HRC April 2003

H. Curtis SpaldingH. Curtis Spalding

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

Save The Bay, Narragansett BaySave The Bay, Narragansett Bay

A New Future for an Urban Shoreline: A New Future for an Urban Shoreline:

Explore The Bay Education Center on NarragansettExplore The Bay Education Center on Narragansett Bay

HRC April 2003

Who Is Save The Bay ?Who Is Save The Bay ?

Founded in 1970Founded in 1970 Advocacy and EducationAdvocacy and Education

– A Bay for the CommunityA Bay for the Community– AccessAccess– RestorationRestoration

Founding Member of Restore Founding Member of Restore America’s EstuariesAmerica’s Estuaries

HRC April 2003

Our MissionOur Mission

Watching over activities that Watching over activities that threaten the environmental health threaten the environmental health of Narragansett Bayof Narragansett Bay

Initiating direct action to clean up Initiating direct action to clean up the Baythe Bay

Increasing the environmental Increasing the environmental awareness and knowledge of the awareness and knowledge of the publicpublic

HRC April 2003

Our ProgramsOur Programs Protect:Protect:

– Policy advocacy thru information, Policy advocacy thru information, organizing, and legal action organizing, and legal action

Restore:Restore:– Projects and Project catalystsProjects and Project catalysts

Explore:Explore:– Marine science - essential field experiencesMarine science - essential field experiences– Constituency buildingConstituency building

HRC April 2003

HRC April 2003

Narragansett Bay: An Urban Estuary

Population: 1,200 per square mile

The People:1.8 million in Watershed

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An Urban Shoreline

25% of shoreline is engineered

HRC April 2003

HRC April 2003

The Explore The The Explore The

Bay Education Bay Education

Center Center

At Fields PointAt Fields Point

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The Explore The Bay The Explore The Bay Capital CampaignCapital Campaign

Grand total of $10 millionGrand total of $10 million Focused on increasing our Focused on increasing our

infrastructure for education infrastructure for education programsprograms

Dedicated to serving the children of Dedicated to serving the children of the urban core communitiesthe urban core communities

HRC April 2003

Why choose Why choose education?education?

Complexity of problem--the value and Complexity of problem--the value and fragility of estuarine ecosystemsfragility of estuarine ecosystems

Diversify support for protecting the Diversify support for protecting the health of Narragansett Bay and its health of Narragansett Bay and its watershedwatershed

Community-based solutions arise Community-based solutions arise from education of children and their from education of children and their familiesfamilies

HRC April 2003

What are we adding?What are we adding?

The Explore The Bay Education The Explore The Bay Education Center at Fields PointCenter at Fields Point

The Narragansett BayStation in The Narragansett BayStation in NewportNewport

The M/V The M/V Alletta MorrisAlletta Morris, on , on Narragansett BayNarragansett Bay

When we are ready, a second boatWhen we are ready, a second boat

HRC April 2003

How many will we reach?

This year we expect to reach over This year we expect to reach over 9,000 people, children and 9,000 people, children and families.families.

When the Bay Education Center is When the Bay Education Center is operating at capacity, we will operating at capacity, we will reach 30,000 children and families reach 30,000 children and families with our education programs.with our education programs.

HRC April 2003

Explore The Bay

Education Center

Located at the mouth ofLocated at the mouth ofthe Providence River forthe Providence River forgood access for urban good access for urban schools.schools.

HRC April 2003

Fields Point, Providence, Rhode Fields Point, Providence, Rhode IslandIsland

HRC April 2003

HRC April 2003

Green Building Features Green Building Features for ETB Centerfor ETB Center

Natural lightingNatural lighting Vegetated north roofVegetated north roof Photo Voltaic power generationPhoto Voltaic power generation Berm on north wall to contain site Berm on north wall to contain site

material and conserve energymaterial and conserve energy Active demand side managementActive demand side management

HRC April 2003

Green Features for SiteGreen Features for Site

Brownfield Reuse/RestorationBrownfield Reuse/Restoration Habitat RestorationHabitat Restoration

– Coastal Salt MarshCoastal Salt Marsh– Buffer DemonstrationBuffer Demonstration

HRC April 2003

HRC April 2003

The Sunshine Island SiteThe Sunshine Island Site

Construction debris dump, 1950-Construction debris dump, 1950-19751975

Generally FlatGenerally Flat Slopes up to 20 feet above the Bay Slopes up to 20 feet above the Bay

(above 100 year flood plain)(above 100 year flood plain) Steep shorelineSteep shoreline Rock and debrisRock and debris

HRC April 2003

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19391939 1951 1951 1970 1970

Historical Fields Point and Sunshine Historical Fields Point and Sunshine IslandIsland

HRC April 2003

HRC April 2003

Brown Field ProblemsBrown Field Problems

Soil does not meet residential Soil does not meet residential standardstandard

Methane generation from material Methane generation from material decompositiondecomposition

Coastal LocationCoastal Location

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What’s in the SiteWhat’s in the Site

Primarily Demolition DebrisPrimarily Demolition Debris Sewage SludgeSewage Sludge Boiler ash residueBoiler ash residue Junked vehiclesJunked vehicles Municipal WasteMunicipal Waste

HRC April 2003

MethaneMethane

Hotspots probably associated with Hotspots probably associated with Sewage SludgeSewage Sludge– 58.2% to 76.6% below surface58.2% to 76.6% below surface– no ambient readingsno ambient readings– Questions on why Methane is still Questions on why Methane is still

therethere

HRC April 2003

Brown Field SolutionsBrown Field Solutions

One - two foot permeable soil capOne - two foot permeable soil cap Revetment constructionRevetment construction Methane ManagementMethane Management

– Active-venting built structuresActive-venting built structures– Surface monitoringSurface monitoring

HRC April 2003

Cap DesignCap Design

Geosynthetic LayerGeosynthetic Layer 1 - 2 feet of fill1 - 2 feet of fill 6 inches organic cap with native 6 inches organic cap with native

vegetationvegetation

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Stone RevetmentStone Revetment

1,130 Linear Feet1,130 Linear Feet Regraded shore line - 1 to 3Regraded shore line - 1 to 3 Fabric, Filter Stone, Heavy StoneFabric, Filter Stone, Heavy Stone

HRC April 2003

HRC April 2003

MethaneMethane

Active Venting for all Structures Active Venting for all Structures and hot spotsand hot spots

Monitoring Inside, Outside and Monitoring Inside, Outside and below surfacebelow surface

Back up systems for blowers etc.Back up systems for blowers etc.

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The ProcessThe Process

Site AssessmentSite Assessment– EPA Brown Fields Targeted Site EPA Brown Fields Targeted Site

Assessment ProgramAssessment Program Further TestingFurther Testing Remedy ApprovalRemedy Approval

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Issues of ConcernIssues of Concern

Risk Assessment in Risk Adverse Risk Assessment in Risk Adverse ClimateClimate

Time - Jan/01 -Aug/03 Time - Jan/01 -Aug/03 Resources - FeesResources - Fees Cost - 1.2 million - far above Cost - 1.2 million - far above

original estimateoriginal estimate

HRC April 2003