Attendees: Joan Salome-Rodriguez (Moderator), Corinne Brenner, Erica Eliason, Katia Kelly, Louis Kleinman, Emily Mitchell, Jason Schwartzman, Susan Yung
Housekeeping:
1. Victoria is looking for any map/image that shows where the legal sewage outfalls are located. Joan followed up. Will follow up again.
2. Suggested we FOIL NYC Topographical about the status of the streets abutting Power House. De-mapped and made private?
3. Committee reviewed Emily Mitchell’s draft re: hydrogeological study for the Gowanus re-zone area (Clinton St to 4th Avenue east-west and Dean Street to 19th Street north-south) and made edits. Emily will complete and share with Joan who will distribute to attendees for finalizing. This will get added in the letter: Can DEC test groundwater pooling in basements or on properties for contaminants? Request goes to DEC.
4. Natalie said that DEC was doing a full hydrology study that should have been completed in 2024. I have asked Aaron Fischer for it twice and so has Steve from Land Use. No response yet.
5. Did not cover but Joan followed up with Victoria as to whether climate change can be taken into account in future mounding/hydrology studies performed by the Trust. Likewise, no response. Joan will follow up again.
6. Katia followed up with Natalie Loney at EPA to find out when the Operation and Maintenance Plan (OMP) for the Gowanus Canal will be complete. Apparently the PRPs will be responsible for carrying out the OMP regarding the cap and the water quality. Katia to follow again with Natalie.
NEW ISSUES
1. DEFERRED: State issued its water quality determinations for various water bodies, including the Canal. Result – Gowanus Canal is now a Class SC waterbody which is what we initially asked for (though we followed by asking for Class SB). Cup half full, I guess. There is some indication that SC will allow swimmable water quality standards to be legally enforceable in the canal. Riverkeeper will give an update. Deeper discussion with Em Ruby and Mike Dulong, who said they can attend the December 1 meeting. https://link.edgepilot.com/s/f6a68fad/8LGwi7kO_UGxhg38H5AVYQ?u=https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations/water-revisions/saline-water-quality-standards-and-reclassification
2. Joan will re-send draft comments that can be edited however anyone wants if they want to comment: Parcels 1 & 2 of Public Place are being divided up and DEC is planning to investigate using ISS and ISGS at the site. Comment period ends December 5.
3. Natalie’s Q&As that affect Water Quality were shared in the meeting announcement. We discussed up to number 8. Attendees must go over Natalie’s Q&As to see if there are further questions. Corinne will craft a follow-up regarding continued CSOs in the Canal (Natalie Q.2).
4. DEFERRED: Draft inquiry to EPA [?] re: Sewershed in Gowanus and issues related to the Atlantic Yards Project and the BMT project. Our infrastructure cannot possibly take all that.
To view a recording of the meeting, please click here.