The Environmental Protection Agency provided the following update on the status of the Superfund cleanup of the Gowanus Canal at our March 25 general meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Red Hook (RH-034) Tank<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As of today, excavation is\u00a0100% complete<\/u><\/strong>, pending final elevation surveying. This is a major milestone for the project. Furthermore, it was completed almost six months ahead of the originally anticipated 10-month schedule and over one month ahead of the accelerated schedule we presented during our December 2024 meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following completion of the soil excavation, there are several activities that will need to take place, including, most importantly, waterproofing of the tank walls. Once these activities are completed, tank construction will begin, likely in May or June 2025. In order to keep the excavation area dry, groundwater will continue to be pumped to and treated in the on-site water treatment plant until the bottom slab of the tank is poured. This should be complete by October or November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Owl\u2019s Head (OH-007) Tank<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Moving on to the Owl\u2019s Head tank, work is continuing on the construction of the perimeter wall. As of today, 40 panels have been completed out of a total of 138 planned for the entire perimeter wall. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s contractor is averaging completion of four to five panels per week, and we expect this phase of the project to wrap up sometime around September or October of this year. Similar to the Red Hook tank, full-scale excavation will follow.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bulkheads<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bulkheads installation along Remedial Target Area 2 (mid-canal) is currently in progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carroll Street Bridge<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Turning Basin 1<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned in previous CAG meetings, the Trust and EPA have been re-evaluating the design for the restoration of the former First Street Turning Basin. We are looking to deliver an end product to the community that better integrates with community interests while still meeting the needs of the cleanup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n EPA and the Trust are now moving forward with a design concept that better aligns with the Gowanus Lowlands Master Plan while maintaining equal protection to human health and the environment through an excavation and containment approach. Features of the new design concept include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n