EPA Region 2 2019 Year in Review

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Note from the Regional Administrator	3
2019 in Numbers	4
Hurricanes Irma and Maria Recovery	5
Improving Air Quality	9
Providing Clean and Safe Water	11
Revitalizing Land and Preventing Contamination	13
In New York	13
In New Jersey	18
In the Caribbean	22
Effective Partnerships	23
Compliance with the Law	26
Improving Efficiency and Effectiveness 	28
National Recognition	30
In Memory	31
Cover photo: Boquette River Keene, New York Photo credit Dan Montella, £PA Region 2
Back cover photo: Franklin Parker Preserve Woodland, New Jersey. Photo credit Dan Montella, EPA Region 2
EPA Publication Number: 902R20001
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EPA REGION 2 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW

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NOTE FROM THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
I am proud and honored to be able to share this 2019 report, which
includes some of our most recent projects and accomplishments. EPA's
mission is to protect people's health and the environment - surely one of
the most important missions there is, and one I am proud to serve. From
cleaning up contaminated properties to ensuring drinking water sources
are safe, EPA Region 2 has delivered a cleaner, safer, and healthier
environment for future generations.
Highlighting our work is important because it helps people understand
how we collectively engage in solving environmental challenges in their
communities and offers the opportunity to more closely partner with us to
promote stewardship and sustainability.
EPA's Region 2 is a very diverse region - we serve New Jersey, New
York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally recognized Indian Nations — all with
their own unique environmental concerns and priorities. Over the past year, we have worked in close
collaboration with our state, territory, and tribal partners to achieve real environmental results. Most
importantly, we have been working hand-in-hand with communities, respecting local home rule,
and empowering them to have a voice in the work that we do. With a focus on community-driven
efforts, we are supporting locally-led solutions to environmental concerns. In this proactive form of
engagement, we also look for opportunities to strengthen local skills and abilities to ensure our joint
efforts endure and are sustainable.
As a life -long public servant, I have a deep appreciation for the importance of serving
communities and for the hard work and dedication of my EPA colleagues here in Region 2, who
are passionate and take their mission very much to heart. I'm honored to highlight our collective
work and look forward to celebrating more accomplishments in years to come.
Qaz-
Sincerely,
Peter D. Lopez
EPA REGION 2 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW

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2019
IN NUMBERS
~
78
Factsheets Produced to Update Communities
on Individual Superfund Sites
44
n ii-
•••••••
Public
Meetings
69

Community Advisory
Group Meetings
Attended
46
Five-year Reviews of Superfund
Remedy Protectiveness Completed
HE
$429,256,717
Awarded through Grants
20
(ffc*
33
Public notices published
Communities Received
Support to Understand
Technical Reports or
Cleanup Plans for
Superfund Sites
14,566
Followers on Twitter (@eparegion2)
~=
118
Press Releases Issued

i i
Superfund Construction
Completions

11
Superfund Sites Ready for
Their Anticipated Use


Over 200
Engagements with
Congressional Offices
1368

On-site Inspections to Evaluate Compliance with
Applicable Environmental Statutes and Regulations
50
Press Events
18
Superfund Removal
Completions
470
Freedom of Information Act
Requests Processed
far
16
Records of Decision on Superfund Cleanup Signed
(Plus one ROD Amendment)

39
New Hires
&
32
Retirees
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HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA RECOVERY
In September 2017J Hurricanes irma and Maria took hundreds of lives and devastated basic
infrastructure - electricity, sewage treatment plants, potable water supply systems, roadways and
medical facilities - in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nearly four million residents were left
without power for months and the destruction overwhelmed the local governments. Supporting one of
the largest post-disaster reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in U.S. history posed unique challenges
and EPA is continuing its efforts to help the Caribbean recover from the long-term impacts of these
disasters.
Region 2's comprehensive, heavily subscribed engagement will be the foundation for a strong,
resilient recovery that assures the protection of public health and the environment, as well as the
preparation for another hurricane season. The viability of EPA's recovery work relies heavily on
the relationships that we have with our partners. EPA will continue to build on our partnerships
with the governments of Puerto Rico and the USVI, local communities, and non-governmental and
professional organizations, among others.
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Hurricanes Irma and Maria generated more than
12 million cubic yards of debris, which crippled
an already strained solid waste infrastructure
in Puerto Rico. In response, EPA awarded $6.2
million to the Puerto Rico Department of Natural
and Environmental Resources (DNER) as the first
installment of a $40 million grant for hazardous
and solid waste management financial assistance.
EPA's approval and financial backing of DNER's
waste management work plan will help Puerto
Rico improve the post-storm management of
landfills, and develop a long-term sustainable
solid waste program that addresses historic
shortcomings and increases preparedness for
managing waste from future storms.
As part of its continuing efforts in the USVI, a
municipal solid waste characterization field study, funded by EPA and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), was recently completed, and the University of the Virgin Islands
is preparing the results. This study is the first step in developing and updating waste management
programs and evaluating ways to reduce and manage waste and cut disposal costs. In addition
to helping create an integrated waste management program, the data collected will inform the
government of the U.S. Virgin Islands in its efforts to craft recycling policies.
EPA continues to partner with federal and USVI government agencies to advance recovery strategies
for the USVI. Access to clean drinking water and supporting the reconstruction of wastewater
infrastructure remain a top priority, along with work to address solid waste management issues,
indoor air quality and mold remediation, and the collection of medical wastes exacerbated by the
hurricanes. EPA's goals are to provide assistance to the Government of the USVI to: make sure that
infrastructure recovery projects and efforts consider and address key environmental needs; meet
requirements and standards; build preparedness and capacity to mitigate future events; and promote
economically sustainable and resilient rebuilding.
To support the development of renewable energy, Region 2 conducted a solar assessment study
in Culebra, Puerto Rico with the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL) and the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez. Based on the results of the study, Puerto
Rico's Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded $4.1 million to the Community
Foundation of Puerto Rico in April to fund its proposal for the design and installation of a solar
photovoltaic microgrid system in Culebra, Puerto Rico. EDA also awarded a $3.8 million grant to
both PathStone and The Solar Foundation in September for the development and implementation
of an island-wide solar technician curriculum operating from five strategic centers. Our ability
to convene and coach groups involved in this effort ied to the first-ever solar technician training
program in Puerto Rico.
Conducting waste characterizations study in the U.D. Virgin Islands to improve
management and reduction of waste.
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As part of EPA's recovery support to the more than 240 community water systems in Puerto Rico,
EPA Region 2 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with seven non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) to enhance resiliency and sustainability at these private drinking water
systems, which are located in geographically
remote parts of the island. Representatives from
the Puerto Rico Community Foundation Water
Mission International, Puerto Rico Science,
Research and Technology Trust, American Red
Cross, OXFAM, and Polytechnic University of
Puerto Rico signed this MOU that has leveraged
more than $ 13 million in private funds from these
NGOs to help these small drinking water systems
not managed by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and
Sewer Authority (PRASA). This agreement is
a great example of federal agencies working
together with the local government, nonprofits
and the private sector to provide drinking water
to rural communities. Through the implementation
of this MOU and its creation of a Water Coalition, EPA and its partners are providing support in
developing resiliency through sustainable planning, energy/water efficiency and renewable energy
in delivering safe drinking water. The Water Coalition is also providing technical assistance and/
or training regarding ways to make the community drinking water systems more sustainable and
resilient to extreme weather events, in collaboration with USDA Rural Development, which has funded
important Circuit Rider Programs. The Water Coalition has also developed and supported specific
academic projects and programs that investigate and apply design standards and technologies to
achieve sustainability in the community drinking water systems. EPA will continue leading the efforts
of the Water Coalition, in direct collaboration with its diverse group of partners, including the Puerto
Rico Department of Health.
Because the Puerto Rico Environmental Research Laboratory (PRERL) did not have the analytical
capability to support the three ambient water monitoring networks in Puerto Rico - lakes, coastal,
and groundwater - EPA's Region 2 Laboratory provided analytical assistance. Over the last three
years, EPA's lab helped PRERL develop the capability to independently analyze for additional
contaminants - chlorophyll-a, pesticides, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and trace metals - into its
monitoring networks.
Puerto Rico Environmental Research Laboratory
EPA REGION 2 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW
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At the end of October, EPA visited the ambient
air monitoring stations operated by the Puerto
Rico Department of Natural and Environmental
Resources (DNER) to verify that air monitoring
instruments purchased through a grant from
FEMA were deployed. EPA visited eight of
the eleven field sites in Puerto Rico where
monitoring for gaseous pollutants (ozone,
carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen
oxide) is taking place, and audited the
instruments operated by DNER at the agency's
central electronics laboratory in San Juan.
EPA also administers other grant programs,
including the Brownfields grants program,
which can provide additional support during
the recovery process, such as workforce
development, local Brownfields redevelopment
planning; assessment of potential Brownfields
sites; and cleanup of Brownfields sites. During
the last year, EPA has conducted a number
of capacity building and training workshops 		„
1 '	..ii	Inspecting an air monitoring station in Puerto Rico to ensure proper operations
in grant opportunities to local governments,	after Hurricanes Maria and Irma.
municipalities and non-government
organizations in Puerto Rico and the USVI. The
viability of EPA's recovery work relies heavily on
the relationships that we have with our partners. EPA will continue to build on its partnerships with
the Governments of Puerto Rico and the USVI, local communities, other federal agencies and non-
governmental and professional organizations, among others.
Financial Assistance for Clean and Safe Water
By restructuring over $500 million in Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) loans with
the Puerto Rico State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, SRF funds became available for use by PRASA
to finance drinking water and wastewater projects beginning in Federal Fiscal Year 2019 after a
hiatus of several years. Our efforts ensured that Puerto Rico's Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF
programs with PRASA continue to be a viable source of water infrastructure financing for the benefit
of the people of Puerto Rico.
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IMPROVING AIR QUALITY
Servicing the RadNet monitor in Edison, New Jersey.
Enhancing Real-Time Radiation Monitoring
The Region 2 Edison RadNet monitor is one of 140 monitors in a national monitoring network providing
the public with critical near-real-time data on ambient radiation levels. The monitor must be serviced
every 200 hours to avoid the loss of data. In order to enhance the Agency's ability to operate the
monitor, Region 2 trained a new team of operators in 2019 and established a schedule for servicing the
RadNet station to ensure uninterrupted data collection. These efforts were essential to keep the Edison
RadNet monitor operating and able to provide critical data on ambient radiation levels to the public.
Showing Progress in Air Qualify
In August, EPA made a decision based on monitoring and air quality modeling that Warren County,
New Jersey now meets the national air quality standard for Sulfur Dioxide (S02). That area of New
Jersey had previously been impacted by facilities in Pennsylvania, causing exceedances in S02 levels.
A combination of better pollution controls and power being generated by cleaner power plants caused
a dramatic improvement in air quality in this area of New Jersey over the past several decades.
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Making the Process for State Air Planning More Efficient
Region 2 was facing a very large backlog of plans developed by the states and submitted for review
by EPA, called State Implementation Plans (SIPs). In particular, the region had about 50 of these SIPs
submitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC); these were
specific plans to be applied to particular types of facilities, i.e., power plants, coating operations, paper
production, glass manufacturing and cement plants. Because the plans called for controls that needed to
meet specific requirements, EPA trained a team of reviewers on how to assess these requirements. In 2019
that team reviewed all 50 backlogged submittals from New York and was able to return 38 of them to the
State for further modification. The team is continuing to address the remaining 12 SIPs and to work closely
with the NYSDEC to process those SIPs and any other source-specific SIPs that are submitted.
Protecting Our Kids
EPA continued its work to protect
kids from polluting school buses
in 2019. EPA awarded rebates
through EPA's Diesel Emissions
Reduction Act School Bus Rebate
Program totaling $725,000 to
replace thirty-nine older diesel
school buses in New York, New
Jersey and Puerto Rico to achieve
significant reductions in children's
exposure to harmful emissions.
Six selected applicants (school
districts or private bus companies)
will receive rebates between
$15,000 and $20,000 per bus
to replace older, pre-2007 buses
with new, cleaner models. These Deputy Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan examining the equipment under the hood of an electric
include buses that run on cleaner sc'wo' ^us Purc^ass(l through a Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant awarded to the Bay Shore school
district in Hew York.
gasoline or propane instead of
diesel. In addition, in 2019 the
Bay Shore Union Free School District utilized a $695,000 Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant
from EPA to replace four older diesel buses with new zero-emission battery-electric models. School
bus replacements funded through the School Bus Rebate Program and DERA grant programs reduce
emissions and exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen oxides for children at schools, bus stops, and
on the buses themselves, reducing pollutants that are linked to health problems such as asthma and lung
damage.
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PROVIDING CLEAN AND SAFE DRINKING WATER
Nitrogen Reductions in Long Island Sound:
Through the Long Island Sound Study, Region 2 has been working to reduce nitrogen pollution to
Long Island Sound. Nitrogen pollution reduces dissolved oxygen to unhealthy levels for aquatic life (a
condition known as hypoxia), and contributes to harmful algal blooms and ioss of tidal wetlands and
seagrasses. The actions to reduce nitrogen pollution in Long Island Sound have yielded dramatic results,
and the effort has reached an important milestone. Through infrastructure investments of more than $2.5
billion to improve wastewater treatment, the total nitrogen load to Long Island Sound is now more than
42 million pounds less than the annual discharge in early 1991 (Figure 1). Between 2015 and 2019, the
peak area of hypoxic waters in Long Island Sound averaged 89 square miles, less than half the pre-
2000 average of 205 square miles (Figure 2). This represents a major improvement in water quality in
response to an aggressive, long-term effort to reduce nitrogen pollution.
Point Source Nitrogen Trade-Equalized Loads
vs. Total Maximum Daily Load Waste Load Allocations
1995-2018 I STPs
¦EPilllllii
.J?®	<&	ef>N ^ ^	cj?" ^	cN* cjN*	,
Figure
Maximum Area of Hypoxia
1087-2019 (June-September)
30 345202177199162.180169,1011
Second, third, and fourth smallest area
in 33 years
Five-year rolling average
Figure 2
Newark Drinking Water Support
Protecting public health, especially the health of our families
and children, is one of EPA's top priorities. Since July 2019,
EPA has been coordinating closely with the City of Newark
and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
(NJDEP) to determine if drinking water filters provided by
Newark are reducing lead in tap water to levels of 10
ppb or below, under the current conditions in Newark,
when the filters are properly installed and maintained.
The collaborative work conducted by our agencies was
able to provide valuable information demonstrating that
a combination of flushing (with filters in the off position)
Utilizing the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer to
analyze Newark drinking water for lead.
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and proper use of filters is the appropriate approach in Newark for reduction of lead levels in tap
water in the Pequannock service area until the city's corrosion control treatment is optimized. EPA is
strongly committed to continuing its long-standing and close collaboration with Newark and NJDEP to
strengthen the city's capacity to ensure that Newark area residents can continue to receive clean and
safe drinking water.
Safeguarding Drinking Water for Over Eight Million People
In May, EPA Region 2 and the U.S.
Department of Justice reached an
important legal agreement with the
City of New York settling violations
resulting from its longstanding failure
to cover the Hillview Reservoir located
in Yonkers, New York. The legal
agreement, called a consent decree,
requires the City to cover this finished
water reservoir and make associated
improvements at an estimated cost of
over $3 billion.
"New York City failed to comply with Safe Drinking Water
Act requirements that keep drinking water safe from
harmful bacteria and viruses, even when it was under an
order to do so," said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
"EPA will ensure the City complies with the decree and
takes the necessary steps to prevent its drinking water
from harming the health of its residents."
The Hillview Reservoir is part of New
York City's public water system, which delivers up to a billion gallons of water a day to more than 8
million people. It is an open storage facility and is the last stop for drinking water before it enters the
city's water tunnels for distribution to city residents. Although the water is disinfected before reaching
Hillview, because the reservoir is uncovered the water is subject to recontamination before entering the
distribution network.
Hillview Reservoir, in Yonkers, New York, which is part of New York City's public water system.
In addition, under the consent
decree, the city will pay a
civil penalty of $1 million for
its past violations of federal
requirements. The consent
decree also requires the city
to pay a $50,000 penalty to
New York State, and spend
about $200,000 to implement
a state project to ensure
continuous, resilient operations
of the entire City water supply
system.
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REVITALIZING LAND AND PREVENTING CONTAMINATION
IN NEW YORK
Dredging in the Upper Hudson River in Hew York.
Hudson River
This year, EPA continued to address contamination along the Upper Hudson River by overseeing a
comprehensive investigation of Polychlorinated Biphenyl contamination present on the river banks and
adjacent land as a result of river flooding. The investigation, being performed by General Electric (GE)
under a legal agreement with EPA, includes the 43-mile stretch of the Hudson River floodplain from
Hudson Falls to Troy, NY. The comprehensive study of the Upper Hudson River floodplain includes an
evaluation of human and ecological risks, and an assessment of cleanup options for the area. GE, in
coordination with EPA, has been arranging for access to sample and assess parcels of land. More
than 8,000 samples have already been taken to support this effort. The sample results are used both to
decide if any immediate action should be taken and to inform the long-term overall cleanup plan that
will be developed for the floodplain. EPA is prioritizing assessment of land in floodplain areas where
community projects are planned. These efforts include EPA's ongoing coordination with community
groups and municipalities to identify priority projects to minimize the potential for project delays due to
the possible presence of PCBs in site soil and sediment.
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EPA aiso began its work this year to further assess the Lower Hudson River stretching from Albany to
New York City. An initial assessment from the 1990s indicated that PCBs from the GE plant sites had
migrated downstream and into the Lower Hudson River as far as the City's harbor. Since then, EPA and
the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) have continued to collect
and evaluate water and fish data throughout the Lower Hudson River. This includes sampling from the
state and sampling that is required by EPA's 2006 Consent Decree with GE. EPA is also identifying
relevant studies of the Lower Hudson, assessing information provided by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers related to navigational dredging projects, and developing a broad overview of what is
currently known about the Lower Hudson. In addition, EPA is determining what information may still
be needed to assess the nature and extent of PCB contamination, and taking the first steps to develop
preliminary scopes of work for additional studies.
In the spring of 2019, the Agency took two important, distinct steps on the Upper Hudson River PCB
cleanup. EPA issued the second five-year review of the in -river cleanup, which includes EPA's decision
to defer a determination of the protectiveness of the remedy in the Upper Hudson River until more
years of Hudson River fish tissue data are gathered. In a separate action, EPA issued a "Certification
of Completion of the Remedial Action" to GE for activities it conducted that were components of the
remedy selected for the cleanup of the Upper Hudson River. This is the second certificate in a series
of three - the first was issued in 2012 and the third certificate, the "Certification of Completion of the
Work," is not expected to be available to GE for more than five decades. During that time extensive
monitoring of the sediments, water and fish will continue. The consent decree provides that if, based on
the results of such future monitoring, EPA determines that additional actions are necessary to ensure the
remedy is protective, EPA can require GE to carry out the work.
Sampling of the Old Champlain Canal floodplain.
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Updates to the Superfund National Priorities List
The Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) includes the nation's most serious uncontrolled or
abandoned hazardous waste releases. The iist serves as EPA's basis for prioritizing Superfund cleanup
funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at sites included on the NPL are eligible to receive
federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup, EPA can also delete sites - or portions of sites -
from the NPL once all response actions are complete and all cleanup goals have been achieved.
(Even though a site is deleted from the NPL, in most cases EPA must continue to carry out five-year
reviews to ensure the remedy remains protective.)
Arsenic Mine Superfund Site
In October, EPA announced the addition to the
NPL of the Arsenic Mine site, located on a historic
arsenopyrite/arsenical sulphate ore mine in
Kent, New York. The facility was operated by
various companies from the mid-1800s through
approximately 1918. As a result, soil and groundwater
are contaminated with arsenic that exceeds maximum
contaminant levels. Hie site encompasses impacted
areas comprised of 10 residential properties.
EPA's proactive actions at the Arsenic Mine Site
address the immediate need to reduce the potential for
local residents' short-term exposure to elevated levels
of arsenic in the soil, EPA installed barriers to prevent
exposure to contaminated soil in high-use areas.
EPA has also removed or replaced contaminated
soil in gardens and areas used by pets and livestock
on affected properties. EPA has already initiated a
focused feasibility study to identify options to address
residents' exposure in the long-term. EPA is expediting
this study and anticipates completion in 2020.
Ellenville Scrap Iron and Metal Superfund Site
After completing all cleanup work, EPA deleted the Ellenville Scrap Iron and Metal Superfund Site from
the NPL this fali. The Ellenville Scrap Iron and Metal Superfund Site is a 24-acre inactive scrap iron and
metal reclamation facility in Ellenville, New York that began operations in the 1950s and operated into
the 1990s. The facility was used as a landfill, as well as a dump for tires and batteries. EPA capped the
site to prevent contamination from migrating.
4n old mine shaft at the Arsenic Mine site in Kent, NY.
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Robintech Inc./National Pipe Co. Superfund Site
In the spring, EPA deleted most of the Robintech Inc./National Pipe Co. site in Vestal, New York from
the NPL. The site housed a facility that manufactured polyvinyl chloride pipes, which along with other
activities contaminated the soil and groundwater with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including
dichloroethane. After treating more than 10,000 tons of soil and millions of gallons of groundwater,
EPA deleted all but 3 acres of the site. EPA is evaluating what will be needed to address this small
portion.
Peter Cooper Superfund Site
After completing all work to address contamination at the Peter Cooper Superfund Site in Gowanda,
New York, EPA deleted the site from the NPL in September. Peter Cooper Corporation and its
predecessor, Eastern Tanners Glue Company, manufactured animal glue in Gowanda from 1904 to
1972. The site of the former Peter Cooper Corporation factory includes an inactive waste disposal
area and some areas of contaminated soil. EPA work at the site included excavating contaminated
waste and consolidating the waste in one area, covering that area with a protective cap to prevent the
waste from spreading, collecting and treating leachate seeps, and installing a gas venting system. EPA
helped in the site redevelopment through several enforcement agreements and a $100,000 Superfund
Redevelopment Initiative grant to perform a Reuse Assessment to evaluate redeveloping the site into
a community recreation area. By deleting the site, EPA is helping local authorities secure funding for
improvements to the recreation area that may not be available for NPL sites.
Promoting Economic Development
To facilitate site redevelopment at the Kinder Morgan facility in Staten Island, NY EPA Region 2 is coor-
dinating with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to establish a new
state-issued cleanup order which will incorporate state and federal closure and cleanup obligations.
The facility's operations as a petroleum bulk storage terminal located along the Arthur Kill date back to
1934 by Mobil Oil Corporation. The facility is regulated by NYSDEC as a Major Oil Storage Facil-
ity and became subject to federal hazardous waste management regulation and cleanup in the early
1990s. Staten Island Marine Development purchased the facility from Kinder Morgan in 2019 and
proposed to formally close terminal operations, complete the cleanup and prepare the site for use as
a 2.5 million square foot industrial warehousing complex. Region 2 collaborated with state partners to
coordinate regulatory processes to make redevelopment more efficient and promote economic oppor-
tunities at the site. Active remediation is expected to be completed during 2021 and full site redevelop-
ment is targeted for 2023.
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Continuing to Protect the Tonawanda Community
EPA continued its work to address serious contamination at the Tonawanda Coke Corporation site in
western New York State. The company had operated a coke manufacturing facility since 1978 untii it
shut down in 2018, and the property had been used for coke manufacturing since 1917. Operations
at the site were abandoned in October 2018, leaving behind numerous coai/coke piles, drums
and tanks with coal tar sludges, acids, bases, flammable liquids and potentially explosive materials.
EPA immediately took action to stabilize the site and throughout 2019 oversaw a phased shutdown
of plant operations. This included securing all drums, containers and tanks; treating process waste
before being discharged to the local water treatment plant; and systematically de-energizing process
lines filled with hazardous substances. EPA actions prevented a large-scale release of hazardous
waste and mitigated the potential for fire and explosions which would have been devastating to the
surrounding residential community and other industrial facilities nearby, as well as preventing any
releases into the Niagara River which borders the site. In October the property was purchased, and
the new owners are proposing a long-term cleanup and redevelopment plan under the New York
State Brownfields Program.
Tonawanda Coke Corporation facility in Tonawanda, NY.
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REVITALIZING LAND AND PREVENTING CONTAMINATION
IN NEW JERSEY
Respecting Communities While Cleaning Up Sites
The Quanta Resources Superfund site in Edgewater, New Jersey was the home of a roofing tar plant
for more than 100 years. Roofing tar was produced from coal tar, a dark-colored viscous liquid
that contains naphthalene and smells like mothballs. To address community concerns about vapor
emissions emanating from areas of exposed contaminated soil at the site, Region 2 worked in close
collaboration with the company responsible for the cleanup to increase and improve vapor control
technologies. This resulted in the company installing tents over the work areas to maximize control
of vapor emissions that might reach the surrounding community. These large, specialized tents are
fitted with equipment that allows for work to be safely conducted within them and filtration units that
remove 95 percent of the site-related airborne contaminants before venting outside of the tents. The
community has responded positively to EPA's changes at the site and EPA is continuing to engage the
community at each step of the cleanup.
Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator, Slawomir Kopec, in front of tents at Quanta Resources Superfund site.
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In August, Regional Administrator Pete Lopez and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Commissioner Catherine McCabe toured six Superfund sites with Congressional Representative Mikie
Sherill in New Jersey's 11th District, They included Rolling Knolls, Radiation Technology, Rockaway
Township Wells, Rockaway Borough Well Field, Unimatic Manufacturing, and Caldwell Trucking. EPA
project managers for each site provided an overview of their projects, discussed upcoming milestones,
and answered questions at each stop. Community members and local elected officials participated
throughout parts of the tour and were fully engaged in conversations about EPA's clean-up efforts to
date. Fostering transparent and trusting working relationships with elected officials and state and local
partners is a critical element of our community engagement around contaminated sites. At many Region
2 Superfund sites EPA has also facilitated the creation of Community Advisory Groups that bring
together a full range of local stakeholders with whom the agency interacts on an ongoing basis.
Regional Administrator Pets Lopez, Congressmman Mikie Sherill, and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine McCabe with EPA
staff at the Rolling Knolls Superfund site.
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The Cycle Chem facility in Elizabeth, NJ.
Overseeing Cleanups at Active Facilities
In January, EPA Region 2 and Cycle Chem reached a formal legal agreement with EPA to ensure
a thorough investigation and cleanup of its Elizabeth, New Jersey hazardous waste management
facility. The facility stores, processes, and packages wastes for recycling, and transfer to off-site
facilities. There are 14 separate areas of concern where soil and/or groundwater contamination has
been identified on and off the site. The contaminants include chlorinated volatile organic compounds
including trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, petroleum hydrocarbons and metals (arsenic and
lead). Under the legal agreement, Cycle Chem has investigated contamination at the facility, submitted
its report to EPA in April, and is currently performing supplemental site investigation work under EPA
oversight. This site is being managed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Corrective Action Program. Similar in purpose to the Superfund program, this RCRA program involves
hundreds of sites across the region.
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Revitalizing Neighborhoods and
Creating Economic Opportunities
from Brownfields Sites
In July, Region 2 participated in a
groundbreaking ceremony hosted by the City
of Elizabeth, New Jersey celebrating the future
reuse of a cleaned up property in the Frog
Hollow neighborhood. The site was formerly
used to manufacture iron aggregate and
more recently as a commercial trucking and
equipment operation, it was assessed using
funding awarded to the City through a 2007
EPA Brownfield Assessment Pilot grant. Upon
completion of the project, there will be 23 two-family homes plus a 15,000 sq-ft commercial warehouse
providing both affordable housing and economic development opportunities for the community.
Superfund Task Force
EPA Assistant Administrator
for the Office of Land and
Emergency Management
Peter Wright and Regional
Administrator Pete Lopez
announced the completion of
the Superfund Task Force and
issued the Task Force's final
report outlining significant
accomplishments over the
past two years at Superfund
sites across the country.
The announcement was
celebrated at the American
Cyanamid Superfund Site
in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
American Cyanamid was
one of the first Superfund sites
listed on the Administrator's Emphasis List in December 2017. It was removed from the Administrator's
Emphasis List once it met its significant milestone - the proposal of a cleanup plan, which was finalized in
September 2018. In addition, a state-of-the-art groundwater treatment facility began operations at the
site this summer. It was built as part of a previous cleanup plan established in 2012 designed to address
contaminated groundwater and keep harmful contaminants like benzene from reaching the Raritan
River or migrating to other off-site areas.
ifegion 2 Chief of Staff Chris Lyon and Mayor Bollwage of Elizabeth, NJ celebrating
the groundbreaking of brownfields redevelopment.
EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management Peter Wright and Hegional
Administrator Pete Lopez at the American Cyanamid Superfund Site in Bridgewater, NJ.
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REVITALIZING LAND AND PREVENTING CONTAMINATION
IN THE CARIBBEAN
Supporting the U.S. Virgin Islands' Solid Waste Program
Region 2 has been working closely
with the government of the U.S. Virgin
Islands (USVI) to approve its municipal
solid waste landfill permit program and
to provide technical assistance on solid
waste program development. The USVI
must get this approval to be able to
expand existing landfills, construct new
landfills, create programs for the diversion
of reusable and recyclable materials,
and develop a resilient and sustainable
solid waste management program.
Working with our federal, territorial,
community and education partners, EPA
has convened stakeholders, facilitated
dialogue, provided technical resources
and supplied key information to empower
local decision-makers to move ahead
with a solid waste management program f
the Caribbean. To support these efforts as
part of the USVI recovery after the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, $10 million in
supplemental funds are being made available to the territory. Region 2 is working closely with the USVI
to develop an acceptable grant work plan to access the funds.
Helping Clean and Put Contaminated Land to Good Use
The economic crisis that Puerto Rico has experienced for the last decade, along with the impacts of
Hurricanes Irma and Maria, have left the island with many abandoned commercial and industrial
properties. In May, Region 2 and the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) hosted the Fifth
Brownfields Redevelopment Week in San Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to help address
these vacant and abandoned properties. The free event provided municipalities, non-governmental
organizations, and communities information on programs and resources to help support local recovery
and redevelopment priorities, from housing to infrastructure development, flood management,
and resilience and mitigation planning. During the events, experts in planning, federal funding,
redevelopment and investment discussed a variety of themes, including trends in abandoned
properties in Puerto Rico, how local governments can be engaged, and lessons learned in brownfield
redevelopment.
Solid waste landfill in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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"Addressing the problem of food waste
will take cooperation across the public
and private sectors, so it was a pleasure
to meet with some of the leading
organizations and companies committed
to eliminating wasted food in New York
City and across the country," said EPA
Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "The
Trump Administration is working closely
with our state and local partners to
transform wasted food into solutions that
feed communities, fuel our economy, and
maximize our resources."
EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Feeding People, Not Landfills, in the
Bronx
In September, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler
and Regional Administrator Pete Lopez toured the
Bronx, NY FreshDirect facility, and later participated
in a roundtable discussion on reducing food waste
with leadership from City Harvest, ReFED and
PepsiCo. Following a discussion of how EPA can
bolster local efforts to combat food waste, EPA
leaders helped serve meals to the hungry at the
Woodycrest United Methodist Church in the Bronx
with food redirected from Yankee Stadium.
Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Regional Administrator Pete Lopez serving meals to the hungry in the Bronx, NY.
Region 2 Smart Sectors Launch
In September, Region 2 launched its Smart Sectors program, focusing on the Agricultural
sector. Farm tours were held in the Cortland, NY area, followed by a Smart Sectors roundtable
discussion with farmers, soil and water conservation districts, the New York Farm Bureau and
other stakeholders. EPA Region 2's Smart Sectors program is focused on achieving better
environmental outcomes in partnership with key sectors of the economy in New York, New
Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as with eight tribal Nations in New York
State. The agricultural Smart Sectors program seeks to strengthen the bond between EPA and the
agricultural sector to enhance environmental stewardship while respecting business practices.
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Dredging at the Crosse River Superfund Site in Massena, NY.
Applying Traditional Ecological Knowledge to the Grasse River cleanup
in New York
This year, EPA worked collaboratively with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe on the design of the cleanup
of contaminated sediment along the shores of and in the Grasse River, specifically with thoughtful
attention to habitat reconstruction and application of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to
the restoration of habitats following
cleanup. Incorporating TEK involved
close collaboration between EPA and the
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Environment
Division on inclusion of tobacco burning
ceremonies and seed ceremony songs in
the reconstruction process. Seed selection
and seed sources and nurseries will also
be utilized in the cleanup to preserve the
species of plants used for traditional foods,
medicines, and cultural ceremonies. This first
phase of what is expected to be a three-
year cleanup of the Grasse River involved
the removal of nearly 95,000 cubic yards
of PCB-contaminated sediments from the
nearshore areas of the River.	Grasse Rim Supeifund site in Massena, NY.
24 }												
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Regional Senior Leaders gathered with tribal leaders from the eight federally recognized Indian Nations in New York
Strengthening Ties to Indian Nation Partners
In May, Region 2 held its 23rd meeting with leaders of the eight federally recognized Indian Nations within
New York State. The annual meeting strengthens partnerships and improves the Nations' environmental
programs. All year round, EPA engages and collaborates with Indian Nations to ensure that they have a voice
in decisions that affect their land, air and water and that investments are made that strengthen local capacity
and self-determination in managing their resources. The Region 2 Indian Nations Work Group has completed
nearly 100 action items identified by the Nations on issues including surface water quality, underground storage
tank inspections, solid waste management, financial assistance, air monitoring and pesticides.
Helping Understand and Manage Contaminants of Emerging Concern
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - which include PFOA and PFOS — and 1,4 dioxane are
important contaminants in Region 2 and across the country. Region 2 is collaborating with the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to investigate select Superfund sites for the
presence of PFAS and 1,4-dioxane compounds in groundwater.
To expedite this effort, EPA and NYSDEC have agreed to share
responsibilities. EPA has developed a new sampling procedure,
provided funding for field equipment, prepared the required
technical quality assurance plan, and conducted sampling
at EPA-lead Superfund sites. The NYSDEC has arranged
the contract for laboratory analytical services for 21 PFAS
compounds and 1,4-dioxane, as well as for data validation
and data management. Region 2 has already sampled eleven
Long Island and four upstate New York EPA-lead Superfund sites
and the work continues. EPA also began a similar program with
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and
Region 2 has sampled groundwater at three Superfund sites for
PFAS, 1,4-dioxane and l,2,c -h	with the Region 2 laboratory Setting up sampling equipment at a Superfund site.
performing part of those analyses.
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COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW
Lead-based Paint Compliance and Enforcement
By ensuring that entities such as renovation contractors, landlords, property managers, realtors and
others comply with rules that protect the public from exposure to lead from lead-based paint, EPA can
address a leading source of lead exposure for children across the nation. Exposure to lead dust, chips
or debris from lead-based paint can pose serious risks to human health, particularly for young children
In 2019 Region 2 followed up on nearly 300 complaints, conducted more than 45 onsite lead-based
paint inspections and issued over 50 information request letters to evaluate compliance with the Lead-
based Paint regulations. We have initiated 10 formal enforcement actions, and sent out over 300
compliance assistance packages to regulated contractors.
Protecting the Air in the New Jersey/New York Metro Area
In October, EPA Region 2 and the U.S. Department of Justice finalized an important legal
agreement with Infineum USA LP to address Clean Air Act violations resulting from the company's
improper operation of its steam-assisted flare at its chemical manufacturing facility in Linden,
New Jersey. EPA determined that Infineum routinely operated the flare with excessive amounts
of steam, which diluted the combustible gases in the flare and reduced its combustion efficiency,
resulting in significant excess emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). Under the settlement, Infineum agreed to eliminate excessive steam at the
flare by installing monitoring equipment resulting in combustion efficiencies of 98% or greater.
Infineum will spend approximately $3.5 million to make these upgrades to its flare. In addition,
Infineum paid a $187,500 civil penalty for the past violations. By stopping the "over-steaming,"
the agreement eliminates approximately 147 tons per year of VOC emissions and about 5 tons
per year of HAP emissions.
Averting Potential Disaster in Puerto Rico
EPA Region 2 issued an emergency order under the Clean Air Act to Total Petroleum Puerto Rico
Corporation to address explosion risks posed by four gasoline storage tanks at the facility in
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The tanks presented a dangerous fire hazard. Upon learning of the danger at
the facility, EPA issued an order requiring the company to immediately stop adding gasoline to these
tanks. With close EPA oversight and assistance, the facility took the additional actions necessary to
address the explosion hazard and allow the facility to return to normal operations.
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Ensuring Proper Cleanup of Sites in New Jersey
In Aprii, EPA Region 2 and U.S. Department of Justice finalized a consent decree that memorializes an
agreement with The Sherwin-Williams Company to remove lead and arsenic contaminated soil and
sediment at the United States Avenue Burn Superfund site in Gibbsboro, New Jersey, which is one of
three sites known collectively as the Sherwin Williams Sites located in Gibbsboro and Voorhees, New
Jersey. The United States Avenue Burn site is located near a former paint manufacturing plant and was
used as a paint waste dump. Under the consent decree, Sherwin-Williams will spend approximately
$21 million to clean up the site and pay nearly $ 1.5 million to partially cover EPA's past unreimbursed
response costs. This important agreement builds on years of previous work performed at the site and will
result in the removal of approximately 60,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil out of the community.
Importantly, the consent decree includes a provision that easily enables its terms to be extended to other
areas that make up this group of related sites. EPA is engaging the responsible party constructively to
make this community whole and protect people's health.
Surveying proposed sample locations for pre -design investigation for the
Sherwin-Y/illiams Superfund site in Gibbsboro, NJ. Results from sampling at
these proposed locations will be used to delineate the extent of contamination
for remedial action.
Installation of a groundwater monitoring well at the Sherwin-Williams
Superfund site. Data from this well will be used to delineate the extent of
contamination when designing remedial action.
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IMPROVING EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
Improving our Organizational Structure
In April, our Regional office established a new structure to more closely align with EPA headquarters
and other regions. The realignment increases coordination between EPA's national programs and their
regional counterparts; improves the consistent implementation of EPA regulations and policies; allows
for better resource sharing and allocation; enhances operational excellence; and provides greater
transparency for EPA's customers.
Saving Taxpayer Dollars
Region 2 has nearly completed work to consolidate staff on fewer floors, thus reduce space and rental
costs for the New York regional office. Over the last year the Region has reduced EPA occupied space
by two floors, or approximately 40,000 square feet. The project has involved the relocation of over
200 people, over 5,000 linear feet of files, and associated equipment. The project is expected to result
in annual savings for the Agency of approximately $4 million in rent.
The Region also relocated approximately 1,250 boxes of files from the New York regional office to
EPA-owned space in Edison, NJ. This allowed the Region to better utilize storage space in both the
New York and Edison offices, reducing costs to EPA, and helping facilitate the Region's transition to a
digital records management system.
More Efficient Use of Vehicles
This year Region 2 developed a detailed, three-year historical analysis of how the Region uses its
vehicle fleet. As a result of this study, the Region reduced the fleet by 13 vehicles at an annual cost
savings of approximately $40,000. This resulted in greater efficiency, improved availability of vehicles
for staff and reduced costs to the Region, and lowered greenhouse gas emissions reducing the region's
carbon footprint.
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Chief Operating Officer Henry Darwin discussing an ELMS flow board in the Region 2 laboratory in Edison, N1
Environmental Lean Management System - Making Our Processes
Better
The Region is making significant progress towards fully deploying EPA's Lean Management System
(ELMS) to all levels of our organization. The system uses tools such as visual management and short,
regular staff "huddles" to help examine our many processes to make improvements. Currently, about
170 Region 2 employees are actively engaged in ELMS, focusing on 20 unique processes. We are
more than a quarter of the way towards our goal of deploying ELMS to 80% of all staff by the end of
September 2020. While ELMS engagement consistently grows, we strive to continuously improve our
operations through routine monitoring, measurement, and teamwork to identify and solve problems
as they are recognized. ELMS has already improved timeliness of completing various tasks including
hazardous waste facility inspection reports, and the process of hiring employees.
As one example, Region deployed ELMS to improve Clean Water Act National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permitting and enforcement activities in the Caribbean. The ELMS process
has significantly reduced the permit backlog in Puerto Rico. The permit backlog in Puerto Rico is now
below 10%, an all-time low. Additionally, Region 2 created a dashboard that helps identify permittees
that will be in significant non-compliance with the Clean Water Act. The timely use of this tool led to a
63% decrease in the share of NPDES permittees in significant noncompliance in the USVI and a 96%
reduction in Puerto Rico. A national version of the dashboard is now available to all Regions—and
soon all states—which will have a have a significant impact in improving implementation of the NPDES
program and reducing the NPDES significant non-compliance rate nationally.
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NATIONAL RECOGNITION
L
Silver Medal Recipient George Zachos
This summer, the Region celebrated employees with
Regional and National Honor Awards recognizing many
accomplishments over the past year. George Zachos
of Region 2's Superfund and Emergency Management
Division was awarded a Silver Medal for Superior
Service, EPA's second highest honor award for highly
meritorious service to the mission of environmental
protection. George was honored for his now 48 years
of exemplary public service, including 24 years as the
Regional Public Liaison, responding fully, courteously and
quickly to thousands of citizen inquiries every year.
George Zachos
Presidential Environmental Youth
Award
Salvador Gomez-Colon, a 10th grader from San
Juan, Puerto Rico was awarded a 2019 Presidential
Environmental Youth Award for creating the Light
and Hope for Puerto Rico Initiative in response to the
destructive impact of Hurricanes Maria and Irma on
Puerto Rico. The project's mission was to purchase and
distribute solar lamps and hand-powered washing
machines to the most affected communities on the
island. Salvador raised over $160,000 to assist 3,500
families from communities across the island. Under
Salvador's initiative, environmentally friendly products
were selected for purchase and distribution, which
helped reduce water and electricity consumption. The
next phase of his initiative is to implement solar energy
on fire stations across the island.
Salvador Gomez-Colon
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IN MEMORY
This Annual Report is dedicated in memory of our colleagues Keshema Webbe and Marie O'Shea.
Keshema Webbe
Keshema Webbe was posthumously awarded the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award for her endurance,
courage, determination, and contagious positive attitude that helped advance the protection of public
health and the environment in her beloved U.S. Virgin Islands. Keshema always went above and
beyond the call of duty, despite the circumstances, and left an outstanding iegacy for all of us to follow.
Marie O'Shea
As Chairperson of the Region 2 Regional Science Council, Marie O'Shea was a tireless advocate of
scientific achievements, especially those in support of moving Region 2's scientific mission forward. She
was passionate about recognizing people who made scientific contributions to our regional community,
and in 2010 created the Region 2 Regional Science Council Award for Outstanding Scientific/
Engineering Support. In 2019, this award was renamed in honor of Marie, and will forever be known as
the Marie O'Shea Excellence in Science and Engineering Support Award.
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www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-2

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