Notes On EPA's Presentation Of Gowanus Canal Feasibility Study To Members Of Community Advisory Group

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

Jeff Edelstein, Gowanus CAG facilitator

Brian Carr, EPA Region 2 lawyer

Victoria Hagman(l) and Natalie Loney,

EPA Region 2 Community Involvement Coordinator

Hans Hasselein, Gowanus Canal Conservancy

Eymund Diegel, Proteus Gowanus

Michelle De La Uz (l), Fifth Avenue Committee and Ludger Balan, Urban Divers

Christos Tsiamis, Environmental Protection Agency's site manager for the Gowanus Canal Superfund, presented the just-released Feasibility Study to the Community Advsiory Group (CAG) at a meeting on Monday night.
Many CAG members had also attended the EPA's presentation on the FS to the general public at PS 58 last week, so they were already quite familiar with the options available for cleaning and containing the highly toxic sludge that has been accumulating on top of the native sediment at the bottom of the canal. This allowed Tsiamis to take more time to take questions and to explain specifics, especially addressing the issue of re-contamination after the clean-up.
As Tsiamis pointed out, the Gowanus Canal cannot be cleaned effectively without eliminating the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) discharges from New York City's sewer system as well as the coal tar oozing from National Grid's three  MGP sites lining the canal. This, of course, involves a tremendous amount of co-ordinate with New York City's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which is responsible for the CSOs and with NYS Department Of Environmental Conservation (DEC)  under whose supervision National Grid will clean up the MGP sites.
"This is an issue that has to be addressed. We need to curtail those sources of contamination," Tsiamis stated.
Quite a few CAG members seemed concerned that NYC DEP has, until now, not shown a willingness to take responsibility for their part in the clean-up. After all, Farrell Sklerov, a spokesperson for DEP told the Brooklyn Paper: “The evidence clearly indicates that the primary sources [of contamination] are the former industrial plants on the canal, and not ongoing sewer overflows.”

That seems laughable since most residents of the Gowanus area have witnessed CSO events such as this one.
"The CS0s have to be dealt with so that we have a sustainable remedy. That's a statement in the Feasibility Study." Tsiamis told the CAG. "We have been in talks [with the City] about ways that can be implemented to address this particular matter." 

A meeting has been scheduled between the EPA and DEP for February 2 to discuss specific technical possibilities.
One way to control CSOs within the framework of the Superfund would be to construct a retention basin to retain discharges after heavy rains, much like the facility completed by DEP in Perdegat Basin,

As a community, we should let the City know that its denial and delay mechanisms are not going to fly in this community.

Perhaps a letter writing campaign to Mayor Bloomberg and to our own city representatives, Councilmen Brad Lander and Steven Levin, is in order?

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At Long Last, Victory For Red Hook And Columbia Street Waterfront Communities. Agreement To Bring Shore Power To Red Hook Cruise Terminal Reached

At a protest demanding end to idling cruise ship at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, January 2011

Good news! The New York Times just reported that a multi-agency agreement has been reached, which would supply cruise ships with shore power from specially built electrical port outlets at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook.

Currently, the ships dock for hours and sometimes days, continually burning diesel fuel to provide electricity onboard.

For more than two years now, Councilmembers Brad Lander and Steve Levin, State Senators Daniel Squadron and Velmanette Montgomery and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez have called for such a comprehensive shore power agreement. In January 2011, our local officials were joined by community organizations at the Red Hook Cruise terminal to demand an end to idling cruise ships and to the resulting pollution that chokes nearby residential neighborhoods.

Thank you to everyone who worked on getting this agreement. It will make a big difference right in our own community, but especially in Red Hook and the Columbia waterfront.

In a statement released earlier this morning, Senator Squadron stated:

"With this agreement to bring shore power to the cruise terminal, Brooklyn can finally breathe a little easier. The noxious diesel fumes that cruise ships in port have been spewing are bad for Brooklynites and bad for the environment. I have worked with Council Member Brad Lander, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, our colleagues in government and the entire community to advocate for an expedited agreement to implement shore power. I commend Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Cuomo, the Port Authority, the New York Power Authority, the Economic Development Corporation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Carnival Cruise Lines for working together to find this important solution."

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Local Politicians Start The New Year By Calling For Agreement On Shore Power For Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

On this clear, but cold first working day of the year, our local politicians gathered at the Red Hook Cruise Terminal with representatives from community associations to demand an end to idling cruise ships and to the resulting pollution that chokes nearby residential neighborhoods.

With the gargantuan Queen Mary 2 as a backdrop, Councilmembers Brad Lander and Steve Levin, State Senators Daniel Squadron and Velmanette Montgomery and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez called for comprehensive shore power agreement that would provide the necessary infrastructure to allow cruise ships docked in the harbor to plug right into an onshore electrical grid. Right now, the ships dock for hours and sometimes days, continually burning diesel fuel to provide electricity onboard.
According to the politicians, the money has been set aside to put the infrastructure in place, the Port Authority, Carneval Cruise Lines and the New York City Economic Development Corporation are all 'on board', but after two years of negotiations, a final agreement has yet to be signed. "It is a complex issues, but two years is too long." stated Councilman Lander.

Considering that a docked cruise ship running on diesel fuel puts out as much air pollution as 12,000 idling cars, two years is definitely way too long. As one Red Hook resident stated at the rally: " Why wasn't the infrastructure put in place when the cruise terminal went into operation in 2006?"

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Public Park Or Private Enclave? Last Night's Public Hearing On Alternatives To Housing In Brooklyn Bridge Park

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From left, Seth Pinsky President of New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC),

2nd from left: Paul Nelson For Assemblymember Joan Millman,
3rd from left: a woman sitting in for Robert Steel  

4th from left: Regina Myer, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corp.

second from right: John Ruskin of State Senator Squadron's office

Councilman Steve Levin

Councilman Brad Lander

Last night at Long Island College Hospital, the first of two public hearings on alternatives to housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park took place. In front of Regina Myer, President of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation, representatives of NY State Assemblywoman Joan Millman and State Senator Squadron, and the Mayor's office, residents shared their ideas on how to generate revenue for the park to fund its operation and maintenance. Most also took the opportunity to voice their frustration with the City's hijacking of a public park for development.
In 2002, New York State and City signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which requires that the Brooklyn Bridge Park "be financially self sufficient with annual operation and maintenance expenses funded by revenue generated from within the project."  In order to accomplish this, five sites within the park were identified for development.  This idea met with immediate resistance from many in the community.
In March 2010, State Senator Squadron and Assemblywoman Joan Millman were able to convince the City to sign another Memorandum Of Understanding which prompted the formation of a Subcommittee on Alternatives to Housing (SHA.)  It also called for two public hearings.
Though some speakers last night supported the idea, many in the audience had worked tirelessly for the last twenty-five years to secure the park along the waterfront and were strongly opposed to residential luxury condos of 15 to 31 stories in the park.  The overwhelming sentiment expressed by the community was that Brooklyn Bridge Park should be a public park and not a "private enclave with tastefully arranged landscaping around it."
Councilmembers Brad Lander and Steve Levin spoke out against the housing as well.


Written testimony will be accepted till Monday, December 13th at 5 PM.  Submit to Bay Area Economics Consulting at bbptestimony@bae1.com


Below are some of the testimonies (and alternatives) given last night.

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At Second Informational Meeting Regarding Gowanus Canal, E.P.A. Explains How Community Can Get Involved

Thursday Night's EPA Community Meeting At PS 32

Christos Tsiamis, Remedial Project Manager for the Gowanus Canal

Natalie Loney, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator

Councilman Brad Lander

Councilman Steve Levin

The Environmental Protection Agency's Region 2 held its second public information meeting regarding the Gowanus Canal on Thursday evening. Though attendance was slightly less than at the agency's first informational meeting in December, the turn-out was still very impressive.

Christos Tsiamis, Remedial Project Manager for the Gowanus Canal, gave a brief summary of the studies completed and currently under way.
The Bathymetric Survey was completed in early January. Surface sediment sampling will begin this week, followed by surface water sampling and air sampling.
Mr. Tsiamis also mentioned that the E.P.A. will make a decision about whether to place the Gowanus Canal on its list of Superfund sites fairly soon.


Natalie Loney, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator spoke in depth about C.A.G.s, T.A.G.'s and T.A.S.C.s, the programs available to the community under the Superfund program if the Gowanus Canal were to be listed as a Superfund Site.

Public's involvement in the decision making is an important part of the Superfund Process. It ensure that the community members affected by abandoned hazardous waste get a say in the actions put forth by the E.P.A. to clean them up.

As Ms. Loney explained, these are the community programs and grant available to us:

Community Advisory Group (C.A.G.)

A Superfund Community Advisory Group (CAG) is made up of members of the community and is designed to serve as the focal point for the exchange of information among the local community and EPA, the State regulatory agency, and other pertinent Federal agencies involved in cleanup of the Superfund site.

Technical Assistance Grants (T.A.G.)

A Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) provides money for activities that help your community participate in decision making at eligible Superfund sites. An initial grant up to $50,000 is available to qualified community groups so they can contract with independent technical advisors to interpret and help the community understand technical information about their site.

Technical Assistance Services For Communities (T.A.S.C.):

TASC is a program that provides independent educational and technical assistance to communities. TASC primarily supports the Superfund program. In addition, support may also be provided to communities impacted by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act or federal facilities or dealing with air or water environmental problems.


Most of the discussion revolved around the T.A.G. grant. Ms. Loney and Mr. Tsiamis explained that only groups whose members live near and may be affect by a Superfund site may apply.
In addition, only a group that is non-profit and incorporated (or in the process of incorporating) can get a T.A.G.

Groups that represent or received money or services from a Potentially Responsible Party (P.R.P.) are NOT eligible.
Since New York City is considered a P.R.P., many community groups could be out of the running because they may have received monies from the city.

Council Member Brad Lander seemed concerned about this and asked if ineligible groups could form a new 501(C)3 tax exempt group for the purpose of applying for the grant. (I wonder what he had in mind...)

Though the subject of C.A.G.s, T.A.S.C.s and T.A.G.s is rather dry, it is important for us, as members of the community, to take the time to understand and to get involved in this process.

For further coverage, check out Found In Brooklyn and Carroll Gardens Diary



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Local Elected Officials To M.T.A.: " Keep Brooklyn Rolling"

Every time the Metropolitan Transit Authority (M.T.A.) pleads poverty, it puts forth a proposal to cut local bus service. This time is no exception. The announcement that this new round of cuts would affect the B37, B71 and B75 bus lines, which are the lifeline of many local residents here in Brooklyn, was met with criticism from our elected officials as well as from members of the community.

Together, they gathered at the corner of Union Street and Smith Street on Friday morning for a rally to urge the M.T.A. to rethink the suspension of these bus lines as well as drastic cuts in subway service and lay-off of personnel.

The rally was organized by Assemblywoman Joan Millman. Also present were State Senator Daniel Squadron, Councilmen Brad Lander and Steve Levin, representatives of New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz as well as Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign.

It does seem ironic that, at a time when we have become more environmentally aware, there is talk of decreasing instead of increasing public transportation in New York City.

As Assemblywoman Millman stated:

We must look at every available option to sustain mass transit, including reinstituting the commuter tax, maximizing the MTA’s real estate assets and creating a residential permit parking system. Mass transit provides intangible long-term benefits to the overall health and growth of our city. No one wants to return to the dark days of the late 1970s. The MTA must clean up its act and stop trying to balance their books on the backs of New York’s transit riders.”

State Senator Squadron added:

The agency must be able to manage and predict its finances with more accuracy and transparency. It must also be able to rely on more consistent revenue streams instead of sudden infusions of cash from Albany.

And newly-elected Councilman Brad Lander concluded:

"The MTA, the state and the city have a collective obligation to keep our transit system working for all New Yorkers."

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On Friday Morning, Local Elected Officials To Hold Rally To Protect Bus Service

It was exactly a year ago that the Community were fighting to save the B75 bus line. Well, dear Reader, here we are again. This just in from Assemblywoman Joan Millman's office. She is holding a rally this Friday with Council Members Brad Lander and Steve Levin.

Her office writes:

New York State Assemblywoman Joan Millman and New York City Council Members Brad Lander and Steve Levin will hold a rally this Friday morning to protest the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) proposed cuts to local bus lines, including the B37, B71 and B75 buses. Local residents also plan to attend.

“We are urging the MTA to abandon its plans to cut bus service to this neighborhood,” said Millman. “Senior citizens and people with disabilities cannot access subway platforms and would be left out in the cold. Many more rely on these buses to travel to school, work, shopping districts and medical appointments. Ridership on these buses is expected to increase when the MTA closes the Smith-Ninth Street Subway Station later this year.”

Assemblywoman Millman has proposed several sources of potential revenue for the MTA, including re-instituting the commuter tax, estimated to raise $300 million annually in funding. Additionally, Assemblywoman Millman has introduced legislation in Albany to allow New York City to create a residential permit parking system. Revenue from the proposed residential permit parking system would be devoted wholly to bettering public transportation in New York City.

WHAT: Rally to keep full service on the B37, B71 and B75 buses

WHEN: Friday, January 22, 2010 at 9:00 am

WHERE: The corner of Smith and Union Streets in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

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