At a minimum, we’d be looking at several decades to be considered for climate change projections. This process is ongoing, however, and will continue to be evaluated to see if longer time frames are necessary as the F&T RIR is completed this... read more
In its remedial investigation, Evergreen should adequately account for the impacts of climate change on existing soil and water contamination. These impacts could occur before, during, and after remediation. Sea-level rise, storm surges, and the increased frequency and volume of events like superstorms could have major implications on the migration of contaminants in the soil and groundwater to the river, and into adjacent residential neighborhoods.
Posted by Tiffani Doerr & filed under .
Remedial investigations are evaluations of current conditions. Those current condition measurements would inherently include climate effects as they have occurred and are occurring. The future effects of climate change will be evaluated in future modeling efforts. Note that the future fate and transport modeling is also a remedial investigation activity. The fate and transport modeling efforts are also part... read more
I think we’re asking the same questions about climate change/sea level rise etc., because we cannot parse/understand the answers that have been posted on the web site.
Posted by Tiffani Doerr & filed under .
As noted, climate change will be considered in future contaminant modeling efforts. Most questions posed to date cannot be answered specifically because we are not at that phase in the Act 2 process yet. We can say that Evergreen will consider all questions, comments and input relating to climate change received during the comment period for past Act 2 reports in future modeling efforts, and there will be... read more
On the Q+A page, responding to the question “Why is there no mention of climate change in discussion of the Water-table aquifer? …”, the response includes the sentence “Evergreen recognizes that climate changes are predicted that could alter local hydrologic conditions near the facility, such as higher water levels in the water-table aquifer or higher tides in the Schuylkill River.” This misrepresents the nature of climate change and sea level rise. It’s not a question of higher tides. Everything will be higher – low tides, mean water levels, and high tides. Everything is going to go up. This will affect both the Schuykill (as far as it is tidal, to the art museum), and the Delaware. 1. What sources and estimates for climate change and sea level rise is Evergreen working with? 2. What is the maximum value for sea level rise that Evergreen is considering? 3. Sea-levels will continue to rise at least into the next century. What time-scale, in terms of years from now, does Evergreen consider adequate to ‘future proof’ the site from rising sea levels?
Posted by Tiffani Doerr & filed under .
Most of Evergreen’s groundwater modeling efforts to date have focused on the development of a baseline model that is calibrated to simulate current, average conditions. Evergreen is presently reviewing available documentation pertaining to climate changes predicted for the Philadelphia region. Data review is in its early stages as the Fate and Transport Model RIR is proposed for submittal at the end of 2021. ... read more
On the Q+A page, responding to the question “Evergreen’s answer on the website to the question of whether climate change will be incorporated in the groundwater modeling …”, Evergreen’s response includes the sentence “Evergreen plans to evaluate climate change data … will include a review of available literature on climate change predictions for the Philadelphia region.” 1. It would be useful to see which sources Evergreen is consulting. Will Evergreen share a bibliography of the sources that you have consulted with the public?
Posted by Tiffani Doerr & filed under .
Yes, Evergreen’s fate and transport RIR will include a references section with all cited publications and resources used in the groundwater modeling. Evergreen is also planning future meetings to discuss the model and input... read more
A) On the Q+A page, responding to the question “The hydrological situation is changing …” Evergreen’s response includes the words “climate changes predicted to occur within the anticipated timeframe to completion will be considered.” B) On the Q+A page, responding to the question “Climate change-generated sea-level rise (Schuylkill, Delaware) is a given” Evergreen’s response includes the words “… i.e., how many years are predicted for Evergreen to meet Cleanup goals under Act 2 compared to the magnitude of climate change predictions within that general time period.” Both of these responses imply that only the amount of sea-level rise that occurs during the clean-up operation will be considered. However, sea level rise will continue to affect the site for decades, or perhaps centuries. 1. Can Evergreen confirm (in plain English) that it is only considering sea-level rise for the duration of the remediation project? 2. If so, why is Evergreen not considering long-term sea level rise and its impact on aquifers into account, when considering the remediation plans for the site?
Posted by Tiffani Doerr & filed under .
It is Evergreen’s intent to consider climate changes predicted to occur within the timeframe of cleanup of the former Sunoco refinery. In general, this timeframe would be considered “long term” as petroleum contaminants in groundwater may take decades to remediate and/or degrade to concentrations below regulated standards. Follow-up question to the question above: Can you expand on your use of quotes for... read more
Climate change-generated sea-level rise (Schuylkill, Delaware) is a given. There are already models out there. What range of values in feet are Evergreen assuming for 2050, and 2100?
Posted by Tiffani Doerr & filed under .
Evergreen has yet to complete the contaminant fate and transport assessment for the facility and currently has a working groundwater flow model that is calibrated to recent, average sea level in the Schuylkill River estimated from a local tide gauge. The magnitude of sea-level rise has not yet been selected for evaluation in the modeling and is pending a literature review of available resources and initial modeling... read more
The hydrological situation is changing. Are you considering remediation strategies with respect to sea-level rise, which could affect groundwater on the site?
Posted by Tiffani Doerr & filed under .
Evergreen will detail its approach to remediation of the facility in future Cleanup Plans and will consider climate changes predicted to occur within the anticipated timeframe to completion. Evergreen will also incorporate climate change into future modeling. Response addresses the similar questions: "Are you considering your remediation strategies with respect to sea level rise, which could affect groundwater and... read more
Evergreen’s answer on the website to the question of whether climate change will be incorporated in the groundwater modeling states, “the boundary condition data variability must be quantifiable and based on accepted models or observations.” What in plain language does this response mean? You have not directly answered the question. What efforts are being made to quantify the boundary condition data? Are accepted models available or not? If not, why not?
Posted by Tiffani Doerr & filed under .
Evergreen plans to evaluate climate change data in support of groundwater modeling for contaminant fate and transport. The effort will include a review of available literature on climate change predictions for the Philadelphia region. Accepted climate models would be those that are published, peer-reviewed, and/or otherwise viewed as reliable and relevant to future conditions at the facility. Quantifiable refers to... read more
Why is there no mention of climate change in discussion of the Water-table aquifer? These levels could change by multiple feet in the next few decades.
Posted by Tiffani Doerr & filed under .
One of Evergreen’s primary objectives through the remedial investigations under Act 2 was to characterize the facility’s geologic framework and the water-bearing units it supports. Potential flow pathways for contaminant transport could be evaluated in this manner using recent groundwater observations from hundreds of wells at the facility. Evergreen’s groundwater model is calibrated and validated to these... read more