Attendees: Steve Marcus – Moderator, Erica Eliason, Joe Ann Brown, Jason Schwartzman, Mark Yarish, Lisa Bowstead, Joan Salome-Rodriguez, Peter Reich, Katia Kelly, Emily Mitchell, Joseph Alexiou
Guests: Tiffany Brown, Irene Baker & Aaron Kaufman
The Land Use Committee discussed the following:
1) Gowanus Protection Framework
– Follow up: Andrea kindly offered to reach out directly to the individuals that the CAG’s Framework letter was addressed to at EPA, NYSDEC & NYCDEP.
2) Update regarding the CAG’s PS 372 Annex building letter to Aaron Fischer (NYSDEC) and Dan Tucholski (NYSDOH).
– Follow up: As of August 24th, both acknowledged receiving the CAG’s letter but have not responded.
3) EPA’s Matrix for Remediation Requirements of Gowanus Canal’s Upland Sites
– Follow Up: It was suggested that at our next General CAG meeting that we ask who specifically within EPA and DEC is directly responsible for overseeing that developers are adhering to EPA’s Matrix’s requirements of the Canal’s adjoining sites.
4) NYSDEC’s TCE Plume Trackdown Study for the Luquer & Court Street area.
– Follow Up: It was suggested that the Land Use Committee follow up with NYSDEC & NYSDOH to ask for targeted indoor VOC testing for the nearby properties.
5) Jason’s presentation of EPA’s TAB program
– Follow up: We want to thank Jason for his presentation. The committee agreed to have Jason proceed and it was also suggested that he give the same presentation to the rest of the CAG.
6) Lead & Heavy Metal testing in the Gowanus neighborhood.
– Follow up: Based on a community members testing of their backyard’s soil (attached), it was suggested to ask DEC & DOH: 1) Is there a program available for homeowners to get their soil tested, 2) Would DEC & DOH help advertise that testing is available and 3) Request that the soil in our neighborhood’s parks and public spaces be tested as well.
Please Note: The next Land Use Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 1st at 6:30pm.