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Report - Technical

31 March, 2001
The SSC was requested on scene to perform a shoreline clean-up assessment. Participation
included NYS DEP, NYS DEC, Tradewinds, and USCG.


The impacted areas were segmented into six zones (A - F) for response activities (see
photo 1). Areas A and B were cleaned. Area E was unable to be accessed for assessment.


Area C (photos 2 & 3) is mixed sand and gravel (both rock and shell material) beach,
mussel beds, riprap, seawall, and a pier. The area received scatter to continuous oiling.


Mussel beds:
The beds are consolidated within the beach. The clean up of the mussel beds consisted of
hand removing oiled rockweed and bagging for removal, and using pads to wipe the coating
oil off mussel shells (photo 4 & 5). The SSC recommended that foot traffic on the
vegetation and mussels be kept to a minimum. The mussel beds south of the pier are about
50 meters by 6 meters. North of the pier, the beds are about 200 meters long. Shoots of
Spartina are beginning to show signs of sprouting among the mussel beds. The plants in
areas are oiled, from light to coated. Sorbent boom and pads are being used to recover
sheen.


Riprap and seawall:
Oiling consisted of scattered to continuous coating (photo 6). In between rocks, there are
areas with some pooled oil and heavily oiled debris. Clean up recommendations were to
remove oiled debris and any pooled oil with sorbent pads. Areas where rocks are coated
need to be assessed for degree of aggressiveness in clean up methodology. This should
depend on habitat usage and recreational value. Options range from natural recovery or
peat moss dusting to high pressure steam washing.


Cobble:
Again, areas were oiled from light scattered to continuous. In the areas of continuous
coating the cobble will probably need to be removed. More lightly areas can probably be
left for natural recovery.


Area D
Mussel beds:
Mussels are in eroding peat beds with Spartina grass beginning to shoot. These need to be
more cautiously treated. South of Hollywood Avenue is very lightly oiled to clean. North
of Hollywood Avenue has light to moderate impacts. There is some oiled rockweed that can
be cut and removed. The sorbent boom at the high tide line is not effective and can be
removed.


Area F
Mussel beds:
Mussels are in eroding peat beds with Spartina grass beginning to shoot (photo 8). The
oiling on the mussel beds was light and they should not be disturbed. In some locations
there is oiled debris on the mussel beds that can be taken out.


Sandy beach:
Numerous scattered tarballs were evident on the upper tidal area (photo 9 & 10). These can
be manually picked up, bagged, and removed.


Riprap:
Again, oiling consisted of scattered to continuous coating. In between rocks, there are
areas with some pooled oil and heavily oiled debris Photo 11). Clean up recommendations
were to remove oiled debris and any pooled oil with sorbent pads. Areas of coated rocks
need to be assessed for degree of aggressiveness in clean up methodology. This should
depend on habitat usage and recreational value. Options range from natural recovery or
peat moss dusting to high pressure steam washing.


At this time, there is no identified responsible party. The USCG has "federalized" the
spill. It appears that the oil entered Little Neck Bay via an outfall (photo 12). If no
other source is identified, New York City is potentially liable for the clean up costs.
Another outstanding issue is to identify specific trustees for each impacted area. Trustee
input will be needed to determine how aggressive the cleanup methodology needs to be and
for final sign off on shorelines.



------------------------------------------------------
Ed Levine
NOAA SSC
USCG Battery Park Building            Phone =  (212)668-6428
1 South Street, rm. 301                Fax     =  (212)668-6370
New York, NY 10004-1466

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