Arverne-by-the-Sea Phase II ESA Management
PWGC conducted a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) to evaluate potential environmental concerns identified in the Phase I ESA.PWGC conducted the investigation in phases after preparing the Phase II Work Plan.
Arverne is a 308-acre oceanfront neighborhood on the Atlantic Ocean in Southeast Queens. NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) oversees the mixed-use Urban Renewal Area’s (URA) comprehensive redevelopment plan to bring new housing, jobs, and recreational opportunities to the area. HUD designated the client to develop the site’s 117 acre western portion, called Arverne-by-the-Sea, which will include up to 2,300 housing units and 270,000 square feet of retail space, a new recreation center and school.
- Phase I: Reviewed NYSDEC Spill files on the subject area and vicinity.
- Phase II: Conducted a Geophysical survey at 13 areas of interest based on Sanborn map findings and submitted an interim report with findings, recommendations and scope of work for the tanks’ removal phase.
- Phase III: Coordinated tanks’ removal and submitted final report.
PWGC’S ROLE:
PWGC prepared a work plan to address issues raised in the Phase I and previous Phase II ESA and submitted a copy to the NYC Departments of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and Environmental Protection (DEP) for review. With the work plan approved, PWGC conducted the phased investigation so that areas of concern, depending on the findings, -could be cleared immediately for construction.
After reviewing files of 8 known NYSDEC spill sites located within or near the subject area to determine their potential of having impacted the soils and groundwater within the subject area PWGC determined 6 of the researched sites, which were either closed or small-quantity off-site spills, did not warrant further investigation. The other 2 sites were investigated in subsequent phases, since one site was designated already as an area of interest due to potential underground storage tanks (USTs) presence; the other was an off-site former service station with an active spill).
In the Phase II, PWGC investigated whether USTs were present based on the sites’ past use. Reviewing Sanborn maps dating back to 1912, PWGC discovered 13 locations in the subject area with tanks located on the map or classified as garages or service stations. After conducting a geophysical survey using a combination of electromagnetic metal detectors and ground penetrating radar, at each of the sites to determine if tanks were still present, PWGC coordinated the excavation of any anomaly identified as either a potential UST or inconclusive to confirm findings. PWGC’s subsequent geophysical survey identified 16 tanks and 2 hydraulic lifts. In the interim report, PWGC recommended no further action for sites that did not contain USTs and outlined a scope of work for the removal of the discovered tanks.
Subsequently, PWGC coordinated the tanks’ removal, resulting in the opening of several NYSDEC spill numbers due to historic petroleum releases. PWGC managed all removal work to finish, and followed-up with groundwater investigations to demonstrate all the remediation’s success. After reviewing the final report, NYSDEC closed the spill numbers and cleared the remaining sites for development.
PWGC effectively coordinated with multiple agencies to investigate and remediate over a dozen sites. Conducting the work in phases worked well with the developers and regulatory agencies and succeeded in keeping the redevelopment progress on schedule in areas identified as “cleared”.
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