Barge Carrying Dredged Material from Canal Sinks in Gowanus Bay

On January 25, 2021, EPA was informed that a barge of dredged material from the Gowanus Canal Superfund site cleanup that was moored in Gowanus Bay had sunk. Cashman, a contractor for the Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) for the Gowanus site in Brooklyn, NY, has mobilized pumps, booms, and silt curtains to the location and pumped water from the sunken barge into a separate, empty barge during periods of lower tide. Operations for stabilizing the barge will continue today. Dredging activities have been temporarily suspended so that crews can concentrate on operations to secure the barge.

EPA is consulting with the PRPs and is actively investigating the incident to determine the cause, whether contaminated sediment was released into the water, and to determine appropriate next steps. EPA’s goals are to do all that we can do to ensure that this type of mishap does not happen again and that any impacts from yesterday’s accident are appropriately and promptly addressed. EPA will update the public as more information becomes available.

Next Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group General Meeting, Tuesday, January 26th, 6:30 p.m.

Please join us for our monthly General Meeting, conducted via Zoom video conference, on Tuesday, January 26th, at 6:30 p.m. Advance registration is required for non-members of the CAG, here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvcOuupjkqE92nLMTVD0k3oPcGXEAo2RqK

DRAFT AGENDA (all times are approximate)

6:30 – 6:45 p.m.: Welcome and Introductions

6:45 – 7:30 p.m.: US EPA

  • Project Updates and Q&A

7:30 – 8:15 p.m.: CAG Resolutions (as time allows)

  • Support for EPA Gowanus Canal Superfund Team
  • Support for EPA 11/6/20 Letter to DEP
  • Reclassification of Gowanus Canal

8:15 – 8:30 p.m.: CAG Committee Issues and Updates

  • Leadership Committee
  • Admin Committee
  • Outreach Committee
  • Water Quality and Technical Committee
  • Archaeology Committee
  • Land Use Committee

8:30 p.m.: Adjourn

All Gowanus Canal CAG meetings are open to the public.

Minutes of the January 5, 2021 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal CAG Land Use Committee

The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group’s Land Use Committee met via Zoom conference on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at 7 p.m.

CAG Members present:
Paul Basile
David Briggs
Katia Kelly
Louis Kleinman
Hildegaard Link
Steve Marcus


Margaret Maugenest
Andrea Parker
Peter Reich
Brad Vogel
Sue Wolfe
Maryann Young

Guests:
Jason Brody
Judy Janda (Greenspace Community Garden)
Neeyati Johnson (GCC)
Lynn Neuman (GNCJ)
Terri Thomson (National Grid)
Guy Wedwab (CB6 EWCDH committee member)

Open Items:

Item 1

Draft resolution for bulkhead encroachments into canal.

Action

Brad (and Peter) drafted a letter to EPA that states the following CAG requests: a) a navigable waterway be maintained, and b) if the lost canal surface area due to the new bulkhead encroachments exceeds the new surface area of the restored 1st Street turning basin, then additional canal surface area must be created elsewhere to offset the lost area. All reviewed; Dave suggested three minor edits and attaching photos. Brad will revise and send.

Item 2

Ongoing conversation regarding the new Unified Storm Water Rule and recent construction of Pig’s Beach bulkhead. Andrea shared recent Water Quality/Technical Committee draft resolution.

Action

Katia and Margaret expressed concern that the draft was not discussed at the January 4th Water Quality/Technical Committee meeting and requested that it be discussed in more depth at the next WQ committee meeting. All agreed. Andrea will circulate via email for further review and comment by the Land Use Committee.

Read more »

EPA Notifies Gowanus-Area Property Owners of Planned Plugging of Unpermitted Outfall Pipes

The EPA has notified certain Gowanus-area property owners in a letter that contractors installing new bulkheads in preparation of dredging will be plugging unpermitted outfall pipes that discharge into the Gowanus Canal to prevent recontamination after the Superfund cleanup is complete.

The undated letter, from EPA Assistant Regional Counsel Brian Carr to unnamed property owners, was accompanied by maps and a table indicating the locations of the outfalls that will be plugged. The letter asks the property owners to contact EPA regarding the outfalls.

See a PDF version of the letter here.

See maps of the unpermitted outfall locations between the head of the canal and Union Street Bridge and the Union Street and Carroll Street Bridges.

See a table of all unpermitted outfall locations between the head of the canal and the Carroll Street Bridge.

Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group Resolution Regarding Changes to the Planned Remediation of Public Place

At its December 1, 2020 general meeting, the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group passed the following resolution asking EPA to review and comment on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s planned changes to the remediation of Public Place.

The resolution reads as follows:

Resolved:
Due to the recent announcement by the NYSDEC of changes to its remediation plan for Public Place, we ask EPA to review and comment on the changes and make a determination as to the effectiveness of such proposed changes in preventing the remaining Public Place site contamination from contaminating the surrounding neighborhood and the Gowanus Canal. The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) strongly recommends that any clean up of Public Place prioritize the health and safety of the area’s present and future residents and aquatic life in the Gowanus Canal.

Be it further Resolved:
Since Public Place was and continues to be a major source of contamination to the Gowanus Canal, the Gowanus Canal Advisory Group requests that the EPA use its technical expertise to advise the CAG if the current plan for the Public Place remediation put forth by the NYSDEC will meet the current and future needs of the community under the Record of Decision.

Click here to see a PDF version of the full resolution.

Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group Resolution in Support of EPA Letter Regarding Gowanus Superfund ROD and Gowanus Rezoning

At its December 1, 2020 general meeting, the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group passed the following resolution in support of an October 27th letter sent by EPA Region 2 to the New York City Departments of City Planning (DCP) and Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding the Gowanus Superfund Record of Decision and the Gowanus Rezoning.

The resolution reads as follows:

Resolved:
The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) strongly supports the position EPA states in its October 27th letter to the NYC DEP and NYC DCP regarding the proposed rezoning of the land surrounding the banks of Gowanus Canal, “that any rezoning impacting the Canal must proceed in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment, as envisioned in EPA’s Canal remedy” and affirmed in the 2013 Gowanus Canal Record of Decision (ROD).

Background:
The EPA clarifies for the DCP and DEP that EPA’s role under CERCLA also includes: “ensuring that future land-use changes do not adversely affect the integrity of Superfund cleanups, including the ongoing work at the Gowanus Canal”; and in a May 2019 letter the EPA “directed the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide rezoning-related information to EPA as part of the CSO tank design process.” And the EPA again reiterates that “Progress on the CSO tanks . . . has been delayed by DEP”, while “Progress on the Canal cleanup is among the factors cited by the City in support of the rezoning.”

Click here to see a PDF version of the full resolution.

Minutes of the December 8, 2020 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal CAG Land Use Committee

The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group’s Land Use Committee met via Zoom conference on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 7 p.m.

CAG Members present:
Paul Basile
David Briggs
Katia Kelly
Louis Kleinman
Hildegaard Link
Steve Marcus

Guests:
Owen Foote
Terri Thomson (National Grid)
Sandy Renz


Andrea Parker
Peter Reich
Brad Vogel
Sue Wolfe
Maryann Young

Open Items:

Item 1

Draft resolution for bulkhead encroachments into canal.

Action

In lieu of a resolution, Brad will draft a letter to EPA with Peter’s assistance that states the following CAG requests: a) a navigable waterway be maintained, and b) if the lost canal surface area due to the new bulkhead encroachments exceeds the new surface area of the restored 1st Street turning basin, then additional canal surface area must be created elsewhere to offset the lost area.

New Items:

Item 1

Steve’s draft resolution summarizing Christos Tsiamis’ summary of Public Place’s cleanup history at the December 1st CAG meeting, which expresses appreciation and support for Christos’ contributions.

Action

After discussion on whether a resolution is an appropriate format for expressing support, most of the committee voted in favor of the resolution with two abstentions.

Read more »

Minutes of the December 15, 2020 Meeting of the Gowanus CAG Admin Committee

The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group’s Admin Committee met via Zoom conference on Tuesday, December 15th, at 10:00 a.m.

Committee members attending:
Jerry Armer
Katia Kelly
Rita Miller

Other CAG members attending:
Louis Kleinman
Margaret Maugenest

Guest:
Owen Foote

1) New member applications reviewed

Mac Thayer
Ivana Nitzova

Earlier & Current Applicants who have responded that they are still interested; “interviews” to follow in January:

Mike Song
Andrew Timmis
Linda Laviolette
Nene Humphrey
Ashley Privett

Two earlier applicants did not respond. Admin will reach out to them once again after the January general meeting.

Read more »

Minutes of the November 10, 2020 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal CAG Land Use Committee

The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group’s Land Use Committee met via Zoom conference on Tuesday, November 10, 2020.

CAG Members present:

Paul Basile
David Briggs
Marlene Donnelly
Katia Kelly
Louis Kleinman
Hildegaard Link
Steve Marcus
Margaret Maugenest

Rita Miller
Amy Motzny
Andrea Parker
Peter Reich
Brad Vogel
Sue Wolfe
Maryann Young

Guests:

Martin Bisi
Owen Foote
Terri Thomson (National Grid)

Open Items:

Item 1

Brad inquired if reduced NYC budget will impact DEP’s headhouse design and construction cost.

Action

DEP has stated in its correspondence with EPA that the city’s budget constraints are impacting the allocated funds and schedule for the retention tank facilities. EPA, in its July 28 letter to DEP, requested supporting documentation.

Read more »

Upcoming December Gowanus Canal CAG Committee Meetings

Archaeology & Historic Preservation Committee

Monday, December 7th, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Via GoToMeeting

Join GoToMeeting: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/253797341

Access Code: 253-797-341

To dial in by phone: +1 (571) 317-3122

Water Quality/Technical Committee

Monday, December 7th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82576799490?pwd=blNLVis4ejRkcnkyQ0JJSmJPSlkrZz09

Meeting ID: 825 7679 9490
Passcode: 724713

Dial by your location:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

Land Use Committee

Tuesday, December 8th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89550255124?pwd=UkJzbDI2VVlHa3BodlVPZHN2dVZEUT09

Meeting ID: 895 5025 5124
Password: 459738

Admin Committee

Tuesday, December 15th, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/94766146005?pwd=MmxFOWpmTWdZK1RNN0hYUTJIeVN1dz09

Meeting ID: 947 6614 6005
Passcode: 955154

Agenda:

• Membership discussion
• Setting up new applicant interviews
• Review of one new membership application

All Gowanus Canal CAG meetings are open to the public.