NCMC Newsletter 11/12
Content
NCMC Members
Councilman Steven Levin, Chair Irene Klementowicz, Co-Chair Paul Turci, Co-Chair Marie Chambers Laura Hofmann Michael Hofmann Ryan Kuonen, CB-1 Paul Pullo Nick Rider Laurie Wheelock Christine Holowacz, Liaison
NCMC NEWSLETTER
A Publication of the Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee November 2012
HURRICANE SANDY The news is full of devastating images of the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the lives of New Yorkers, from Greenpoint to Staten Island, and beyond to New Jersey. Waterlogged and damaged property, long gas lines, people without power or worse, no roof over their heads and ravaged shorelines are everywhere. In Greenpoint, the floodwaters receded relatively quickly but not before significant damage had been done. Kudos to the Newtown Creek Alliance (NCA) who quickly provided pictures and descriptions of the situation in Greenpoint, which can be found at: http://www.newtowncreekalliance.org/2012/11/02/what-does-hurricane-sandy-reveal-aboutnewtown-creek/. NCA also provided this description of the impacts to the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (Newtown Creek WWTP): “During the peak of the storm, the raised foundation of the Newtown Creek sewage treatment plant had become an island, with floodwaters several feet deep on all surrounding streets up to McGuinness Avenue. We owe a debt of gratitude to the DEP staff who kept the plant online under these stressful circumstance, and have been working all week to restore service to the full 15K+ acre area (which includes Lower Manhattan) that drains to the plant.” The Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee (NCMC) echoes NCA’s praise for the DEP Staff at the plant and in particular for Jim Pynn. They did an amazing job during an unprecedented event and we are very appreciative. WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NEEDS OPERATIONAL PUMPS! Unrelated to the forces of the hurricane, the upgrade at the plant has experienced a myriad of problems and delays even as the new buildings continue to rise. The main wastewater influent pumps are the latest construction issue causing delays and cost overruns. The wastewater pumps are huge, powerful pumps, each weighing 8,000 lbs and rated at 1,500 horsepower, which were built to pump wastewater from Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens to the Newtown Creek WWTP. There are five wastewater pumps at the Manhattan Pump Station and five influent pumps at the
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Newtown Creek WWTP. Over the last year, three of the pumps at the Newtown Creek WWTP have been sent back to the manufacturer for repairs at least once and some twice. The manufacturer maintains that the pumps were operated improperly while the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) maintains that the pumps were faulty. DEP has retained a pump expert to evaluate the pumps. After careful analysis, using data from vibration monitors that were attached to the pumps, the expert concluded that the pump design resulted in vibrations that caused the pump impeller bolts to loosen and the pumps to fail to achieve the required flow rates (an impeller is a rotating part inside the pump that results in movement of the wastewater). The good news is that the manufacturer is currently developing a plan to fix the pumps. The bad news is that the repairs could take several years to implement at a cost of up to $1 million per pump. In the meantime, DEP has rented and installed submersible pumps to supplement and/or back up the “new” main wastewater pumps. While large infrastructure projects that span tens of years inevitably encounter construction issues, the upgrade at the Newtown Creek WWTP seems to have had more than its fair share including: massive odor releases during excavation; windows falling out of faulty frames; malfunctioning odor control units; accelerated corrosion in concrete treatment tanks probably as a result of inadequate ventilation below the covers; improperly constructed boiler stacks; leaking air main headers; foaming digesters; centrifuges damaged by debris because the secondary screens designed to protect them were not in place when centrifuge operation began; additional odors from the use of temporary bar screens, installed to protect the digesters, that required manual removal and cleaning; and gas flares with substandard louvers that at times do not open properly and result in vibrations that rattle adjacent property owners. And, we have not even mentioned the delay in completion of construction, which judging by the schedule for the demolition of the East River Sludge Storage tank, is now seven years. The tank was originally scheduled for demolition in 2007, than 2010 and is currently scheduled for demolition in 2014. Fortunately the team running the plant is conscientious and dedicated and has not only kept the plant running through the construction (and severe weather events) but has ensured that the plant consistently achieves the effluent discharge standards required by the State. In other news related to plant operations, DEP has retained Veolia Water North America, an international water management company, with experience in reducing expenses at water and wastewater utilities (see press release at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press_releases/1198pr.shtml). Veolia has been tasked with identifying cost saving measures that will reduce NYC¹s city-wide $1.2 billion annual water and sewer operations budget. According to reports, Veolia hopes to eliminate $100 to 200 million in costs per year, a savings intended to reduce the magnitude of future rate hikes. There are varying opinions on this initiative. DEP’s OpX Phase 1 report, describing the benefits of Veolia's first six months of work can be found at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/about_dep/inside_dep_index.shtml. The New York World wrote an interesting article exploring some potential downsides of the arrangement at www.thenewyorkworld.com/2011/11/22/water-management-company/.
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NCMC is concerned that with DEP¹s (and Veolia's) focus on cost cutting, reductions in plant staff will impact operations and maintenance at the plant. Fewer staff means less time for maintenance and a shorter life for new capital equipment. When that equipment functions less efficiently or breaks, NCMC has learned it often results in odor releases to the community and with the plant already short-staffed, mitigating the odor releases can be problematic. Two odor incidents recently occurred as a result of the need to take two tanks out of service for repairs. While short-lived, the odors were noxious and a reminder of the plant’s past performance and why robust maintenance at the plant is so important for the community. THE NEWS ON THE NATURE WALK Damion Lawyer of the Newtown Creek Alliance is taking the lead on the landscaping at the Nature Walk. Damion met with Marechal Brown of the Open Space Alliance to discuss the needs on the Nature Walk and since then has been pruning and shaping and giving the Nature Walk some well deserved and much needed attention. Damion also helped to organize the October 20, 2012 “Mulch Day” and with the help of lots of hands (including our very own Christine Holowacz) spread mulch everywhere. DEP has also made arrangements with the DOE Fund to provide workers for weekly litter cleanups and watering and Damion is organizing their efforts as well. We would like to thank Damion for his work and all those who turned out for “Mulch Day” for their efforts. We are also happy to report that new members have joined the Board of the Friends of the Newtown Creek Nature Walk- NCMC welcomes Allocco and the North Brooklyn Boat Club to the Board. In addition, the Newtown Creek Alliance has expressed its interest in continued involvement with the Nature Walk. We encourage other residents and businesses to join the Board and help oversee the maintenance and programming on the Nature Walk. Please contact Christine Holowacz for more information. We also welcome all sizes of contributions to the Nature Walk maintenance fund. To make a contribution, please write a check to OSA and send it to Christine Holowacz at 329 Greenpoint Ave Brooklyn NY 11222 The Nature Walk will also get a new tree, donated by the Construction Management Team of Hazen & Sawyer, Greely & Hansen and Malcolm Pirnie, in memory of one of their co-workers, David DeChant, who passed away about a year ago. Damion has selected an Appleservice Berry and it will be planted as soon as weather permits. NATIONAL GRID DIGESTER GAS CLEANING PLANT STILL IN THE WORKS NCMC has continued to track progress on the approval process for the proposed DEP/National Grid Digester Gas Cleaning Plant slated for Greenpoint Avenue near the Visitor’s Center. Last we reported, National Grid had inquired whether the $2 million in Environmental Benefit Project (EBP) funds for Greenpoint, being administered by NYSERDA, could be used to offset the costs of constructing the digester gas cleaning plant. In the face of vocal opposition, National Grid turned elsewhere for additional funding and received financing (in the form of either tax-exempt bond financing and/or tax benefits) from the NYC Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA- part of the NYC Economic Development Agency). NCMC member Laurie Wheelock testified in opposition to the project at the hearing but NYCIDA decided nonetheless to provide the financing for the project. While DEP has not been that forthcoming, as far as we know, National Grid is back in front of the Public Service Commission for approval to proceed with the project.
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SLOW MOVEMENT ON CREEK MAINTENANCE DREDGING PLANS We reported in our last newsletter that DEP had awarded a contract to Skanska, USA to proceed on contract NC-50, which includes maintenance dredging in Newtown and Whale Creeks (so-called “maintenance” because of the limited volume of sediment being removed) and the construction of a new sludge loading dock in Whale Creek. Skanska retained the services of Donjon Marine to prepare the plans and conduct the actual dredging of an estimated 22,000 to 30,000 cubic yards of sediment. DEP had significant comments on Donjon Marine’s first plan submittals and Donjon is in the process of revising those plans. Once DEP approves the plans, they must then be forwarded to DEC and EPA for approval. Reports also indicate that a significant amount of siltation has occurred in the creek since the dredge volumes were first estimated in 2009 and dredge volumes have increased by about 50%. The impact of Hurricane Sandy on the sediments in the creek has not yet been determined but it may have altered both the composition and the distribution of the sediments, which in turn may impact the dredging project. That is a topic NCMC will explore further with DEP. While the schedule for major tasks under NC-50 may change given the issues noted above, and because there is a moratorium on dredging from July 1 to September 30, it is currently as follows: Task Non hazardous maintenance dredging and new loading dock Hazardous maintenance dredging and new loading dock Demo of East River Sludge Storage Tank Date October 2013 January 2014 June 2014
NEW NCMC – NYCDEP MEETING SCHEDULE Until recently, NCMC and NYCDEP held monthly meetings at the Newtown Creek WWTP. In June 2012 DEP announced that, as a result of DEP’s work load and the fact that construction activities were winding down, the NCMC-DEP meeting frequency would be reduced to quarterly. NCMC continues to meet monthly and track progress on the upgrade and associated issues via monthly reports on construction activities and odor monitoring. The next meeting NCMCNYCDEP meeting is scheduled for December 13, 2012. Interested residents should check with Christine Holowacz (see email address below) to verify meeting dates. NCMC also meets about 10 days before the scheduled NCMC-NYCDEP quarterly meeting to discuss the agenda. Community residents who want to participate in the quarterly NCMC-NYCDEP meeting must attend the NCMC pre-meeting.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO REPORT PLANT-RELATED ODORS TO 311: THE COMPLAINTS ARE USED BY THE MAYOR AND THE PLANT TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ODOR CONTROL MEASURES AND IF THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS THEY ASSUME ALL IS WELL EVEN IF THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
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Any request for information should be addressed to the Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee’s Liaison, Christine Holowacz. The office is located at 329 Greenpoint Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11222. The telephone and fax number is 718-349-0150 and the e-mail address is [email protected].
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Councilman Steven Levin, Chair Irene Klementowicz, Co-Chair Paul Turci, Co-Chair Marie Chambers Laura Hofmann Michael Hofmann Ryan Kuonen, CB-1 Paul Pullo Nick Rider Laurie Wheelock Christine Holowacz, Liaison
NCMC NEWSLETTER
A Publication of the Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee November 2012
HURRICANE SANDY The news is full of devastating images of the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the lives of New Yorkers, from Greenpoint to Staten Island, and beyond to New Jersey. Waterlogged and damaged property, long gas lines, people without power or worse, no roof over their heads and ravaged shorelines are everywhere. In Greenpoint, the floodwaters receded relatively quickly but not before significant damage had been done. Kudos to the Newtown Creek Alliance (NCA) who quickly provided pictures and descriptions of the situation in Greenpoint, which can be found at: http://www.newtowncreekalliance.org/2012/11/02/what-does-hurricane-sandy-reveal-aboutnewtown-creek/. NCA also provided this description of the impacts to the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (Newtown Creek WWTP): “During the peak of the storm, the raised foundation of the Newtown Creek sewage treatment plant had become an island, with floodwaters several feet deep on all surrounding streets up to McGuinness Avenue. We owe a debt of gratitude to the DEP staff who kept the plant online under these stressful circumstance, and have been working all week to restore service to the full 15K+ acre area (which includes Lower Manhattan) that drains to the plant.” The Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee (NCMC) echoes NCA’s praise for the DEP Staff at the plant and in particular for Jim Pynn. They did an amazing job during an unprecedented event and we are very appreciative. WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NEEDS OPERATIONAL PUMPS! Unrelated to the forces of the hurricane, the upgrade at the plant has experienced a myriad of problems and delays even as the new buildings continue to rise. The main wastewater influent pumps are the latest construction issue causing delays and cost overruns. The wastewater pumps are huge, powerful pumps, each weighing 8,000 lbs and rated at 1,500 horsepower, which were built to pump wastewater from Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens to the Newtown Creek WWTP. There are five wastewater pumps at the Manhattan Pump Station and five influent pumps at the
1
Newtown Creek WWTP. Over the last year, three of the pumps at the Newtown Creek WWTP have been sent back to the manufacturer for repairs at least once and some twice. The manufacturer maintains that the pumps were operated improperly while the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) maintains that the pumps were faulty. DEP has retained a pump expert to evaluate the pumps. After careful analysis, using data from vibration monitors that were attached to the pumps, the expert concluded that the pump design resulted in vibrations that caused the pump impeller bolts to loosen and the pumps to fail to achieve the required flow rates (an impeller is a rotating part inside the pump that results in movement of the wastewater). The good news is that the manufacturer is currently developing a plan to fix the pumps. The bad news is that the repairs could take several years to implement at a cost of up to $1 million per pump. In the meantime, DEP has rented and installed submersible pumps to supplement and/or back up the “new” main wastewater pumps. While large infrastructure projects that span tens of years inevitably encounter construction issues, the upgrade at the Newtown Creek WWTP seems to have had more than its fair share including: massive odor releases during excavation; windows falling out of faulty frames; malfunctioning odor control units; accelerated corrosion in concrete treatment tanks probably as a result of inadequate ventilation below the covers; improperly constructed boiler stacks; leaking air main headers; foaming digesters; centrifuges damaged by debris because the secondary screens designed to protect them were not in place when centrifuge operation began; additional odors from the use of temporary bar screens, installed to protect the digesters, that required manual removal and cleaning; and gas flares with substandard louvers that at times do not open properly and result in vibrations that rattle adjacent property owners. And, we have not even mentioned the delay in completion of construction, which judging by the schedule for the demolition of the East River Sludge Storage tank, is now seven years. The tank was originally scheduled for demolition in 2007, than 2010 and is currently scheduled for demolition in 2014. Fortunately the team running the plant is conscientious and dedicated and has not only kept the plant running through the construction (and severe weather events) but has ensured that the plant consistently achieves the effluent discharge standards required by the State. In other news related to plant operations, DEP has retained Veolia Water North America, an international water management company, with experience in reducing expenses at water and wastewater utilities (see press release at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press_releases/1198pr.shtml). Veolia has been tasked with identifying cost saving measures that will reduce NYC¹s city-wide $1.2 billion annual water and sewer operations budget. According to reports, Veolia hopes to eliminate $100 to 200 million in costs per year, a savings intended to reduce the magnitude of future rate hikes. There are varying opinions on this initiative. DEP’s OpX Phase 1 report, describing the benefits of Veolia's first six months of work can be found at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/about_dep/inside_dep_index.shtml. The New York World wrote an interesting article exploring some potential downsides of the arrangement at www.thenewyorkworld.com/2011/11/22/water-management-company/.
2
NCMC is concerned that with DEP¹s (and Veolia's) focus on cost cutting, reductions in plant staff will impact operations and maintenance at the plant. Fewer staff means less time for maintenance and a shorter life for new capital equipment. When that equipment functions less efficiently or breaks, NCMC has learned it often results in odor releases to the community and with the plant already short-staffed, mitigating the odor releases can be problematic. Two odor incidents recently occurred as a result of the need to take two tanks out of service for repairs. While short-lived, the odors were noxious and a reminder of the plant’s past performance and why robust maintenance at the plant is so important for the community. THE NEWS ON THE NATURE WALK Damion Lawyer of the Newtown Creek Alliance is taking the lead on the landscaping at the Nature Walk. Damion met with Marechal Brown of the Open Space Alliance to discuss the needs on the Nature Walk and since then has been pruning and shaping and giving the Nature Walk some well deserved and much needed attention. Damion also helped to organize the October 20, 2012 “Mulch Day” and with the help of lots of hands (including our very own Christine Holowacz) spread mulch everywhere. DEP has also made arrangements with the DOE Fund to provide workers for weekly litter cleanups and watering and Damion is organizing their efforts as well. We would like to thank Damion for his work and all those who turned out for “Mulch Day” for their efforts. We are also happy to report that new members have joined the Board of the Friends of the Newtown Creek Nature Walk- NCMC welcomes Allocco and the North Brooklyn Boat Club to the Board. In addition, the Newtown Creek Alliance has expressed its interest in continued involvement with the Nature Walk. We encourage other residents and businesses to join the Board and help oversee the maintenance and programming on the Nature Walk. Please contact Christine Holowacz for more information. We also welcome all sizes of contributions to the Nature Walk maintenance fund. To make a contribution, please write a check to OSA and send it to Christine Holowacz at 329 Greenpoint Ave Brooklyn NY 11222 The Nature Walk will also get a new tree, donated by the Construction Management Team of Hazen & Sawyer, Greely & Hansen and Malcolm Pirnie, in memory of one of their co-workers, David DeChant, who passed away about a year ago. Damion has selected an Appleservice Berry and it will be planted as soon as weather permits. NATIONAL GRID DIGESTER GAS CLEANING PLANT STILL IN THE WORKS NCMC has continued to track progress on the approval process for the proposed DEP/National Grid Digester Gas Cleaning Plant slated for Greenpoint Avenue near the Visitor’s Center. Last we reported, National Grid had inquired whether the $2 million in Environmental Benefit Project (EBP) funds for Greenpoint, being administered by NYSERDA, could be used to offset the costs of constructing the digester gas cleaning plant. In the face of vocal opposition, National Grid turned elsewhere for additional funding and received financing (in the form of either tax-exempt bond financing and/or tax benefits) from the NYC Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA- part of the NYC Economic Development Agency). NCMC member Laurie Wheelock testified in opposition to the project at the hearing but NYCIDA decided nonetheless to provide the financing for the project. While DEP has not been that forthcoming, as far as we know, National Grid is back in front of the Public Service Commission for approval to proceed with the project.
3
SLOW MOVEMENT ON CREEK MAINTENANCE DREDGING PLANS We reported in our last newsletter that DEP had awarded a contract to Skanska, USA to proceed on contract NC-50, which includes maintenance dredging in Newtown and Whale Creeks (so-called “maintenance” because of the limited volume of sediment being removed) and the construction of a new sludge loading dock in Whale Creek. Skanska retained the services of Donjon Marine to prepare the plans and conduct the actual dredging of an estimated 22,000 to 30,000 cubic yards of sediment. DEP had significant comments on Donjon Marine’s first plan submittals and Donjon is in the process of revising those plans. Once DEP approves the plans, they must then be forwarded to DEC and EPA for approval. Reports also indicate that a significant amount of siltation has occurred in the creek since the dredge volumes were first estimated in 2009 and dredge volumes have increased by about 50%. The impact of Hurricane Sandy on the sediments in the creek has not yet been determined but it may have altered both the composition and the distribution of the sediments, which in turn may impact the dredging project. That is a topic NCMC will explore further with DEP. While the schedule for major tasks under NC-50 may change given the issues noted above, and because there is a moratorium on dredging from July 1 to September 30, it is currently as follows: Task Non hazardous maintenance dredging and new loading dock Hazardous maintenance dredging and new loading dock Demo of East River Sludge Storage Tank Date October 2013 January 2014 June 2014
NEW NCMC – NYCDEP MEETING SCHEDULE Until recently, NCMC and NYCDEP held monthly meetings at the Newtown Creek WWTP. In June 2012 DEP announced that, as a result of DEP’s work load and the fact that construction activities were winding down, the NCMC-DEP meeting frequency would be reduced to quarterly. NCMC continues to meet monthly and track progress on the upgrade and associated issues via monthly reports on construction activities and odor monitoring. The next meeting NCMCNYCDEP meeting is scheduled for December 13, 2012. Interested residents should check with Christine Holowacz (see email address below) to verify meeting dates. NCMC also meets about 10 days before the scheduled NCMC-NYCDEP quarterly meeting to discuss the agenda. Community residents who want to participate in the quarterly NCMC-NYCDEP meeting must attend the NCMC pre-meeting.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO REPORT PLANT-RELATED ODORS TO 311: THE COMPLAINTS ARE USED BY THE MAYOR AND THE PLANT TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ODOR CONTROL MEASURES AND IF THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS THEY ASSUME ALL IS WELL EVEN IF THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
*********
Any request for information should be addressed to the Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee’s Liaison, Christine Holowacz. The office is located at 329 Greenpoint Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11222. The telephone and fax number is 718-349-0150 and the e-mail address is [email protected].
4
