Attendees: Joan Salome-Rodriguez, Erica Eliason, Emily Ruby, Marlene Donnelly, Eymund Diegel, Aaron Kaufman, Katia Kelly, Richard Lawrence, Susan Yung
The Committee discussed the following:
1. Aaron Kaufman alerted us to the closure of a sewage outflow (unlicensed) at the 3rd Street Bridge (south side) on the Gowanus Canal. Appears it comes out of the concrete mixing facility. Marlene alerted Aaron that he should contact NYC DOT because part of that area belongs to DOT. Also showed Aaron the documents attached below for consideration of whether the President Street outflow poses a problem. Shared those documents in a follow up email to Aaron tonight.
2. Update on responses to the two letters sent by the Water Quality/Technical Committee
US Geological Survey – Has a 5 year contract with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and is doing reconnaissance to find its own water caps in all five boroughs. It is starting in southern Queens. Their rep said Lincoln Place and 6th Avenue is their nearest cap, but they will use DEP caps as well. Asked him to keep Gowanus in mind because we have huge flooding issues and huge development going on. He said he would do so. Eymund reported there are caps at Carroll and Nevins and Union and Nevins.
New York City Department of Environmental Protection Long-Term Control Plan – Received a response. No changes are anticipated or contemplated to the LTCP.
3. Edits to comments to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regarding reclassification of Gowanus – We went over the entire petition. Emily at Riverkeeper is going to fact-check one paragraph. It will be shared again to the entire committee once complete and then to the entire CAG for approval of a resolution to submit the petition to DEC. Key change is to ask for Class SC.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MGD8utC1u-K2-qDn8CtkZ6-eN17-19l1
4. The latest report of the Citizen’s water-quality testing for summer 2024, for the committee to consider. Marlene pulled out the results for the Gowanus and Red Hook sites for those who prefer a data chart focused on our area:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lugHqKn2GoD4aHiE21ciu5fan-DJ7MTojumJR8XAowo
Note that the data for rainfall each day of each week is given at the top of each week’s test results.
5. Shared report of $2 billion going to upgrade sewers near Owl’s Head Pollution Control Plant.