Hurricane Sandy's Aftermath: Gowanus Business Owners Concerned About Toxic Sludge Left Behind After Canal Flood Waters Receded

(credit: google maps)

Due to their location on the banks of the Gownus Canal several businesses, most of them film production companies, have endured severe flooding during Hurricane Sandy.   Though the three and a half feet of water have now receded from the Douglas Street block were they are housed, the owners of Canal Creatures, CW Films, Eastern Effects, Camera Farm, Scrap Paper Productions, Alex Sullivan Audio, Papa, and PMC Digital are very concerned about the toxic compounds and raw sewage that were mixed in the water and are now coating everything.  Since the Gowanus Canal was declared a Superfund site by the Unites States Environmental Protection Agency, these concerns are understandable.
Here is a link to a video showing the damage and sludge left behind after the storm.

Kevin Howard, Production Manager and Co-owner of Canal Creatures Production writes:

"It is a horror show, with smells that we have never encountered before, even after years of living and working along the banks of the canal. NO ONE understands what the long-term effects will be of a SuperFund site having been stirred up and spread all over the Gowanus neighborhood. The many contaminants of this site have been resuspended in the flood water and are now in everything that has been soaked by the flood!

 Mark Bracamonte, Production Creature at Canal Creatures described the situation facing these businesses:

Our building has been sealed shut, and multiple film production business have been displaced and are now out of business. The EPA came down, only after many harassing calls from us. They came and took samples saying they would have results in 8 hours. That was 3 days ago. We still have no word.
There is ZERO neighborhood awareness about the potential health risks the area is facing. People are digging through contaminated trash, and debris with NO GLOVES and proper gear. IT IS SHOCKING THAT THE C TOWN GROCERY SUPERMARKET ON BOND AND DOUGLASS IS OPEN AND SELLING FOOD when we know they had the same toxic flood water as we did."

Some of the businesses have fund temporary quarters at Film Biz Recycling, the Gowanus recycling/prop rental center, where they "will figure out [their] strategy for dealing with this immediate situation."
They have also shared their neighborhood story online on a Tumblr blog here: canalcreatures.tumblr.com

In an interview on the blog, Chris Hayes, principal partner at Eastern Effects states:

"We had a devastating flood like everyone else in the community. We have gotten no help from any government agency as of yet. No information that has been coherent as to what steps we should take, no one is telling us if the area is safe to inhabit, what we are being exposed to. No one has any answers. You kind of get the run around when we call anybody, I kind of feel like we have been left for dead out here, I mean, I have millions of dollars in inventory that’s sitting rotting now because we cant figure out what to do about it, if I’m even supposed to be in the building or not. There’s little snippets of information that are conflicting, so I feel like it’s every man for himself around here in this area. ….We built our business in this area, built up the community, and every one has abandoned us. It’s heart breaking, there’s no words that can express my sorrow that has happened to me and my partners here. It’s just a bad situation."

In the meantime, Councilman Brad Lander released this statement:

"Many of you have contacted me with concerns about the Gowanus Canal, a highly polluted waterway, which flooded neighboring streets. I have communicated with EPA Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck and NYC Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland. Thanks to both of them for making the time, and communicating quickly (with each other, and with me) about our concerns at the canal.If you live near the canal, do not touch standing water in the area, or any sediment or debris left by Gowanus flood-waters."

At a press conference after Hurricane Sandy, Mayor Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor for Operations Cas Holloway seemed flippant about the dangers associated with the health risks from Gowanus flood waters. When asked about the health risks related to the toxic water, Cas Holloway, who is more familiar to the Gowanus community as the former head of NYC's Department Of Environmental Protection (DEP) and, along with Mayor Bloomberg, a vocal opponent of the Superfund designation for the canal stated: "We’ll make sure that–we don’t think there’s any immediate danger to anybody and we don’t think there’s any issue.”

However, I just received an email from David Green, a science teacher, who raises the alarm on the dangers associated with the toxins. He writes:

"I am a science teacher with a background in Chemistry and Physics living in Brooklyn Heights.I saw your post on the flooding from the Gowanus canal.
The situation you describe is quite serious concerning the toxicological hazard from that particular flood. All the flooding in NY produced some hazard because of the sewage mixed with the flood water (particularly bad in red hook), but the Gowanus waters are leaden with Lead and Mercury, and dangerous volatiles too.
Sewage can be cleaned and sterilized with detergent and chlorine bleach, but if toxic water and sludge gets into a basement (or first floor) there is no way to clean it out completely. Wooden floors and even concrete absorb it and leave residues that cannot be removed.

Note: In areas that have been contaminated with lead and mercury compounds Chlorine bleach (such as Chlorox) could have the unintended consequence of turning non soluble compounds into more soluble ones making exposure risks greater, so bleach should not be used in Gowanus flooded areas.

The long term dangers of these toxins are so great that I would recommend to all people who lived in a dwelling that got flooded by the Gowanus (basements and first floor apartments that got filled with this water), to notmove back in to their apartments.
This is even more the case for people who have children. The younger the child the more damage is done by heavy metal poisoning, and the damage is essentially permanent. This damage can take years to accumulate in the nervous system but once done cannot be remedied. It does not take much to cause damage- the amount a child ingests by putting their hands in their mouth is more than enough. Some of these chemicals produce continuous vapors which makes it impossible to avoid exposure.

I would strongly advise people with children especially babies and toddlers to not move back in, until the apartment is cleaned and then tested for these chemicals. If levels are above those set for safe exposure they should find someplace else to live.
I know that this could cause utter disruption of peoples lives, but disruption of living plans is better than permanent neurological damage."

This is probably the best advice. The Gowanus Canal is a toxic brew on a good day. Hurricane Sandy's flood waters certainly deposited hazardous substances and sewage in businesses and homes on the banks of the Gowanus. I am frankly surprised that we don't have people in Hazmat suits controlling the situation.

   

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On Wednesday Eve, Come To Meeting With DEP Regarding Gowanus CSOs And Tell The Agency To Stop That S**t From Flowing Into The Canal

Community Board 6 is holding an informational meeting with Representatives of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection on "the findings from the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund Site investigation and Feasibility Study relating to the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO's) at the Gowanus Canal."
Members of the community are invited.

It is important to note that New York City has been named a Potencially Responsible Party(PRP) by the EPA for its role in contributing to the toxins in the canal and for allowing CSOs to continue to discharge into the Gowanus.

However, rather than to work with the EPA to find a real solution that would address the CSOs in conjunction with the Superfund clean-up, the City has been trying to stall and kick the problem down the road. The DEP has even refuted some of EPA's finding, obviously eager to re-invent science.

As community members, we should all attend to tell the City and DEP that we want them to work with the Federal Government to give us the clean-up we all deserve.

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Is Buschenschank Proving To Be A Rather Noisy Neighbor?

The first time I walked past Buschenschank at 320 Court Street, the newish pseudo-"Tyrolian" pub on Court Street on a recent balmy spring evening, I was amazed at the noise emanating out of the eatery's huge window openings. The conversation fragments, laughter and music could even be heard from at least a block away. No wonder. Since Buschenschank actually removes the entire window panels and leaves its doors wide open weather permitting, it becomes, in essence, a bit like an open-air beer garden.
That may be great fun for its patrons, but a real quality of life issue for those residents unlucky enough to have to listen to the noise.

According to NYC Department Of Environmental Protection's rules a restaurant or bar's doors and windows are to be kept closed at all times to prevent noise from escaping onto the sidewalk. Perhaps the owners of Buschenschank are not aware of this? (See video below)
And the problem could become worse. Buschenschank is currently in the process of requesting a Sidewalk Café license to add 18 sidewalk tables and 48 chairs around the periphery of the restaurant.
Imagine the noise level with all those additional tables and chairs.
One of Buschenschank neighbors just reached out to me and writes:

"I'm curious if there has been any news about Buschenschank located at the corner of Court and Sackett. In November when they opened I didn't predict that they would create an open air restaurant/bar by removing ALL of their windows. The noise has really increased since the warm weather and I'm not opening my front windows yet. They do put the windows in at 11pm but loud smokers are in and out until 2am.
On Friday of last week I received a certified letter from Huitres Inc at 320 Court street, which is Buschenschank, stating that as result of their application for a sidewalk cafe license the Department of Consumer Affairs required they alert neighbors who live within 50 feet of that address.
I'm curious if you've received any feedback from neighbors about how they feel about Buschenschank, their open windows and now this new sidewalk cafe news.
I know I live in a very urban area and in the end I'm not sure what I can do about the addition to new bars in the neighborhood. I've started wearing earplugs every night and I'm really worried for when the temperatures get warmer and I'll have to open the windows at night - My husband and I are preparing to keep the AC on in the bedroom each evening during the summer."

A meeting regarding Buschenschank's Sidewalk Café licence in front of Community Board 6 has been scheduled for April 23rd at 6:30pm at Prospect Park YMCA located at 357 9th Street (Between 5th & 6th Avenues) on the 7th Floor. If neighbors cannot come to the meeting they can email info@brooklyncb6.org.

It may also be of interest that the building housing Buschenschank has quite a number of open NYC Building's Department violations. Perhaps it would be reasonable to ask Buschenschank to first clear those violations and keep its windows and doors closed as per DEP rules, before granting them a sidewalk café license.

And lastly, it may interest Buschenschank that even its patrons don't seem to enjoy its music to the volume very much either.
One reviewer on Yelp complained of their "terrible loud generic indie crap music" and another commented that "they have some serious issues with the music. I was there the other evening and our group had to leave because the music was so loud. As in shouting across the table to hear loud. To top it off, it was just really bad aggressive newish rock music that I would assume 19 year old boys in fraternities must listen to."


Video taken at a 2010 CB6 informational meeting about rules governing bars and restaurants.

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Tackling The Problem Of Combined Sewer Overflow: Why Can't New York Be More Like London?

 (photos courtesy of www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk)

Thames Tunnel Film (2011) from Thames Tunnel on Vimeo.

While New York City has once again wiggled out of its obligation under law to stop combined sewer overflows (CSOs) from its sewer system to flow into surrounding waters with the blessing of the NYState Department of Environmental Conservation, London is facing its CSO problem head on.

Both Cities have aging sewer systems. Both systems discharge untreated sewage and industrial wastewater that occur when wet weather flows exceed the treatment capacity of these combined sewer systems. Both have a growing population. Yet New York is trying to push the problem further down the road and London is planning the Thames Tunnel "that will tackle the problem of overflows from the capital's Victorian servers and will protect the River Thames from increasing pollution for at least the next 100 years." Construction of the Tunnel Project is slated to begin in 2016.

In comparison, New York is implementing a Green Infrastructure Plan "which relies upon modeling to project CSO reductions based on information available to date, that would result from managing stormwater equivalent to one inch of rainfall on 10% of available impervious surfaces in the City's combined sewer areas by 2030."

Though Green Infrastructure is great, the New York City's plan is certainly a drop in the bucket and will not address the CSO problem in any meaningful way. It simply is not enough, unless the City commits to upgrading its gray infrastructure with forward thinking projects like the Thames Tunnel.

Just this Monday night, I was sitting at a Gowanus Canal Superfund Community Advisory meeting with
representatives of NYC DEP pleading for more help from the agency to reduce the CSO's in the Gowanus Canal. Yes, New York City is currently in the process of implementing upgrades to the Gowanus Canal facilities, which it claims will reduce CSO discharges by about 34% and another 10% from newly installed High-Level Storm Sewers and green infrastructure, but the community is asking for more. Much more.
It is important for the community to remember that the green infrastructure plan is at the design bid phase and it will be some time until any goals are achieved. It has also vital for Gowanus residents to remember, as it has been pointed out, that the Flushing Tunnel work does not focus on actual CSO reductions but is simply doing what is needed to keep a 101-year old system running. While the pump station and force main improvements lead to actual CSO reductions, it should be noted that this 136 million gallon annual CSO reduction into the Canal is partly offset by a 41 million gallon annual CSO increase into the Atlantic Basin, Buttermilk Channel and East River from sewage being diverted outside the Canal. (2008 Gowanus Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan, Table 7-9.)

So what is the difference between New York and London? Why is our City so resistant to solving a real problem that poses both a human health and environmental risk? Is it just political will? Is it disregard for its citizens?
If it is a question of money, New York City should talk to London. The Thames Tunnel is "expected to directly create over 4,000 jobs at the peak of its planned seven-year construction phase, and a further 5,000 indirectly. Generating the equivalent of 19,000 employment years, this would be a major stimulus for the wider economy of communities along the tunnel’s 15-mile route and beyond."
London sees it as vital for its economy.


Mayor Bloomberg, perhaps you can give Boris Johnson a call?

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Members Of Gowanus Canal CAG Sit Down With DEP Representatives And Ask Agency To Do More

Jim Mueller, Assistant Commissioner DEP,  Angela Licata, Deputy Commissioner,  Kevin Clarke,  environmental engineer.

Testimony of Carter Strickland,Commissioner, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), March 27, 2012
"At the moment DEP is concerned that EPA is considering a complete cessation of CSOs into the Gowanus Canal as part of the Superfund cleanup, even though the site was put on the National Priorities List because of contaminated sediment from historic industrial processes unconnected to the sewer system. Under the Clean Water Act and the CSO program administered by the State, DEP has considered whether CSOs could be reduced to near zero and concluded that it would be infeasible and that tanks or tunnels could cost billions without a substantial increase in water quality. Needless to say, a billion-dollar construction project in this area of Brooklyn would also create daunting traffic and construction-related impacts for well over a decade. Accordingly, DEP selected our current $136 million Gowanus Facilities Plan, which will reduce CSOs by 34% plus another 10% from High-Level Storm Sewers and green infrastructure. We are in active discussions with the EPA right now, and strongly disagree with the position that an enormous City-funded construction project is a necessary prerequisite to an EPA-led Superfund cleanup."

Last night, members of the EPA Gowanus Canal Superfund Community Advisory Group's Water Quality and Technical Committee met with representatives of the City's Department Of Environmental Protection to engage in a more meaningful dialog with the agency and to advocate for the elimination of Combined Sewer Overflow Discharges that result in the presence of pathogens in the waterway, including coliform and enterococci.

These pathogens present unacceptable health risks from contact with the water and sediments of the Canal.  As long as New York City, which has been named a Potencially Responsible Party (PRP) for its role in contributing to the toxins, allows CSOs to continue to discharge into the Gowanus, there will be ongoing environmental and potential human health risks, as well as a high chance of recontamination even after the Superfund clean-up.

Representing the DEP last night were Angela Licata, Deputy Commissioner, Jim Mueller, Assistant Commissioner, Planning and Capital Projects, Kevin Clarke and Julie Stein.   Members of the CAG did not lose any time to let DEP know that the Community expected the agency to work together with EPA to get the most comprehensive, effective clean-up within the timeframe of the Superfund. "This is great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone by investing the necessary money to have the water that goes into the canal be as clean as it can be," stated one CAG member. "Get it done right. Get it done once. Get it done now," another member told the DEP representatives. Yet another added: "We would like to see the same level of engagement from DEP as we see from EPA."
Yes, New York City is currently in the process of implementing upgrades to the Gowanus Canal facilities, which it claims will reduce CSO discharges by about 34% and another 10% from newly installed High-Level Storm Sewers and green infrastructure. That, however, simply is not good enough for many members in the community. "We have a pretty good understanding of what the City is proposing, but frankly, more needs to be done. We want more," member Steven Miller stated.

"We see this as a very opportune time for us to begin anew and to think of the long-term planning for the canal," Angela Licata told the CAG. She was quick to point out that the City's combined sewer system is a legacy system. "When it rains, you are not going to engineer your way out of that. If you never want to have sewer in the canal again, we will have to separate the system." Indeed, the gray infrastructure in the Gowanus area is underserving the community on all fronts even with the current upgrades. In addition, no real planning seems to have gone into providing new infrastructure for all the additional housing that is likely to be built along the canal in the near future.

Licata also spoke of the consent order just negotiated between NYC and Albany. "Our commitments and requirements persuent to that, require that we build out green infrastructure to a certain extend. We have to get 1" of rain over 10% of the impervious areas in the CSO watersheds of the City. And we need to develop these so-called long-term control plans. Those should envision a path forward that will carry us for the next 10 to 20 years."
(This sounds more impressive than it is. Basically, it means that New York State's Department Of Environmental Conservation has once again allowed the City to not meet the Federal clean water standards set decades ago.)

"We have to develop a plan for that waterbody," Licata continued. "We think it is quite appropriate that we start to envision this with you. What we will be looking at is a combination of solutions where we want to evaluate all the possible alternatives We need to do that in a way that achieves certain goals. We have to be able to move some of the dials on water quality and we also have to look at what is going to be cost effective."

CAG member Rita Miller mentioned that the EPA has suggested that a retention basin would solve the problem of toxins being emitted into the Gowanus.  Miller added "At the same time, it would do wonders for the pathogens flowing into the canal and perhaps satisfy some of the Clean Water Act requirements as well. Why does there seem to be resistance to that suggestion?" she asked Licata. "It seems perfectly reasonable to us. It seems like a perfectly do-able plan. You have done it in other places."

Licata's answered: "We have done retention tanks. Its a no-brainer. We have done it at Paerdegat Basin, Alley Creek and Flushing. So why not do it here? One of the things is that at those locations, you had a tremendous amount of volume that was all located at one point, so that the economy of scale was tremendous." She added: "I just want to be clear. Its not that we are discounting it here. I think it's a fair question. We should take another look at it. But I think the cost benefit on that is going to be really, really tough."

Rita Miller responded: "I would like to remind you that this is a very densely populated area. City Planning has a framework that makes it even denser. I don't see any reason why the kind of attention that has been given to other neighborhoods would not be given here, given the fact that this canal is so tiny, so narrow, that the concentration of toxins is just tremendous."

I can only speak for myself, but as a CAG member and a long time resident, I have the feeling that the City is trying to shirk its responsibility towards the Gowanus Canal Community for as long as it can. Rather than to work with the EPA to find a real solution that would address the CSOs in conjunction with the Superfund clean-up, it is trying to stall and kick the problem down the road.

Shame on Mayor Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Caswell Halloway and DEP Commissioner Carter Strickland for continuing to ignore the community and for proposing a sorely inadequate plan to deal with a real health problem.
Stop lobbying and do what's right, already!

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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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Community to DEP's Commissioner Strickland: Water Quality Improvement Plan Doesn't Go Far Enough

Most of last night's Gowanus Superfund Community Advisory Group's general meeting was dedicated to a discussion with NYC's Department Of Environmental Protection and the agency's role in the clean-up of the polluted waterway.

Commissioner Carter Strickland was on hand to give a presentation on DEP's Gowanus Canal Water Quality Improvement plan, which aims to control the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) by upgrading the Gowanus Facilities. The $140 million upgrade to the wastewater pumping station at the head of the Canal is currently under way and will supposedly reduce CSOs by 34% and significantly reduce 'floatables'. It will also increase the pumping capacity from 20 million gallons a day to 30 MGD.

In addition, the agency is planning on dredging to control odors.

DEP is in the early stages of evaluating projects such as High Level Storm Sewers (HLSS), which could divert stormwater run-off from the combined sewer system and thereby result in fewer CSO events. HLSS will be designed for the 96-acre area bounded by 1st Place, 4th Avenue, State Street and 3rd Avenue. DEP believes that these HLSS will capture 50% of the drainage area runoff.

Commissioner Strickland also mentioned that New York City is investing $735 million in its city-wide Green Infrastructure plan, which will control runoff from 10% of impervious surfaces. "We are searching constantly for better ways. To find cost effective solutions" he stated.

After the presentation, members of the CAG engaged Commissioner Strickland in a brief question and answer session. It was apparent from some of the questions that many felt that that the DEP was still lacking the will to actually do what was needed to really improve water quality. As Marlene Donnelly of Friends And Residents Of Greater Gowanus pointed out, the DEP is still relying on rainfall data from 1988, a historically dry year in which rainfall totaled 40". However, in the last 10 years, the area has seen an average of 60" of rainfall a year. "Your model is not adequate" Donnelly pointed out. "Looking into the future, we need a model that is based on real rainfall."

Steven Miller, another CAG member, criticized DEP for not exploring and investing in gray infrastructure and for not including retention basins in their plan.

Another member pointed out that $735 million was a lot to spend on NYC's Green Infrastucture plan to manage a mere 10% of rainfall.

Member Lizzy Olesker expressed it best when she said that she was disappointed by the presentation and the lack of transparency. The DEP was still not engaging with the community, she felt. "What is it? A lack of political will?"

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At Last Night's CB6 Meeting, National Grid Presents Remedial Design And Pilot Test For Carroll Gardens' Former Gas Works Site

Tracey Bell of National Grid

Andrew Prophete of National Grid

Gary Riley, Environmental Protection Chair

Community Board 6

Last night, at a special Community Board 6's Public Safety/Environmental Protection and Permits & Licenses Committee meeting, Tracey Bell, Andrew Prophete and Michael Zukauskas of National Grid, together with some of their colleagues, gave the community an update on the development of their remediation plan for the heavily contaminated former gas manufacturing site in Carroll Gardens.

NYS Department Of Environmental Conservation, which is overseeing the brownfield clean-up, was supposed to attend as well, but were unable to travel due to the recent hurricane.

The vast track of land, located between Smith Street and the Gowanus Canal, was once the site of a Citizens Gas Light Company's 12th Ward Gas Work plant where coal and petroleum products into flammable gas for surrounding neighborhoods. Citizen later sold to Brooklyn Union Gas, which became Keyspan, which is now National Grid.The plant was decommissioned in the early 1960's.

What was left behind was a heavily contaminated site. The results of the Remediation Investigation showed contaminants like coal tar in depths up to 150 feet in the ground.

The responsibility for the clean-up falls on National Grid under the supervision of NYS DEC.

To date, National Grid has completed 50% of their remediation design, which has been approved by DEC. Tracey Bell, Andrew Prophete and Michael Zukauskas, in their presentation, stressed that the site presents enormous challenges and that the clean-up is highly complex.

First, there are the enormous amounts of coal tar which saturates the ground. The remedial design calls for a number of recovery wells on the site, into which the tar will collect, so that it can be taken away. (Since December 2010 alone, 7,000 gallons of the tar have been pumped out of the ground.)

Second, the coal tar has been oozing into the Gowanus Canal for decades. To prevent the lateral movement of contaminants into the waterway, the remedial design will include an elaborate 50 foot sheet pile construction wall which will serve as a barrier. The fence will be 25 feet below the canal's mud line and 25 feet above. The joints will be heavily reinforced.

Thirdly, the 72" Bond Street sewer line traverses the site. A section of the mostly brick tunnel needs to be relocated because its current location will interfere with the construction of the barrier wall. Since the flushing tunnel is still in use, the work will need to be carefully coordinated.

The proposed remediation calls for the removal of the top 8 feet of soil throughout the site, which will be backfilled with clean soil to street level.

As part of storm water management and to prevent ground water from leaking into the canal, a High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) liner will be installed 2 feet below grade throughout.

The next step for National Grid is to perform pilot tests for feasibility and on all materials.

The company representatives made sure to mention that these tests will be loud and sometimes disruptive. "We will be moving lots of heavy machinery onto the site." Mr. Phrophete warned.

After the presentation, Gary Reilly, chair of CB6's Environmental Protection Committee, asked National Grid's representatives how the site's remediation plan has changed since the US Environmental Protection Agency declares the Gowanus Canal a Superfund site in 2010. The (EPA has named National Grid as a Potential Responsible Party for the company's role in polluting the canal.)

Andrew Prophete answered that the federal agency has concerns about the design for the barrier wall, the 8 foot cap and the safety of building on the site. "We want to convey that its a safe and constructible design" Mr. Prophete stated. "I am not sure the EPA is totally convinced yet."

He was also quick to mention that the DEC, not EPA is supervising this brownfield clean-up and that DEC has authorized National Grid to move ahead with the already approved remedial plan.

For further information or updates on the remedial work, go to National Grid's Citizen's website here.

Related Reading:

National Grid And DEC To Update Public On Remediation Plans For Heavily Polluted Public Place

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