Full Report On Tuesday Night's EPA Gowanus Canal Superfund CAG Meeting

Jeff Edelstein, CAG Facilitator

Christos Tsiamis, EPA Region 2 project manager for the Gowanus Canal  with Brian Carr, EPA Region 2 Legal Council

Christos Tsiamis

The Environmental Protection Agency's Gowanus Canal Superfund Community Advisory Group (CAG) held its general meeting at Mary Star Of The Sea housing on First Street last night.

Superfund progress report

Both Christos Tsiamis, EPA Region 2 project manager for the Gowanus Canal,  and Brian Carr, EPA Region 2 Legal Council, were in attendance and gave a Superfund progress report.

Tsiamis explained that the Remedial Investigation and the Feasibility study have been completed. Based on all the collected data and discussions with various parties, namely National Grid and New York City as well as members of the community,  Region 2 has prepared a plan for the clean-up of the polluted waterway. A prototype plan was submitted to EPA's National Review Board at the agency's headquarter in Washington.  "We are right now at the stage of putting together the Plan for presentation to the public and are hoping to put it out for comment to the community by the end of this year," Tsiamis stated.

The formal review process generally lasts about 30 days, but because of the size of the community and the anticipated number of comments, the period will most likely be extended.

At that point, Region 2 has to look at all the comments that have been submitted and consider them. After the plan has been refined, a final document called a Record of Decision will be prepared.

Tsiamis concluded: "We are right on schedule.

Polytechnic Institute of New York University Professor Maurizio Porfiri

Brooklyn Atlantis

Also on the agenda last night was a presentation of 'Brooklyn Atlantis', a project led by Polytechnic Institute of New York University Professors Maurizio Porfiri and Oded Nov. A team of graduate students in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science has been working on a system of mobile instrumented buoys with wireless capabilities for data collection and environmental monitoring. As Professor Porfiri explained last night, the buoys would move about on the Gowanus Canal, powered by rechargeable batteries that use solar energy. Cameras mounted on the buoys will be taking photos above and below the water's surface.   Sensors will monitor water quality by checking temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, ph levels (and perhaps salinity and water flow.)   Photos and data will be downloaded to a website.

An important component of Brooklyn Atlantis is the participation of citizen scientists who will be able to access images on the computer, classify wildlife on photos as well as earn points for correctly identifying objects, access sensor data for different canal locations and compare results.

The project has been funded by the National Science Foundation. Professor Porfiri expects Brooklyn Atlantis to run simultaneously to the EPA clean-up of the canal.

More information about Brooklyn Atlantis can be found at www.brooklynatlantis.poly.edu

Leah Graziano of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Chris Dorsoki of the NYS Department of Health

Public Health Assessment Of the Gowanus Superfund area

Chris Dorsoki of the New York State Department of Health and Leah Graziano of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) gave an overview of the role of their agencies and how they support the EPA and the Gowanus Canal Superfund site community.

Dorsoki and Graziano shared information about the Public Health Assessment that was prepared and the conclusions drawn from the Assessment.
Regarding the Gowanus Canal, it was found that swimming in the canal would harm people's health because of exposure to bacteria. Eating fish and crabs from the Gowanus was also a health hazard.

Dorsoki explained that a Public Health Assessment is not the same as a health study.  A few CAG members asked why such study has never been done in Gowanus, especially in light of the fact that the canal has been declared a Superfund.  Dorsoki said that a health study can take decades to complete.

After a brief discussion, Jim Vogel, representing NY State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, declared that the senator's office would formally request a study.

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EPA Region 2 Presents Gowanus Canal Feasibility Study To Community

Walter Mugdan, EPA Region 2's, 
Director of the Division of Environmental Planning and Protection

Christos Tsiamis, EPA Region 2 project manager for the Gowanus Canal

Patty White, geologist for CH2MHill

Natalie Loney ,EPA Region 2 Community Involvement Coordinator

Brian Carr, EPA Region 2 lawyer

The Environmental Protection Agency's Region 2 team responsible for the Gowanus Canal Superfund clean-up hosted a public information meeting last night at PS 58 to present the Feasibility Study, which was released in late December 2011.

Walter Mugdan, Director of the Division of Environmental Planning and Protection, started the meeting by pointing out that his agency is on schedule. "This job is being done 2 or 3 times faster than it was plausible to expect, but the heavy lifting is yet to come, of course." he told the audience.

Mugdan praised the tremendous effort of the site's manager, Christos Tsiamis, who "is a stern task master. "  The audience gave Tsiamis a rousing round of applause.
Mugdan also acknowledged the very engaged members of the Community Advisory Group (CAG) for the Gowanus, the largest such group in the country.

Patricia White, geologist for CH2MHill, an independent contracting firm hired by the EPA, started off the presentation by reviewing background information about the site. She also explained the Feasibility Study process, which includes:
-Develop remedial action objectives
-develop preliminary remediation goals
-define remediation target areas
-identify and screen remedial technologies
-develop and screen remedial alternatives
-evaluate remedial alternatives in detail
White also pointed out that one of the key Feasibility Study consideration is re-contamination of the canal after the cl were source control from the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSOs) and storm water discharges, discharges from the three former MGP sites, contaminated groundwater discharge, street runoff and discharges from unpermitted pipes.
Christos Tsiamis took over the presentation to speak about the various technologies that were retained and combined into seven remedial alternatives and screened according to effectiveness, implementability and cost.
The sediment dredging and capping alternatives all include dredging of the highly polluted soft sediment at the bottom of the canal, but while some alternatives call for solidifying the top of the native sediment, and capping either with a two-layer cap or a three layer cap.
So far, alternatives 5 and 7 have been retained for further detailed evaluation.
The EPA is also currently evaluating the best treatment and disposal alternatives for the dredged sediment.
The alternatives include offsite disposal, offsite or onsite stabilization with beneficial use, thermal desorption, offsite cogeneration or offsite or onsite stabilization and disposal in a constructed Confined Disposal Facility (CDF)
Of course, Tsiamis pointed out, the Gowanus Canal cannot be cleaned effectively without eliminating the CSO discharges from New York City's sewer system as well as the coal tar oozing from the three National Grid MGP sites lining the canal. The CSO discharges "cannot go on from our perspective" Tsiamis stated.
New York City's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been given a schedule by DEP. Tsiamis will meet with the City to discuss this matter further in February.  ***It is important to note her that the City, one of the major Potentially Responsible Parties (PRP) has not yet signed a consent order to take responsibility of their part of the clean-up.
As for the former MGP sites, EPA is coordinating and prioritizing with National Grid, which is responsible for the clean-up and NYS Department Of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the agency in charge of overseeing the remediation of those sites. According to Walter Mugdan, DEC has been very aggressive in moving forward.

Walter Mugdan diplomatically added: "In due course, we hope that all the involved agencies will recognize what needs to be done."
The next step? A proposed remedy will be presented to the public in 6 to 8 months, and a remedy will be selected by the end of 2012.
Last night's EPA presentation can be viewed online here.


**In one final note, it was announced last night that the EPA Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) for the Gowanus Canal Superfund was awarded to Friends And Residents Of Greater Gowanus.Congratulations to Marlene Donnelly, Bette Stoltz, Linda Mariano, Margaret Maugenest and Diane Buxbaum and all the members of FROGG for their hard work on behalf of the community.

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Important Issues Discussed And Voted On At Last Night's Gowanus Superfund CAG Meeting

EPA's Christos Tsiamis, seated, and Gowanus CAG facilitator Jeff Edelstein, standing

Christos Tsiamis, EPA Region 2 project manager for the Gowanus Canal 

Brian Carr, EPA Region 2 lawyer

Still from " Perfume vs. Miasma" on the Gowanus Canal by Rebecca Volinsky

Still from 'Gouwane' by Susannah Sayler and Edward Morris

The EPA Community Advisory Committee (CAG) for the Gowanus Canal Superfund gathered at the Brooklyn Historical Society for its monthly meeting last night.  Christos Tsiamis, EPA Region Two project manager and Brian Carr, a lawyer for Region 2, were both in attendance for a question and answer session.

Tsiamis  had brought along two short movies about the canal,  which had been screened at the "Canary Project"* art exhibit at Parsons School of Design, to which he had been invited. The movies offered visions for the Gowanus Canal post clean-up by various artists.  "It was a case of art informing science" Christos told the CAG.
Indeed, both 'Perfume vs. Miasma" by Rebecca Volinsky and 'Gouwani' by Suzanne Sailors and Ed Morris were well worth watching.
-Tsiamis also informed the CAG that the Feasibility Study (FS), which outlines the different options for a clean-up, will be released at the end of the year.  There will be a public meeting to discuss the FS in January 2012.
The discussion between members of the CAG and Tsiamis was broad and included such topics as bulkheads,  additional grants for technical assistance and plans for the First Street and Fourth Street canal basins, which were filled in decades ago.
-The CAG also voted on a resolution first discussed at a Water Quality/Technical Committees meeting on November 29th. It reads:
The Community Advisory Group requests that NYC DEP install real-time flow meters as soon as possible, but no later than February 15, 2012 on the Combined Sewer Overflows Identified as RH35, OH37, RH34 and OH05.
The goal is to collect data ahead of the re-activation of the Flushing Tunnel in the fall of 2012 and to determine whether the flow figures cited by the DEP are reasonable.  Local officials will be cc'd  on the request.  The resolution passed easily.
-Another important topic of the night was the Whole Foods site, located at the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street in Gowanus.  Whole Foods is scheduled to appear in front of  the Board Of Standards And Appeals (BSA) on December 13th, concerning their request for a variance to permit a food store contrary to use regulations in an M2-1 zoning district. Since the proposed 56,000 s.f. store will be built on a site that has the largest frontage of any property along the Gowanus Canal, some members of the CAG felt that the scale of the project, the proposed 12 foot grade change and bulkhead plan for the site could adversely affect the Superfund clean-up.
The following resolution was put forth buy the CAG:
1) The Gowanus CAG Requests that the NYC BSA postpone its decision on Whole Food's Variance Application until the EPA releases its Record of Decision for the clean-up plan. 2)The CAG requests that Whole Foods Market present to the CAG their general site work and bulkhead plan.
The resolution passed easily.
*The Canary Project at Parsons will run until December 15th.

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EPA's Tsiamis Talks Clean-Up Feasibility At Last Night's Gowanus Canal CAG Meeting

Natalie Loney ,Community Involvement Coordinator

and Christos Tsiamis, Gowanus Superfund Project Manager for EPA

Christos Tsiamis

EPA's Christos Tsiamis and Brian Carr

As promised when they declared the Gowanus Canal a Superfund site, the Environmental Protection Agency is keeping the community informed every step of the way about the agency's work on the heavily polluted waterway.

Earlier this year, and after many months of testing and field work, Christos Tsiamis, Chief Engineer of the EPA's Gowanus Canal Superfund, came in front of the Community Advisory Committee (CAG) to present the Risk Assessment study he had prepared . Last night, at the CAG's general meeting, he presented the Feasibility Study, that is currently in progress and will be issued at the end of the year. Previous to last night's presentation, Tsiamis had engaged and shared the information with some of the other players involved in the clean-up: The NYS Department of Environmental Conservancy, The NYC Department Of Environmental Protection, The Army Corps of Engineers, National Grid, as well as architects from DLandStudio, a firm that was awarded a grant to design a sponge park on the banks of the Gowanus.

Based on the findings of the Risk Assessment, the EPA evaluated different approaches that will enable the agency to eliminate or reduce health risks to humans and wildlife. Tsiamis re-iterated once again that any action taken by the EPA is determined by the CERCLA Superfund Laws and that there are certain criteria that need to be followed. "When we find contaminants, the Superfund Law tells us we need to clean and threat them. That's what we do."

Last night's presentation focused on the best and safest methods that can be employed in this very complex case.

If treatment of the toxic material is not possible at the site itself, the agency can creates conditions that keep contaminants in place and removes the risk of contact with the pathogens. If containment of contaminants is nor feasible, they are removed and disposed of in licensed facilities.

The simplest clean-up available would be to treat the material biologically in place by introducing bacteria. However, in regards to the Gowanus, that hardly will be enough. "Experience tells me that it will not be possible to use bio-remediation in this case because more complex chemicals and metals can not be broken down with bacteria" Tsiamis explained.

The second solution could be to remove the matter and to treat it thermally by heating up the soil contaminants and thereby rendering them non-toxic. Another solution is a physical treatment that would encapsule the toxic material in a solid or rendering it into a non-toxic block.

Capping the material in place is also being considered. A layer of sand could provide a barrier between the material and the water above it. However, in the case of the Gowanus, sand could be displaced by the turbulence caused by the flushing tunnel.

The material could also be capped using a layer of cement to immobilize contaminants, especially metals. New "augmented" caps are now available that are made of less than six inches of clay material that not only creates a barrier, but can also absorb chemicals.

One problem in relation to the Gowanus is that the soft Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (NAPL) contaminated sludge at the bottom of the Gowanus is too soft and lacks the structural integrity to support such a cap.

According to Tsiamis, "the wisest thing to do is to remove the toxic material and to cap the remaining native sediment with a different buffer." He spoke of adding an' armored cap' with an additional layer of pebbles on top of the native sediment.

It is clear that there will be various approaches and treatments used in different portions of the canal according to their characteristics. It is Tsiamis' intention to take advantage of the newest technology as it becomes available.

Whatever method is used, the EPA is going to make sure that what the canal doesn't get re-contaminated from New York City's Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO's), storm water run-off, and most importantly, free moving toxic product from about 10 to 12 sites along the canal, including Public Place and the Lowe's site.

Christos Tsiamis is committed to continue to engage the other agencies. "This is a golden opportunity to get this right" he told the CAG. "We need the expertise of everyone' and that he 'wants to make sure we are looking at everything." He added: "If we succeed, this will be a crown on everyone's head."

No doubt, this is a historic opportunity to get it right.

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From Russia With Hope: Delegation Visits The Gowanus Canal

Russian Delegation visiting the Gowanus Canal 

with members of the US EPA Washington and New York Region 2  offices

as part of the United States-Russian Bilateral Presidential Commission's 

Environmental Working Group

(4th from left is Christos Tsiamis, EPA Gowanus Project Manager, then me,  second from right is Marlene Donnelly of FROGG, and first from the right is Natalie Loney, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator)

Proteus Gowanus

A sample of Gowanus Water at Proteus

The Old American Can Factory

Aerial view of the Gowanus Canal area from the rooftop of the Old American Can Factory

Photo-op

On Friday, December 3rd, a delegation of Russian Federal and Regional administrators toured the Gowanus Canal as part of the United States-Russian Bilateral Presidential Commission.  The Commission was created in July 2009 by President Obama and President Medvedev of the  Russian Federation to recognize common national interests and to coordinate relations amongst various agencies of both countries.  This particular delegation was part of the Working Environmental Group and was here for technical exchange and training on the US Environmental Protection Agency's  experience in management of hazardous waste.


The delegation first spent a few days in EPA's Washington office to learn about the Superfund program and then traveled to New York where Christos Tsiamis, EPA's Gowanus Canal Project Manager gave a presentation on his work. The presentation was followed by a visit to the polluted waterway.


Marlene Donnelly of FROGG and I had been invited to join the tour by Christos Tsiamis and Natalie Loney, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, to speak about community involvement.


Currently, the Russian Federation is in the process of creating its own environmental program to address past environmental damage.  Therefore, understanding the complexities and decision-making process of the Superfund program as it relates to the Gowanus Canal was of particular interest to the delegation.


The tour started on DeGraw Street, then proceeded to the Union Street Bridge. The next stop was Proteus Gowanus at 543 Union Street where  Sasha Chavchavadze, the founder and director, welcomed the delegates in Russian and talked about Gowanus' vibrant artist community.  The group toured the gallery's Hall Of The Gowanus and its display of art, artifacts, books and maps pertaining to the canal's history. 


The tour continued on to the the Old American Can Factory at the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street. The old manufacturing building is home to over 200 people who work in the creative industry. Nathan Elbogen, its founder, accompanied the group to the building's rooftop to give them an aerial overview of the Gowanus Canal.  Christos Tsiamis
took the opportunity to point out the Whole Food site and the cement companies along the waterway.
I would like to thank Christos Tsiamis and Natalie Loney for inviting me to join the group on its tour.  As always, it was fascinating to hear about the EPA's work on the canal.
It was a great pleasure to meet members of the Russian delegation.

Members Of The Russian Delegation

1. Vygon, Grigory Vladimirovich, Director, Office of Economics and Finances, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

2. Nefediev, Nikolai Borisovich, Deputy Director, Deputy Director, Office of State Politics and Regulations in Environmental Protection and Environmental Security, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

3. Burkanova, Olga Anatolievna, Office Director, Department of State Politics and Regulations in Environmental Protection and Environmental Security, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

4. Sahno, Elena Vladimirovna, Referent, Referent, Office of Control and Execution, Department of Business and Human Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

5. Krivov, Ravil Alexeevich, Referent, Office of Economics and Finances, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

6. Shpinkov, Viachslav Igorevich, Senior Specialinst/Expert, Office of International Cooperation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

7. Sergeeva, Daria Alexandrovna, Assistant Director, Office of Economics and Finances, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

8. Ishutin, Vadim Borisovich, Deputy Chairman of Committee on Property and Duty of Voronezh Duma, Voronezh Regional Duma

9. Berlin, Jan Ernestovich, Deputy Head Administration of Nenetz Autonomous District on Infrastructure Development

10. Kungurtsev, Sergei Stanislavovich, Lead Consultant, Department of International and Inter-regional Relations, Information, and Mass-communications, Administration of Nenetz Autonomous District

11. Barsukov, Vladislav Valerievich, Director, Office of International Relations, “Ecobezopasnost” Institute

12. Kuznetsov, Dmitry Alexandrovich, Deputy Director, Office of International Relations, “Ecobezopasnost” Institute

13. Chernov, Alexander Efimovich, Minister, Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning of Kaluga Region

14. Vasutin, Alexander Sergeevich, Deputy Head of Representation of the Government of Kaluga Region in the Government of the Russian Federation, Representation of Government of Kaluga Region in the Government of the Russian Federation, Office of Representative of the Government of Kaluga Region in the Government of the Russian Federation

15. Sychev,Yury Fedorovich, Advisor to Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic, State Duma

16. Nicolaev Venedict Venedictovich, Director, “Ecobezopasnost” Institute

17. Agranovsky, Alexander, Director General, “GreenTeam” Ltd

18. Bratchikov, Alexander, Embassy of the Russian Federation

19. Shamrai, Pavel, Embassy of the Russian Federation

Interpreters:
Svetlana Guggenheim, RussianWorks, Inc.
Anna Mazurova, RussianWorks, Inc.

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EPA At Last Night's Meeting Regarding Gowanus Superfunding: " We Want To Do A Job That We Can Be Proud Of"

Last Night At PS 58

Just days after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it had placed the Gowanus Canal on its list of Superfund sites, Walter Mugdan, Christos Tsiamis, Brian Carr and Natalie Loney of the agency's Region 2 office, came before the Carroll Gardens/ Gowanus Area residents to speak about what it all means, to explain the clean-up schedule, and to answer questions.

Last night's meeting at PS58 started with a rousing round of applause from the audience. Clearly, the community was pleased by the recent announcement.
Walter Mugdan, EPA District 2 Director, expressed the hope that all parties will now move forward with common purpose.
" Our goal its to get the work done quickly and efficiently, while doing it carefully and thoughtfully."

Christos Tsiamis, the project manager for the Gowanus Canal clean-up, gave a brief outline of the work that lays ahead.

The EPA is currently continuing analytic field work that started in January. The Remedial Investigation includes surface sediment sampling, surface water and air sampling, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
All data will be used to do a feasibility study. By the end of 2011, the EPA will be proposing a clean-up plan. By 2012, another public process will commence, which will allow the community to comment formally on the proposal.
By the end of 2012, the EPA will make a final choice on the remedial plan. From then, it will take about 2 to 3 years to design a selected option. Dredging the bottom of the canal will most likely be required.
The actual work will take about 5 years.
The cost of the clean-up is estimated to cost from 300 to 500 million.

The cost for the clean-up will be recouped mostly from Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) Early in the clean-up process, the EPA looks for evidence to determine liability by matching wastes found at the site with parties that may have contributed to the pollution.
Nine such PRP's have already been identified by the agency, the City of New York being one of them.
In addition, another 20 companies have been sent informational request forms to determine if they are PRP's as well.
Orphan sites, or sites that have been abandoned by their owners will be cleaned up by the EPA and the cost absorbed by the agency.

The EPA will work closely with both the New York City Department Of Environmental Protection, as well as the the New York State Department Of Environmental Conservation.

This will, in my opinion, be a very exciting decade for this area. Decades of neglect are finally going to be addressed by experts, who clearly only have the best interest and health of the community in mind.

I also hope that, as a community, we will stay involved and will look towards the future. As residents of a soon to be clean Gowanus Canal area, we need to take the lead in shaping this future and not let developers decide for us.





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