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Waste Site Reports: Rhode Island
NOAA trust species in Rhode Island include quahog, American lobster, squid, herring, bay anchovy, bluefish, menhaden, silver hake, scup, striped bass, and summer flounder. Numerous species reside in Narragansett Basin for extended periods during sensitive life stages. The commercial and recreational fisheries associated with the Narragansett drainage basin are valued at several million dollars. Several pinnipeds are known to inhabit the coastal waters of Rhode Island during the winter months and commonly include the harbor seal, gray seal, harp seal, and hooded seal. White-sided dolphin and harbor porpoise are common inhabitants of nearshore areas of Rhode Island. Numerous cetaceans also occur in the area, like minke whales, and several federally endangered whales, such as humpback, northern right, fin, and Atlantic pilot whale.
Military Sites in Rhode Island
Rhode Island is dotted with 89 military installations and formerly used defense areas, comprising 154 DoD sites. The nature of defense-related activities has left serious problems at installations throughout the state, involving chemicals that are highly toxic and persistent in the environment. Contaminants of concern related to military sites in Rhode Island include heavy metals, PCBs, pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons, and VOCs. The NOAA RRC program has collaborated with DoD and EPA at Davisville Naval Construction Batallion Center and Newport Naval Education Training Center (NETC) sites by conducting coastal hazardous waste site reviews and by reviewing ecological risk assessments. DoD has 41 installations contemplated for restoration in Rhode Island. NOAA's input is needed now to ensure that cleanups are protective of coastal natural resources as well as human health. NOAA offers technical expertise and a neutral perspective that is valued by both the military and the local public.
Areas of Special Concern in Rhode Island
The NOAA RRC program works to protect and restore natural resources throughout Rhode Island. Narragansett Bay supports commercial and recreational fisheries of economic importance. Allen Harbor is of special concern since it contains rich invertebrate communities that support Narragansett Bay fish populations. Sediment toxicity tests from Allen Harbor landfill resulted in mortalities close to 100%. Nearby Hope Island provides habitat for abundant populations of lobster. NOAA developed the Allen Harbor Landfill Ecological Risk Assessment work plan in 1996 and attended Technical Review Committee meetings. At NETC, elevated concentrations of heavy metals have been measured in groundwater discharging to Narragansett Bay and in sandy beach ecosystems along the western shore of the island. The potential for adverse effects is of concern because these habitats support abundant seasonal populations of finfish, which are important components of the forage base of larger predatory fish. Other areas of concern include Saugatucket River, which support an alewife run and American eel, and Point Judith, which is a mid-salinity estuary used by NOAA trust resources.
Reports Not Yet Available Online
- Davis Liquid Waste (Reviewed 1987); CERCLIS No. = RID980523070
- Peterson/Puritan, Inc. (Reviewed 1987); CERCLIS No. = RID055176283
- Picillo Farm (Reviewed 1987); CERCLIS No. = RID980579056
- Stamina Mills, Inc. (Reviewed 1987); CERCLIS No. = RID980731442
- Western Sand & Gravel (Reviewed 1987); CERCLIS No. = RID009764929
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