk County such as the Pine Barrens area.
New Jersey - In New Jersey, the NJDEP has closed 74 public
supply wells since 1971. Ninety percent were closed because
of contamination by organic and industrial chemicals. Many
of these contamination events were due directly to point
sources. A monitoring study by the NJDEP Office of Cancer
and Toxic Substances Research found approximately 30 wells
(out of 670) to be contaminated with more than one chemical
group.
Puerto Rico - in Puerto Rico, recent surveys have found organic
contaminants in water supply wells in many places on the island,
In one case, approximately 15,000 gallons of a mixture of
carbontetrachloride and acetonitrile leaked from an underground
storage tank into the ground water. As a result, municipal
wells at Tiburones and Garrochales were closed by the PRDOH in
addition to the industrial well at the Upjohn facility.
Attempts to locate the plume of contamination for possible
remedial action have been unsuccessful to date.
Causes; The toxic contaminant sources which contribute to
ground water quality problems are associated with a wide
range of human activities. They include municipal and indus-
trial wastewater discharges; home septic systems; toxic house-
hold consumer products; leachate from landfills; leaking
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gasoline storage tanks; petroleum or other hazardous materials
spills; and use of fertilizers and pesticides for both domestic
and agricultural applications.
Barriers; The major barriers to the solution of these problems
include locating the problems, and locating and removing the
causes. Another barrier is the lack of national drinking
water standards for toxics.
The nature of the groundwater resource, itself, also presents
a barrier to the solution of this problem. Since ground
water normally moves very slowly through aquifers, it could
take decades before contaminated aquifers can once again be
used for consumption without treatment. Further, even where
water from contaminated wells can be treated by aeration and
granular activated carbon, it is often prohibitively expensive.
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions;
Long Island, New York - The New York State Department of
Health (DOH) conducted several studies and published a
report entitled "Organic Chemicals and Drinking Water".
This report provides background information related to the
development of a policy to control the contamination of
drinking water with organic chemicals.
In addition, New York is presently developing a statewide
groundwater program for quality and quantity management.
Special emphasis is being placed on the completion of the
Long Island element of the plan. A number of prototype
projects in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico, funded
under the Section 208 program, are underway to develop control
programs to deal with various toxic contaminants.
With respect to the need for toxic drinking water standards,
the New York State DOH has established informal guidelines
for organic chemicals in drinking water. DOH has adopted
individual guidelines for 5 specific organics in addition to
an overall guideline of 50 ppb as the maximum permissible
concentration for any single synthetic organic chemical, and
100 ppb as the total allowed for a combination of contaminants.
New Jersey - New Jersey DEP conducted a .survey of groundwater
supplies throughout the state in an effort to determine the
degree of organic chemical contamination statewide. In New
Jersey, Assembly Bill No. 280 has been introduced which, if
adopted, will require all community public water supplies to
test for 15 commonly found organic chemicals in drinking
water. Any purveyor exceeding the maximum contaminant level
(MCL) established by NJDEP must within one year take corrective
action to achieve full compliance.
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Puerto Rico - The Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (EQB)
conducted a survey of some 57 groundwater wells throughout
the island in cooperation with the United States Geological
Survey (USGS) in an effort to determine the contamination
situation. The Puerto Rico Health Department has been closing
wells found to be contaminated with organic chemicals on a
case by case basis using the guidelines adopted in New York
State and the health advisory developed by EPA.
Agency Actions - EPA has initiated six major national monitoring
studies to gain perspective on the frequency and intensity of
organic chemical contamination of drinking water supplies.
EPA prepared for comment in the Federal Reg ister (dated March 4,
1982) national Revised Primary Drinking Water Regulations, for
Volatile Synthetic Organic Chemicals in drinking water. The
intent was to initiate discussion that will enable the Agency
to determine whether recommended MCLs and revised regulations
should be established for volatile organic compounds.
Needed Headquarters Assistance;
0 Continue to support research and development .for methods
of treatment and detection of synthetic organic chemicals
routinely found in drinking water supplies,
0 Develop a national groundwater policy to guide the states
in conducting groundwater management activities, and
0 Develop national drinking water standards for toxic organics.
PRIORITY 2 GROUNDWATER PROBLEMS
0 Saltwater Intrusion into Groundwater Supplies in New Jersey
Due 'to Overpumping (C)
Saltwater has intruded into formerly freshwater wells along
the New Jersey coast, especially in the coastal plain area,
rendering the water unsuitable for use. Overpumping has led
to saltwater intrusion of wells and has also resulted in the
lowering of groundwater levels in affected areas. Currently,
an estimated 500 million gallons per day are being pumped
from coastal plain aquifers, causing lowering of water levels
in many areas. In addition, the problem may be affecting
streams dependent upon groundwater flows.
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0 Safe Management and Oversight of Enhanced Oil and Gas
Recovery in New York (P)
If an enhanced oil recovery injection well loses mechanical
integrity, a conduit for injected fluids to enter underground
sources of drinking water (USDWs) can be created. In New
York State, establishing mechanical integrity is made more
difficult because the oil production industry in the state
does not use casing from the surface to the injection zone.
Casing is placed only to the bottom of the USDWs; the
remainder of the well is "open-hole" construction.
Administratively, the problem in New York is that there are
no existing mechanical integrity requirements. The state
has declined to assume primacy of the UIC program. EPA
Region II is directly implementing this program, and is
proposing five alternative mechanical integrity tests.
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PRIORITY 2 PESTICIDES PROBLEM
0 Need for Technical and Financial Support to Assess the
Effectiveness of the Pesticides Program (E)
The recent episodes of pesticides misuse on Long Island,
New York have pointed up the need for larger inspection
forces, both state and federal, to oversee the operations
of pesticide applicators and to promptly investigate cases
of alleged misuse. Continued training of these inspectors
in the detection of misuse and other violations, prompt
enforcement and prosecution if necessary, and continued
education not only of Pest Control Operators (PCOs) but
also of the public are needed as well. Further, the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) should
be amended to require that all PCOs be certified or the
phrase "under the supervision of" should be made to mean
in the presence of the supervisor.
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PRIORITY 2 NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE PROBLEM
0 Municipal Landfills Containing Toxic Materials (E)
Contamination of surface water and groundwater supplies has
occurred in New York and New Jersey as a result of runoff of
viral, bacterial, and toxic contaminants from municipal
landfills. This contamination occurs when hazardous wastes
are inadvertently or deliberately disposed of in non-hazardous
dump sites. Toxic materials also accumulate from the thousands
of small generators of hazardous wastes who legally dispose
of their wastes in these landfills. In addition, infectious
and toxic-contaminated runoff can be caused by the cumulative
effects of the thousands of tons of household products that
are disposed of at these sites. The commingling of hazardous
wastes in non-hazardous waste sites is evidenced by the fact
that 20 percent of the Superfund sites in New York and 15 per-
cent of those in New Jersey were municipal landfills.
EPA no longer supports state non-hazardous waste programs,
and in New York and New Jersey, major activities mandated by
Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) are left incomplete: the Open Dump Inventory and the
state Solid Waste Management Plans. Federal oversight of
state non-hazardous waste programs has also cea.sed, except
for ad hoc attention as important problems surface.
Existing state programs continue at constant or diminished
levels, and EPA funding for non-hazardous waste activities
has ceased. EPA should consider supporting legislation to
modernize and upgrade Subtitle D. The chemical and physical
criteria of the Open Dump Inventory should be integrated with
the hazardous waste criteria of 40 CFR Part 261. Objectives
of an amended Subtitle D would be to preclude any new open
dumps (by the integrated criteria) in order to preclude new
commingled hazardous waste sites, and to reduce by ninety
percent landfill utilization by urban areas.
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PRIORITY 1 HAZARDOUS WASTES - RCRA PROBLEMS
0 Siting of New Hazardous Waste Facilities (E)
Relative Importance: Incentives favoring land disposal and
illegal disposal are still strong in Region II. The Region
needs more incinerators and other destruction processes to
make destruction more competitive with burial and dumping.
Causes; Incineration and other destruction processes are
capital-intensive. Entrepreneurs are unsure whether EPA and
state regulations will be strict enough to force wastes out
of burial and dumping, and thereby assure the profitability
of capital-intensive destruction processes.
Barriers: New York State's attempt to site a state-sponsored
hazardous waste destruction facility at Sterling, Cayuga County,
met insurmountable citizen opposition. All permits will be
subject to public hearings and political controversy.
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions; States have no present
plans to sponsor public hazardous waste destruction facilities.
Policies regarding incentives for the private sector are not
completely formulated.
To date, EPA has been passive on the siting issue, limiting
its involvement to publications on negotiations and incentives
in the siting process.
Needed Headquarters Assistance;
0 Develop ways to encourage the siting of needed hazardous
waste facilities, so as to ensure adequate safe capacity
and to provide the strongest possible incentive against
illegal and improper disposal.
0 Timely Issuance of RCRA Permits (E)
Relative Importance: Safe management and oversight of hazardous
waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDs) involves
the inspection and technical evaluation process of RCRA permits.
But current EPA and state resources combined are not sufficient
to complete the permit issuance work in a timely manner. Cur-
rently, EPA has 16 workyears, and the states, combined, 55 work-
years, devoted to the permitting, effort. Regionwide, there are
1100 TSDs. Given EPA Headquarters' estimates of the workload
per permit, an approximately 3-fold increase in EPA resources,
and a 1.5-fold increase in state resources, would be required
to complete all necessary permits in the Region in a 5-year
timeframe.
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Causes: Overall reductions in state and federal budget allo-
cations have prevented a rapid expansion of permit personnel.
Barriers; See Causes.
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions: Planned state actions
involve only existing levels of workyears; sharp increases are
unlikely. EPA is currently concluding its FY 1984 workyear
allocations, with hazardous waste permit resources remaining
approximately level.
Needed Headquarters Assistance:
0 Provide additional Regional resources in order to accelerate
the permitting of TSD facilities.
PRIORITY 2 HAZARDOUS WASTE - RCRA PROBLEM
0 Class I Violations of RCRA Monitoring and Financial
Requirements (P)
Region II is experiencing significant problems in having
TSD facilities comply with the monitoring and financial
responsibility requirements of the RCRA regulations.
Monitoring is needed at selected TSD facilities to determine
impacts on ground water. On financial requirements, many
TSD facilities have not posted insurance to cover damages
associated with releases of hazardous materials. If not
resolved", these Class I violations could lead to future
environmental problems.
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PRIORITY 1 SUPERFUND PROBLEM
0 Superfund Sites in Region II on the National Priorities List (C)
Relative Importance; The importance of the hazardous waste
problem in Region II is demonstrated by the fact that 23
percent of the 418 uncontrolled hazardous waste sites identified
nationwide and included on the National Priorities List
(NPL) are located within the Region. There are 26 NPL sites
in New York State, 65 in New Jersey, and 5 in Puerto Rico.
The problems at these sites are primarily health related,
and potentially threaten public drinking water supplies, or
are located in substantially populated areas, or both. For
this reason remedial action at these sites has become a
Regional priority.
Causes: The major causes of the existing problems date back
to the illegal and/or uncontrolled dumping of hazardous waste
before the existence of regulatory programs such as RCRA and
CERCLA.
Barriers: The three main obstacles to solving these problems
have been:
0 Difficulties in obtaining both state and federal funds
up until 1982;
° The complexity of regulatory requirements under the
National Contingency Plan, which was not finalized until
late 1982; and
0 The complexity of projects requiring engineering studies
before cleanup.
Present and Planned State and EPA Actions; Actions to date
include the development of remedial action master plans and
feasibility studies concurrently with enforcement activities.
The establishment of funds in New York and New Jersey for
Superfund related activities has provided a mechanism for
cost sharing with the states in remedial action.
Needed Headquarters Assistance;
0 Expedite the development of policy and guidance that would:
(1) mitigate delays in resolving issues in state cooperative
agreements and contracts; (2) facilitate consistency in
procedures for enforcement activities; and (3) facilitate
timely concurrence for voluntary, responsible-party cleanup.
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PRIORITY 2 SUPERFUND PROBLEM
0 Uncontrolled Sites in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico
that are Potential Priority Candidates (P)
In addition to the sites on the NPL, sites have been identified
in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico that may also require
some cleanup effort. The states are investigating these
sites to define the hazards they pose and to determine whether
they are serious enough to be considered for inclusion on
the NPL.
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PRIORITY 2 RADIATION PROBLEM
0 Need for Federal Standards for Low-Level Radioactive Waste
Disposal (E)
Of the six commercial low-level shallow land waste disposal
sites operating throughout the nation in 1970, only three
have remained open. Even at these sites, disposal processes
have been limited or curtailed significantly, although the
volume of waste generated since 1970 has increased by 300
percent, to 95,000 cubic meters per year.
The priority lies with development of the regulatory framework
to establish an EPA standard for waste disposal operations
before additional disposal capacity can be developed.
The 1980 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act holds each
state responsible for disposing of its low-level waste (within
the state or in other states through a compact). At this
time, EPA Headquarters is charged with issuing applicable
environmental standards for such disposal.
The EPA standard would be implemented by the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) for commercial facilities, for
example, at nuclear power plants and former commercial ore-
.processing sites such as Maywood and Orange, New Jersey.
New York would be the lead authority for its commercial
facilities (excluding power plants) since it is an agreement
state with the NRC. The Department of Energy (DOE) would be
responsible for implementing the standard at federal facilities
and sites used in atomic bomb development (Manhattan Engineer
District). EPA's coordination with these agencies and the
states is essential to the development of the standard.
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