Nate Grove of NYC Parks describes the protocol he has established for removing abandoned marine vessels from NYC Waters

1. NYC Parks
Marine Debris Removal

2. NYC Parks Marine Debris Removal
Derelict Abandoned Vessels and Marine
Debris is an issue throughout NYC Waters
• NYC has over 520 miles of shoreline,
more than Boston, Miami, Los Angeles and
San Francisco combined
• More than 30% of that shoreline, 160 miles,
is NYC Parkland
• There are hundreds of abandoned vessels
littering NYC waterways and shorelines
• Vessels tend to be the last thing individuals
purchase in good times and the first thing
they get rid of in bad times
• When a vessel is no longer running,
particularly if it has an inboard engine, the
cost of disposal may be higher than the actual
value of the vessel
• Unlike vehicles that have metal scrap value,
vessel fiberglass requires costly landfill disposal
• Vessel fluids, tanks and engines must be
drained and removed prior to disposal

3. NYC Parks Marine Debris Removal
Federal and Local Agencies are involved
in addressing the issue of Marine Debris
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead
government agency, addressing floatables that
pose a hazard to the federally-maintained
navigation channels
• U.S. Coast Guard, via superfund contracting,
addresses leaking fuels and oils; USCG does
not remove nor dispose of vessels
• Removal of derelict vessels and debris located
outside of the federal channels is, ultimately,
the responsibility of the property owner
• NYPD Harbor and FDNY Marine Unit respond
to on-water emergencies and security threats
• DSNY assists with derelict vessels and
debris that are reachable by land
• The City does not possess the in-house
fleet and equipment necessary to perform
on-water removals

4. NYC Parks Marine Debris Removal
NYC Parks and DCAS developed a
Citywide Marine Debris Removal Contract
• NYC Parks, as the largest steward of shoreline,
including marinas located throughout the five
boroughs, drafted a derelict vessel and marine
debris removal contract
• Working with DCAS, this multi-year requirements
contract was implemented in 2015
• Twelve vendors bid on the contract and it was
awarded to lowest responsible bidder
• NYC’s first-ever standing contract enabling any
City agency to address derelict vessel and
marine debris items as they arise
• Pre-set agreed upon pricing for removal of
derelict vessels, marine, vegetative, and
construction and demolition debris from
shorelines and waterways
• “Where-and-when” contract that saves time and
cost, avoiding need to bid each job separately
• Project cost is known prior to contacting vendor

5. NYC Parks Marine Debris Removal
Environmental Permitting and
Compliance
• Most derelict vessels and debris end
up on natural shorelines and in tidal
wetlands, requiring pre-removal
permitting by NYS DEC and careful
adherence to environmental best
practices and in-water seasonal work
moratoriums
• Worked with NYS DEC in attaining
renewable borough-wide debris
removal permit
• Coordinate with NYC Parks Natural
Resources Group for site identification,
as well as for removal monitoring and
vendor adherence to best practices
• Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers, American
Littoral Society, and other local groups
and advocates are critical partners in
identifying and prioritizing needs

6. NYC Parks Marine Debris Removal
Work Performed
• Over 300 vessels and 5,000 cubic yards of
marine debris have been removed citywide
via current contract in the past 5 years
• Nearly 50% of the contracted work has been
funded by FEMA and NOAA grants
• NYC Parks was the single largest recipient of
a NOAA-administered competitive grant to
address Hurricane Sandy-related debris,
receiving $1.6 million of the $2.3 million total
available funding
• DEP completed an expansive Environmental
Benefit Project in 2019:
 Eight months and nearly $800,000
 Removals in Howard Beach, Broad Channel,
Bergen Basin, Hendrix Creek, Old Mill Creek,
Canarsie Pier, Vernam Basin, Jamaica Bay
Islands, Mill Basin, Floyd Bennet Field, Shell
Bank Creek, Coney Island Creek
 145 “substantial” objects were removed,
including 125 vessels, 815 cubic yards of
debris, and a 30,000 pound buoy

7. NYC Parks Marine Debris Removal
Funding and Future Programs
• Funding has been located via Federal
grants, mandated environmental consent
orders, as well as discretionary municipal
capital and expense dollars
• There presently is no dedicated reoccurring
funding to address existing and new needs
as they arise
• Discussing with NYS DEC ability to use
removals as mechanism to meet in-water
project mitigation requirements
• Many states maintain a tax on vessel
registrations which provides reoccurring
funding for enforcement and removals
• Many states require vessel insurance, which
reduces the number of abandonments;
NYC Parks implemented this policy at all
marinas located on Parkland
• Publicly available vessel turn-in program
could be implemented with funding

8. Thank you. Questions?