In 2001, the City of New York, led by the Department of City Planning and supported by the New York Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources, conducted a master planning process for Freshkills Park that resulted in an illustrative park plan, also known as the Draft Master Plan. In 2006, the Department of Parks & Recreation assumed responsibility for implementing the project using the Draft Master Plan as a conceptual guide. The basic framework of the plan integrates three separate systems — programming, wildlife, and circulation — into one cohesive and dynamic unit.

Five Parks in One

Freshkills Park will have five main areas: the Confluence (made up of Creek Landing and The Point), North Park, South Park, East Park and West Park. Each area will have a distinct character and programming approach.

Click on any photo below to view a larger version.

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• Construction Updates
• Renewable Energy
• Timeline

Construction Updates

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Renewable Energy

With the help of advanced landfill gas collection infrastructure throughout the landfill, the Department of Sanitation is already actively harvesting methane from the decomposing waste buried at Fresh Kills. This methane is sold to National Grid to heat approximately 22,000 homes on Staten Island. The city generates approximately $11 million in annual revenue from the sale of methane captured at Fresh Kills. Gas recovery and sale will continue until the amount of gas produced by the landfill is small enough as to no longer be economically viable, at which point it will be burned off at flare stations onsite.

While maintaining the objective of minimizing energy consumption within new buildings and infrastructure systems onsite, DPR is also committed to building upon Sanitation’s precedent in using renewable energy technologies to supply as much of the park’s energy as possible. This commitment could include photovoltaic cells and wind turbines, using solar thermal cells in water heating systems and geothermal heating and cooling where possible, and abiding LEED (green building) principles. The City is also exploring opportunities to complement park development with the provision of demonstration space for newer renewable energy technologies.

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Timeline

The Draft Master Plan offers a framework for development to guide the site’s evolution over the next thirty years. This timeline is broken down into three ten–year phases:

To assure that the park’s long–range construction does not become a waiting period, but is a time of dynamic change with access to the extraordinary “public space in–process,” phasing is choreographed in project sets. Each project set is independent of the others and is capable of being developed concurrently or in sequence. The Draft Master Plan focuses on executing a carefully–planned first phase of development that will initiate active use of the park, generate enthusiasm and commitment on the part of stakeholders, and propel later phases of development. Phase I will occur over the first ten years of the park’s development, with projects and facilities opening throughout this period.

Phase 1

Major outcomes of Phase 1 include:

• Portions of the South Park and North Park and the Confluence open to the public
• Completion of the Loop drive and links to the West Shore Expressway
• First recreational facilities complete and in operation
• Early programs and settings for non–profit and commercial initiative
• Visible progress of ecological transformation underway
• Establishment of new parkland identity
• East and West Mounds closed and capped

Phase 2

With much of the park infrastructure in place, Phase 2 concentrates on enhancing program settings and ecology. Major outcomes of Phase 2 include:

• East Park opens
• Additional recreational facilities, public space and ecology improvements in North Park, South Park and the Confluence
• Paths, trails and boatways extended
• Range of non–profit and commercial ventures built and animating the park’s public spaces.

Phase 3

Phase 3 expands the acreage open to the public and converts landfill infrastructure to support new uses. Major outcomes of Phase 3 include:

• West park natural areas and public landscapes significantly expanded; development of the Arthur Kill edge of the park
• The Point program areas built out and highly active
• Continued emergence of new habitats

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• Arts & Events
• Tours
• Press Requests
• Education

Arts & Events

Upcoming Events

Requests for Program Proposals

The Parks Department invites individuals and groups to make proposals for talks, workshops, specialty tours, performances and other happenings along the public tour route at Freshkills Park. Please see the RFP for Expanded Tour Programs (PDF, 65 kB) for details.

Freshkills Park Newsgroup

If you would like receive updates about Freshkills Park, our public programs and events, and upcoming tour season details and registration dates, please fill out our Freshkills Park Newsgroup form.

Tours

The Parks Department operates tours of the Freshkills Park site from April through November of each year. Tours are conducted by bus, guided by NYC Urban Park Rangers and last approximately an hour and a half.

To sign up for a tour:

1. Refer to the interactive calendar on the right. Tour dates are only listed two months in advance. Shaded dates are those that are available.
2. Click on your preferred tour date.
3. Click on the “Sign–Up” button on one of the available times below.
4. If you need to cancel your tour registration, please click here. It is important to let us know of you cancellation, as there are a limited number of space on the bus.

Tours are free of charge. Space is limited and reservations are required. You will be sent an email to confirm that your form has been received. All tours depart from the Eltingville Transportation Center/Park & Ride on Staten Island. Wheelchair–accessible buses are available; please check the request box upon registration for your tour.

Group Tours

Specially organized group tours are available during the tour season. If you are interested in setting up a tour for a group of 15 – 25 people, please fill out the Freshkills Park Newsgroup form and include a note in the message section. Group tours can be organized on Wednesdays and alternate Saturdays.

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Press Requests

If you are a member of the press looking for more information about Freshkills Park or wishing to gain access to the site, please contact the Parks Department Press Office at (212) 360–1311.

Freshkills Park Press Kit (PDF, 1 MB)

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Education

Freshkills received 29,000 tons of trash every day at its peak!

Elementary Partnerships

The Parks Department has begun working with local elementary schools to develop lesson plans based on the Freshkills Park site and its related issues. Among the elementary–level lessons that can be integrated with study of the site are:

• Ecology
• Wildlife
• Environment and remediation
• Staten Island history
• Geological history
• Landfill engineering
• Decomposition
• Landfill byproducts
• Waste reduction and recycling
• Landscape architecture and urban/park planning

We encourage you and your students to be part of this exciting investigation. Members of the Freshkills Park development team can visit your classroom or auditorium to speak about any aspects of the project, at no cost to you or your school. Group tours of the Freshkills Park site can also be arranged during the regular tour season, from April through November. Please contact Martha by email or at (212) 788–8277 for more information.

More Educational Resources

Project Presentations

If your organization, community group or class would like a presentation on the progress of Freshkills Park, please contact Martha by email or at (212) 788–8277

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• Site History
• Project Milestones
• Landfill Engineering
• Public Health & Safety

Site History

Click on image for larger version

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Project Milestones

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Landfill Engineering

Solid waste breaks down over time. The main byproducts of this decomposition are landfill gas and leachate. Fresh Kills is highly engineered, with sophisticated systems in place to collect and treat these byproducts and to protect both public health and the environment.

Landfill Gas

Landfill gas is comprised of methane, carbon dioxide, water and other organic compounds. The Landfill Gas (LFG) System on site collects and controls gas emissions through a network of wells connected by pipes below the surface that convey the gas through a vacuum. Once collected, the gas is either flared off (burned) or processed to pipeline quality (recovery for domestic energy use) at an onsite LFG recovery plant. Gas emissions, non–methane organic compounds (NMOCs) and other hazardous pollutants are reduced by almost 100%. LFG and its odor are prevented from entering the atmosphere. In addition to this active gas collection and recovery system, an additional safety system is in place to prevent the migration of gas offsite.

Leachate

Leachate is the liquid by–product of the breakdown of household waste. Once the final cover is placed on the landfill, the quantity of leachate produced diminishes considerably because the amount of water that comes in contact with waste is minimized. The goal of the leachate management system is to remove pollutants by containment, collection and treatment of leachate before it reenters the environment. All treated water is cleaner than the nearby Arthur Kill.

What is a Landfill Cap?

Click on image for larger version

Capping the Mounds

The four mounds at Fresh Kills are the result of over 50 years (1948 – 2001) of landfilling household waste. By 1997, two of the four mounds were closed and covered with a thick, impermeable cap. The remaining mounds stopped accepting waste in 2001 and are expected to be fully capped between 2010 and 2014.

The final cover placed over the solid waste is constructed in phases. The essential design goals are to provide for hydraulic performance, slope stability and long–term integrity or durability of the landfill and its systems. This is achieved by minimizing surface water infiltration, preventing erosion, promoting proper surface water drainage, and separating the waste layer from the environment to protect public health. The final cover also captures and prevents the emission of air–polluting gases.

The final cover is made of a series of layers, each with distinct functions, which are described below, from bottom to top:

Soil Barrier Layer

Before the final cover can be placed, final grading must be completed. A soil barrier layer, sometimes called the cover foundation level or sub–base, is laid over the solid waste, graded and compacted to the appropriate angles. Before the final cover is placed on the landfill, slopes may need to be adjusted to meet the minimum and maximum required grades (4% to 33%) set by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to maintain slope stability and promote proper drainage.

Gas Vent Layer

A gas vent layer is constructed of a geocomposite to facilitate the movement of landfill gas towards the landfill gas vents or extraction wells.

Impermeable Plastic Liner

The impermeable plastic liner or hydraulic barrier is placed on the sub–base material. This is the most crucial component of final cover. It prevents water from entering the waste, both directly by stopping the flow of water and indirectly by promoting storage or drainage of water in the above layers. This layer also prevents the upward flow of gas into the atmosphere except in controlled places. It is made of low–permeability and/or plastic material.

Drainage Layer

The drainage layer is needed in some portions of the final cover. This layer reduces the pressure of water on the barrier layer and increases friction, thus reducing the risk of sliding. It drains the overlying protection layer, increasing water storage capacity and reducing the risk of over–saturating the cover soils above.

Barrier Protection Layer

The barrier protection layer protects the hydraulic barrier from the extremes of weather that could cause the underlying layers to crack or heave. This layer stores excess water until it is either used by overlying plants or drained off. This layer is composed of soil and has a minimum thickness of 24 inches, and more where trees are to be planted.

Planting Soil Layer

The planting soil layer or top soil layer must have a minimum thickness of six inches. It is specified to be fertile. The soil used is a sandy loam, selected for its potential to prevent soil erosion and to provide a good growing medium for the vegetation layer. The primary objective of the vegetation layer is to protect the integrity of the final cover through erosion control. A network of plant roots hold onto the soil, providing stability.

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Public Health & Safety

A variety of federal, state and local laws and regulations govern present and future use of the Freshkills Park site. The overall goals of these regulations are to protect and preserve public health and the environment. To do so, it is essential that the integrity of the landfill and its systems be maintained. In addition to the landfill, regulations govern the city’s land uses, the quality of its air and water, and its coastal resources.

It is anticipated that it will take a minimum of thirty years before garbage decomposition is complete, associated gas production and settlement cease, and leachate fully drains from the site. As these processes occur, there will be a continuing need for regular maintenance, monitoring and evaluation of the site and systems that have been put into place—primarily the final cover, landfill gas (LFG) and leachate systems, as well as the extensive network of monitoring wells. It is essential that access to these systems be preserved during this time for inspection, maintenance and repair.

Two of the four mounds at Fresh Kills are already capped with a thick, impermeable cover that separates the waste from the environment and the public. The remaining two mounds are in the process of being capped. The City’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is currently working with the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to ensure environmentally sound closure of the landfill sections that remain to be capped and to prepare for DSNY’s long–term operational responsibility (a minimum of 30 years post–closure) for on–site environmental monitoring and control systems. No area will be open to ongoing public access until it has been tested and found safe for park use.

Landfill Regulations

DEC’s Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste Materials regulates landfill closure and post–closure operations under 6 NYCRR Part 360, Solid Waste Management Facilities (Title 6 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules, and Regulation of the State of New York). The Solid Waste Management regulations address the need to identify and manage current or potential future releases of pollutants or the mitigation of contaminants from a landfill, and to control and mitigate any impacts once landfill operations have ceased. Among the requirements, all of which are met at Fresh Kills, are landfill gas control, leachate collection and treatment, and a post–closure operation and maintenance plan for a minimum 30–year period.

Air Quality Regulations

Under the 1970 Clean Air Act, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six air contaminants (criteria pollutants) for protection against adverse impacts to public health and welfare. These standards have also been adopted by DEC and are specified in 6 NYCRR Part 275.

EPA and DEC regulations include emissions guidelines for municipal solid waste landfills, including Fresh Kills. The emissions of concern from landfills are non–methane organic compounds (NMOC) and methane. The Fresh Kills gas containment and collection system is comprised by the landfill cap and a system of gas collection trenches and header pipes that convey the gas to one or more collection points onsite, either for beneficial use (power generation) or for flaring (under controlled conditions). While most of the gas is recovered for reuse by National Grid, the flare stations are a back–up safety measure in the event that the recovery system is down. In the future, when little or no gas is generated by the site and the active extraction system is no longer cost–effective, the remaining methane will be flared off.

Soil Standards

Unlike air and water, the framework for regulation of soil quality is not established by a single law or program. Rather, there is a collection of regulations and guidelines at the federal and state levels that are intended to apply to soil in certain situations.

Both the federal and state hazardous materials management programs provide procedures for evaluating whether soils have the potential to cause adverse impacts to human health or the environment. This is generally performed on a case–by–case basis, since the potential for adverse impacts depends on the likely pathways and extent of exposure. Both EPA and DEC have developed “screening levels,” i.e., levels below which there is unlikely to be concern given assumptions about the potential for exposure.

Water Quality Regulations

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA), requires the EPA to establish and periodically update national water quality standards that are based on quantifiable pollutant concentrations and that aim to protect the environment and human health. Individual states then use these published standards to set allowable concentrations of pollutants in groundwater and surface water. In New York State, surface water and groundwater quality standards and groundwater effluent limitations are promulgated by DEC through 6 NYCRR.

At Fresh Kills, groundwater monitoring wells are installed at intervals of about 500 feet in the shallow groundwater around each landfill mound, at 750 feet in the groundwater zones downgradient of the mounds, and at 1,500 feet in the groundwater zones upgradient of the mounds. In total, there are 238 groundwater monitoring wells at Fresh Kills, 116 of which are shallow well, 61 are intermediate depth wells, and 61 are deep bedrock wells. Groundwater monitoring is performed quarterly at each well.

In addition to the groundwater monitoring plan, there is also a surface water monitoring program at Fresh Kills. This program includes annual surface water monitoring in Fresh Kills, Main, and Richmond Creeks within the landfill boundaries and a biennial monitoring program for their sediment quality. Surface water and sediment sampling is performed at a total of 14 sampling stations. Four of these stations are also monitored for benthic ecology (the study of organisms living in and on the sea floor) at both the intertidal and subtidal zones.

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• Draft Master Plan
• ULURP
• EIS
• SEIS
• DSEIS

Draft Master Plan

Between Fall 2004 and Spring 2006, a series of meetings and workshops were conducted where New Yorkers were able to communicate their vision for the future of Fresh Kills. A number of guiding principles were the result of the process and were used to develop the Draft Master Plan. They are:

• Keep the site passive and natural
• Retain the large–scale open spaces
• Provide paths and trails for long walks, cycle rides and horses
• Access to the water is important
• Limit commercial activities to the core of the site
• Sports and recreation facilities desirable
• Demonstrate renewable energy
• Demonstrate ecological techniques of land reclamation
• Provide a connection between Richmond Avenue and the West Shore Expressway

In addition to the public meetings, the planning process was guided by a Community Advisory Group, comprised of stakeholders representing local and regional recreational, environmental, cultural and youth organizations. Please see the Department of City Planning’s Freshkills Park page for more information.

ULURP

Although design work is progressing on the first park projects, Fresh Kills Landfill is not yet a park. For land to have the protections that come with park designation, it must be officially mapped as parkland through the New York City Department of City Planning Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).

ULURP is a crucial step in ensuring that Fresh Kills will never be reopened or used for some other unwanted industrial use. It is a mandated public review process during which the public can comment and the Community Boards, Borough President, City Planning Commission, and City Council vote on the proposal.

However, the ULURP has been stalled before public review has even begun as work goes on to resolve the controversies surrounding the future roads. Because the mapping of the park as parkland and the road corridor as Public Place dedicated to roadway must happen at the same time, the delay in starting the public review process not only slows the development of the road system through the site, but it also postpones the mapping of the site as parkland.

Download the Freshkills Park ULURP Presentation – Initial Mapping Proposal, May 2008 (PDF, 2.7MB)

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EIS

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation has issued the Notice of Completion for the Freshkills Park Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Pursuant to state and local law, the document identifies any potential adverse environmental effects of proposed actions, assesses their significance, and proposes measures to eliminate or mitigate significant impacts. The chapters of the document are available for download, below, as individual PDF documents. Hard copies are also available at all Staten Island libraries and Community Boards.

A public hearing was held on Thursday, September 4, 2009 to receive comments on the Environmental Impact Statement.

Warning: Large files. Some of the following files may take several minutes to download depending on your connection speed. To decrease download time, right–click on a link and choose “Save Link As”.

Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS)

Notice of Completion

• Notice of Completion (PDF, 583 kB)

Volume I

• Cover (PDF, 118 kB)
• Table of Contents (PDF, 92 kB)
• Foreword (PDF, 34 kB)
• Chapter 1: Project Description (PDF, 56.5 MB)
• Chapter 2: Land Use (PDF, 35.4 MB)
• Chapter 3: Socioeconomics (PDF, 3.37 MB)
• Chapter 4: Community Facilities (PDF, 1.82 MB)
• Chapter 5: Open Space (PDF, 982 kB)
• Chapter 6: Shadows (PDF, 28 kB)
• Chapter 7: Historic Resources (PDF, 16 MB)
• Chapter 8: Urban Design (PDF, 5.21 MB)
• Chapter 9: Neighborhood (PDF, 67 kB)
• Chapter 10: Natural Resources (PDF, 46.2 MB)
• Chapter 11: Hazmat (PDF, 3.5 MB)
• Chapter 12: Waterfront (PDF, 2.8 MB)
• Chapter 13: Infrastructure (PDF, 1.2 MB)
• Chapter 14: Solid Waste (PDF, 769 kB)
• Chapter 15: Energy (PDF, 67 kB)
• Chapter 16: Traffic and Parking (PDF, 1.3 MB)
• Chapter 17: Transit and Pedestrians (PDF, 5.6 MB)
• Chapter 18: Air Quality (PDF, 469 kB)
• Chapter 19: Noise (PDF, 2.5 MB)
• Chapter 20: Construction (PDF, 4.9 MB)
• Chapter 21: Public Health (PDF, 14.3 MB)
• Chapter 22: Alternatives (PDF, 7.8 MB)
• Chapter 23: Mitigation (PDF, 1.3 MB)
• Chapter 24: Unavoidable (PDF, 30 kB)
• Chapter 25: Growth-Inducing (PDF, 19 kB)
• Chapter 26: Irreversible (PDF, 19 kB)
• Chapter 27: Environmental Justice (PDF, 1.4 MB)
• Chapter 28: Response to Comments (PDF, 1.7 MB)
• Bibliography (PDF, 90 kB)

Volume II

• Cover (PDF, 305 kB)
• Table of Contents (PDF, 8 kB)
• Appendix A (PDF, 47.2 MB)
• Appendix B (PDF, 41.4 MB)
• Appendix C (PDF, 32.7 MB)
• Appendix D (PDF, 236 MB)
• Appendix E (PDF, 1.57 MB)
• Appendix G (PDF, 1.97 MB)
• Appendix H (PDF, 2.42 MB)
• Appendix I (PDF, 28.2 MB)

Volume III

• Cover  (PDF, 218 kB)
• Appendix F (PDF, 293.2 MB)

Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS)

Volume I

• Cover  (PDF, 71 kB)
• Table of Contents (PDF, 80 kB)
• Executive Summary (PDF, 383 kB)
• Chapter 1: Project Description (PDF, 49.2 MB)
• Chapter 2: Land Use, Zoning and Public Policy (PDF, 36 MB)
• Chapter 3: Socioeconomic Condition (PDF, 3.38 MB)
• Chapter 4: Community Facilities  (PDF, 1.82 MB)
• Chapter 5: Open Space and Recreational Facilities  (PDF, 2.13 MB)
• Chapter 6: Shadows  (PDF, 36.8 kB)
• Chapter 7: Historic Resources  (PDF, 18.1 MB)
• Chapter 8: Urban Design and Visual Resources  (PDF, 9.25 MB)
• Chapter 9: Neighborhood Character (PDF, 38.8 kB)
• Chapter 10: Natural Resources (PDF, 24.6 MB)
• Chapter 11: Hazardous Materials (PDF, 4.67 MB)
• Chapter 12: Waterfront Revitalization Program (PDF, 2.82 MB)
• Chapter 13: Infrastructure (PDF, 1.20 MB)
• Chapter 14: Solid Waste and Sanitation Services (PDF, 758 kB)
• Chapter 15: Energy (PDF,66 kB)
• Chapter 16: Traffic and Parking (PDF, 1.53 MB)
• Chapter 17: Transit and Pedestrians (PDF, 4.05 MB)
• Chapter 18: Air Quality (PDF, 446 kB)
• Chapter 19:Noise (PDF, 2.35 MB)
• Chapter 20: Construction (PDF, 4.87 MB)
• Chapter 21: Public Health (PDF, 12.04 MB)
• Chapter 22: Alternatives (PDF, 4.04 MB)
• Chapter 23: Impact Avoidance Measures and Mitigation (PDF, 404 kB)
• Chapter 24: Unavoidable Significant Adverse Impacts (PDF, 35 kB)
• Chapter 25: Growth–Inducing Aspects of the Proposed Project (PDF, 25 kB)
• Chapter 26: Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources (PDF, 25 kB)
• Chapter 27: Environmental Justice (PDF, 1.40 MB)
• Bibliography (PDF, 59 kB)

Volume II Appendices

• Cover (PDF, 130 kB)
• Appendix A: Freshkills Park Final Scope of Work to Prepare a GEIS (PDF, 47.2 MB)
• Appendix B: Phase 1A Archaeology Documentary Study (PDF, 353 kB)
• Appendix C: NATURAL RESOURCES (PDF, 32.7 MB)
• Appendix D: Transportation Planning Factors (PDF, 940 kB)
• Appendix E: NYSDEC Air Monitoring Data (PDF, 1.57 MB)
• Appendix F: (See Volume III, below) (PDF, 2.01 MB)
• Appendix G: Noise (PDF, 2.34 MB)

Volume III: Appendices

• Appendix F: Traffic Volume Figures (PDF, 350 kB)

Reference Documents

• Conceptual Roads Report (PDF, 459 kB)
• Conceptual Bridge Report (PDF, 950 kB)
• Road Alternatives Report (PDF, 949 kB)
• Stormwater Management Plan (PDF, 474 MB)
• Stormwater Management Plan Attachments (PDF, 9.43 MB)
• Preferred Sustainability Scenario (566 kB)
• Sustainable Development Scenarios (PDF, 565 kB)

DGEIS Scoping documents

On May 24, 2006, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation held a public scoping meeting on the Scope of Work for a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) to be prepared for the proposed Freshkills Park on Staten Island. The Final Scope is available, below, as a downloadable PDF file. This document contains a compilation of all the comments received by DPR on the draft scope and also incorporates revisions to the draft. Changes between the draft and final scopes are indicated by double–underlined text.

• Final Scope of Work to Prepare a DGEIS Statement (48 mb, PDF)
• Attachment A: Reasonable Worst–Case Development Scenario (97 kB, PDF)
• Attachment B: Response to Comments (122 kB, PDF)

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Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)

Based on comments received on the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement for the Fresh Kills Park project, it was determined by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) that a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) would be prepared that focuses on the proposed East Park roads. The purpose of the SEIS is to provide a targeted and detailed analysis of the proposed East Park roads, as well as an examination of proposed alternatives. Since these segments of the proposed roads require a number of critical discretionary approvals from state and federal agencies, it is intended that the Draft SEIS (DSEIS) will address the environmental issues and concerns of these agencies through a coordinated environmental review under the direction of DPR.

As part of the SEIS process, a scoping meeting was held to provide the public and all interested and involved agencies with the opportunity to comment on the “Draft Scope of Work to prepare a DSEIS.” The purpose of the Scope of Work is to provide an agreed-upon framework and outline for the analysis that will be conducted to evaluate the potential impacts.

The public scoping meeting was held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on March 25, 2009 at P.S. 58, located at 77 Marsh Avenue on Staten Island.

Download SEIS Positive Declaration

Download SEIS Draft Scope of Work

Download SEIS Scoping Meeting Presentation

Draft SEIS (DSEIS)

A public hearing will be held about the Fresh Kills Park Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on Monday, June 22 at 7 p.m. at Wagner College: Spiro Hall 2, located at One Campus Road in Staten Island. There is no need to RSVP.

The chapters of the DSEIS are available to download as individual PDF documents. Hard copies are also available at all Staten Island libraries and Community Boards.

Written comments on the DSEIS may be submitted to: Joshua Laird, Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Parklands, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, The Arsenal, Central Park, 830 5th Avenue, Room 403, New York, NY 10065.

Warning: Large files. Some of the following files may take several minutes to download depending on your connection speed. To decrease download time, right–click on a link and choose “Save Link As”.

• Notice of Completion (PDF, 233 kB)
• Cover (PDF, 256 kB)
• Table of Contents (PDF, 106 kB)
• Executive Summary (PDF, 334 kB)
• Chapter 1: Project Description (PDF, 15.9 MB)
• Chapter 2: Land Use (PDF, 1.6 MB)
• Chapter 3: Socioeconomics (PDF, 24 kB)
• Chapter 4: Community Facilities (PDF, 24 kB)
• Chapter 5: Open Space (PDF, 37 kB)
• Chapter 6: Shadows (PDF, 22 kB)
• Chapter 7: Historic Resources (PDF, 34 kB)
• Chapter 8: Urban Design (PDF, 42 kB)
• Chapter 9: Neighborhood (PDF, 34 kB)
• Chapter 10: Natural Resources (PDF, 19.1 MB)
• Chapter 11: Hazardous Materials (PDF, 53 kB)
• Chapter 12: Waterfront Revitalization (PDF, 85 kB)
• Chapter 13: Infrastructure (PDF, 4.5 MB)
• Chapter 14: Solid Waste (PDF, 29 kB)
• Chapter 15: Energy (PDF, 25 kB)
• Chapter 16: Traffic and Parking (PDF, 8.4 MB)
• Chapter 17: Transit and Pedestrians (PDF, 38 kB)
• Chapter 18: Air Quality (PDF, 564 kB)
• Chapter 19: Noise (PDF, 2.5 MB)
• Chapter 20: Construction (PDF, 1.2 MB)
• Chapter 21: Public Health (PDF, 8.0 MB)
• Chapter 22: Alternatives (PDF, 11.7 MB)
• Chapter 23: Mitigation (PDF, 2.2 MB)
• Chapter 24: Unavoidable (PDF, 30 kB)
• Chapter 25: Growth Inducing (PDF, 20 kB)
• Chapter 26: Irreversible Resources (PDF, 23 kB)
• Chapter 27: Environmental Justice (PDF, 34 kB)
• Appendix A: Final Scope of Work (PDF, 1.5 MB)
• Appendix B: Road Design Schematics (PDF, 52.0 MB)
• Appendix C: Landfill Barrier Protection Report (PDF, 1.0 MB)
• Appendix D: Engineering Calculations (PDF, 4.9 MB)

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• Frequently Asked Questions
• Newsletter Archives
• Links
• Partners

Frequently Asked Questions

• Site and Context
• Project Details
• Waste Disposal
• Natural Systems
• Landfill Byproducts and infrastructure
• Local Concerns

Site and Context

Where does the name ‘Fresh Kills’ come from?

Where is Fresh Kills?

How big is Fresh Kills, and how old is it?

How many people are working on the site today?

Project Details

What is the timeline of the project?

Where is the funding from the project coming from?

How does this project benefit the area culturally? Environmentally?

What have people suggested for the future of Fresh Kills, and how will their suggestions be used?

How does the Parks Department feel about having roads developed through the newly acquired land to alleviate congestion on the island?

Is it possible to take a tour of Fresh Kills?

Waste Disposal

Where did industrial garbage go when Fresh Kills was open?

Where does New York City’s trash currently go?

Will Staten Island’s trash continue to go to the transfer station at Fresh Kills once the park opens?

Natural Systems

Are the trees on the mounds planted or naturally occurring?

What kind of wildlife has returned to the site?

Landfill byproducts and infrastructure

How much Landfill gas (LFG) is collected from the site?

What is LFG composed of?

What are the environmental benefits of collecting the LFG?

Is landfill gas constantly being burned in the flare stations on site?

What is aerobic versus anaerobic decomposition?

How much leachate comes off the site?

How is the leachate contained, and what is the Leachate Containment Wall made of?

How long will the landfill gas and leachate systems be monitored?

On average, what is the depth of all the soil and other materials above the waste?

Local Concerns

I have noticed that there are not as many odors coming from Fresh Kills. Why is that, and will this continue to be the case when it is a park?

How much testing is going on with regards to the area’s drinking water?

Why isn’t the City moving the World Trade Center materials, as some family groups have requested?

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Newsletter Archives

The Freshkills Park newsletter, Fresh Perspectives, aims to keep community members informed of the progress in bringing this innovative project to reality. Download past issues of Fresh Perspectives below.

Fresh Perspectives, Winter 2008 (PDF, 776kB)

Fresh Perspectives, Spring 2008 (PDF, 449.4kB)

Fresh Perspectives, Fall 2007 (PDF, 3.6MB)

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Links

Educational Resources

The Landfill Link: Using Freshkills Park to Educate and Inspire
Developed by Liz Titone, The Landfill Link program consists of pre–and post–visit lessons to compliment the tour of Freshkills Park. It aims to educate students about the management of post–consumer waste and students will be encouraged to use their imagination through writing and art. This curriculum unit is aligned with New York State education standards. It is appropriate for 3rd–6th grades.

NYC Teachers’ RRResource Guide: RRR You Ready?
Lesson plans and activity sheets for grades K–5 that comply with NYC Department of Education standards and help educators implement the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) at school, containing ideas for long–term activities and projects. The plans come with a VHS and DVD video on what happens to recyclables.

DOS/Marvel Comics
Read about the TrashMasters! – kids who take on recycling and waste prevention at their school.

Recycling Links

• NYC Wastele$$
• NYC Stuff Exchange
• Materials for the Arts
• New York Wa$teMatch
• The New York City Compost Project
• Council on the Environment of New York City–Office of Recycling Outreach and Education

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Partners

New York State and City Partners

The New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources has provided funding to support the Freshkills Park project under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund.

• NYC Department of Sanitation
• NYC Department of City Planning
• NYC Department of Transportation
• NY State Department of Transportation
• NYC Department of Design and Construction
• NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
• NYC Department of Environmental Conservation
• NY State Department of Environmental Conservation
• NYC Department of Environmental Protection
• NY State Department of Environmental Protection
• NYC Department of Health
• NY State Department of Health
• NY Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources

Parks Partners

• Greenbelt Native Plant Center
• Urban Park Rangers
• Natural Resources Group
• The Greenbelt

Project Consultants

• Field Operations
• AKRF
• ARUP
• BioHabitats, Inc.
• BKSK Architects
• Brandston Partnership Inc.
• Daniel Frankfurt
• Geosyntec
• PhilipHabib and Associates
• ProjectProjects
• Sage & Coombe Architects
• Langan
• Rogers Surveying
• Faithful & Gould

Cultural Partners

• Staten Island Museum
• Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island
• ArtLab

Related City Initiatives

• PlaNYC 2030
• MillionTreesNYC

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