Last Night At The Gowanus Canal CAG General Meeting

Gowanus Canal CAG Facilitator Jeff Edelstein

 Gardiner Cross of NYS Department Of  Environmental Conservation (DEC) 

New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery

Councilman Steven Levin

Last night's Environmental Protection Agency's Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) gathered at the Brooklyn Historical Society for its monthly meeting. The evening's agenda included updates on the ongoing work done by the various CAG committees. 

-The Archeology Committee is planning a historic walking tour of the Gowanus Canal with EPA's Archeologist John Vetter this Friday. The tour will include such historically significant structures as the Coignet Stone building, the Carroll Street bridge, and the former site of Brouwer's Mill built in 1652. (I am taking part in the tour and will post about it afterwards.)

-The Water Quality and Technical Committees reported on a meeting they held recently with EPA's engineer for the Gowanus Canal, Christos Tsiamis.  The agency is planning to release its Feasibility study for the Gowanus Canal clean-up in December.

-Water Quality and Technical also reported about the presentation National Grid and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation gave to them last month regarding the proposed remediation at the heavily polluted former Citizens Gas Works MGP site on Smith Street between 5th Street and Huntington Street. 

At last night's meeting,  DEC's Gardiner Cross was asked to clarify some aspects of the clean-up plan. In particular, there was a concern about why the High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) liner, which is meant to help manage storm water, is supposedly going to be installed 2 feet below grade on the site.  Surely, some CAG members argued, it would make more sense to install the liner deeper, especially if the City plans to build on the site. It would seem that the liner could easily be compromised by any digging on the site .  Cross promised that he will look into the possibility and will get back to the CAG with an answer. 

For further information on the remediation of the site, go to www.citizensmgpsite.com.

NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Councilman Steve Levin attended last night's meeting, as did representatives of Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez,  State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblywoman Joan Millman and Councilman Brad Lander.