{"id":2551,"date":"2017-07-31T23:27:19","date_gmt":"2017-08-01T03:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gowanuscag.org\/?p=2551"},"modified":"2017-07-31T23:27:19","modified_gmt":"2017-08-01T03:27:19","slug":"minutes-may-23-2017-meeting-gowanus-canal-community-advisory-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gowanuscag.org\/index.php\/2017\/07\/31\/minutes-may-23-2017-meeting-gowanus-canal-community-advisory-group\/","title":{"rendered":"Minutes of the May 23, 2017 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"lead\" class=\"lead\"><strong>Gowanus Canal CAG Meeting<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Tuesday, May 23, 2017<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Mary Star of the Sea Senior Apartments, 41 1st Street<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Announcements<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Doug Sarno opened the meeting at 6:40.<\/p>\n<p>The April meeting summary was approved with no revisions.<\/p>\n<p>MS 38 7<sup>th<\/sup> grade students presented their projects for the Gowanus Canal Thomas Greene Park resiliency project.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Project Updates<\/strong> (Christos Tsiamis, EPA Project Manager)<\/p>\n<p>The first item was regarding the Fulton cutoff wall and activities related to building the overflow tanks and the cleanup of Thomas Greene Park.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>National Grid has been issued an order and will be working under EPA\u2019s oversight to build the Fulton cutoff wall. The state decision regarding Thomas Greene Park included some cleanup at the park at an appropriate time and the construction of a cutoff wall by the Canal to stop the tar from flowing into the Canal.<\/li>\n<li>The EPA\u2019s ROD for cleaning up the Canal had a provision whereby some work was being conducted by the state at the former MGP plants (Public Place, Fulton, Metropolitan). The ROD stated that under certain circumstances, EPA might have to assume the lead for that work, and that\u2019s what\u2019s happened now. One of named circumstances was a matter of coordination. What changed from the time the state issued the ROD and now? A subsequent agreement between EPA and the City about the placement of the retention tanks. In that consent agreement, it was agreed that the City would have the choice of building the tank right next to the Canal or at Thomas Greene Park. The City\u2019s preferred site was the head of Canal but that\u2019s private property and there are complications. EPA put time limit on that decision in order to ensure that the cleanup can move forward and required the City to prepare two parallel designs. Right now, the City is moving under the premise that they\u2019ll be able to acquire or take by eminent domain the location next to the Canal. There is certain work required to build the tank, including environmental investigation and construction, and the City is responsible for these things.<\/li>\n<li>In the state decision, National Grid is obligated to build the wall and we will have two different entities working on this: National Grid will work under state supervision and the City will work under EPA supervision for installing the tanks. To improve coordination, the state and EPA agreed it would be best for EPA to take the lead, which is the rationale for the National Grid order. In two weeks, EPA will meet with National Grid to discuss the specifics of building the wall and then will move on and brief the CAG.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Questions and Answers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: In terms of your work overseeing this, can you go through how that\u2019s funded and whether everything\u2019s fine?<br \/>\nEPA: There\u2019s nothing new to report. We have some money and that will take us through six months.. We hope to have some kind of settlement that will bring us through 2019. The bulk of the work is being paid for by the PRPs \u2013 the only question is how much money we will have to oversee their work.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: It makes a lot of sense to have EPA as the lead for Fulton \u2013 do you anticipate the same type of order for the two other sites? And the order is only for the wall, not the park?<br \/>\nEPA: No. Here it\u2019s only because the work is being done by two entities; in the park it\u2019s just National Grid. There\u2019s a lot of work that has to be done related to the park and Canal-side properties, all tied to the City\u2019s property acquisitions. We have a few years before that needs to be completed for design and implementation. There\u2019s also some uncertainty regarding which site that will be. The only thing on the critical path was the wall for design and dredging. We\u2019re now going to be discussing with the City the work we did last year for the temporary replacement of the park (next 2-4 months). We expect a settlement and timeframe within three years, so that the City can acquire properties for cleanup. We\u2019ll be working with the community on the selection and design of new park site.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: There are materials already on 3<sup>rd<\/sup> Avenue and DeGraw. Is that part of the high-level storm sewer? You mentioned the design for the temporary park \u2013 is that a forthcoming order? Is the wall going to be on the Canal side or street side? What impacts do you anticipate?<br \/>\nEPA: Yes, it has nothing to do with us. There is a forthcoming order. Our preference is to do the majority of the work by the Canalside, though we can\u2019t do all of it there. In general, the bulkhead work going on to date has not had noticeable impacts on the community (3<sup>rd<\/sup> St bulkhead going in \u2013 all being done from the property, same from 6<sup>th<\/sup> Street a couple of months ago).<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: Can you describe the wall and how long it will take to build?<br \/>\nEPA: No, it is too early to describe it now. EPA knows what we\u2019re looking for and we\u2019re going to have a scoping meeting. It\u2019s only fair to discuss the details after, including the schedule.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: You mentioned the Canal side \u2013 does that mean you\u2019ll have to get dredging barges up there immediately? The soil level is so high.<br \/>\nEPA: Yes, we will. Also, I want to say since we have children in the room that the Canal is not swimmable, due to the high level of chemicals.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: About the timeline \u2013 when will you get to remove the contamination from Thomas Greene Park?<br \/>\nEPA: We\u2019ve been discussing the order for the cleanup of the park. The city\u2019s acquisition date is April 2020. In advance of that date, we\u2019ll know whether they\u2019ll meet that date or not. We plan to identify six months or so in advance which cleanup will take place at the Park. We will start building the temporary park and in 2020 either the tank or non-tank cleanup will go in there.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: Regardless of which site is selected, is responsibility for building the temporary park National Grid\u2019s?<br \/>\nEPA: National Grid will design, provide, and construct the temporary pool. Then because the City is in charge of operating pools, we expect that they will operate it and National Grid will design a replacement permanent pool \u2013 we\u2019re requiring them to design something to replace the existing function. We expect the city will come in and say we want something more sophisticated and the two of them will collaborate. We require National Grid to replace the pool but the city may take over actual construction. We\u2019ll decide which one of them we want to do the contracting for a seamless transition. Let\u2019s discuss after we sign the order (we\u2019ve been going around and looking at sites).<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: Can you give us a general sense of distinction between a bulkhead and this wall?<br \/>\nEPA: The difference is, the purpose of a bulkhead is to provide structural support when we dredge the Canal. The function of this wall is to stop the liquid tar chemicals from moving into the Canal.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: It sounds like it\u2019s not clear between the two parties who\u2019s going to build the temporary replacement pool. Based on the fact that the wall is supposed to prevent any more tar from getting into the Canal, what\u2019s the timeline of wall being built versus the cleanup in the park?<br \/>\nEPA: The way we work is we focus on a few projects at a time. Although we know in general terms, we\u2019ll focus on it once the agreement is in order. National Grid is going to be in charge of the pool as if it were the cake and the city is in charge of the icing. The wall will be built before the park cleanup. We\u2019re talking about 2020 for the park, but the wall will be built well before then.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: I assume there will be signage available around entire property indicating what\u2019s being done and the timeline. Who will be responsible for that?<br \/>\nEPA: We\u2019ll talk about it when we get there. If we\u2019re responsible, we\u2019ll direct National Grid to put up signage.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: Do you anticipate any technical problems with the wall? My biggest question would be about keeping the chemicals from entering the Canal.<br \/>\nEPA: Not really, but we\u2019re always prepared for the unexpected in the Canal. That\u2019s why we\u2019re going to make sure that this is a wall that actually does what is required. In conjunction with the solidification of the material on the bottom of the canal and the capping, it will prevent the liquid tar from coming up in the water.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: Will you be remediating the tar on the other (garden) side? Will it be similar to the Canal side wall?<br \/>\nEPA: That was not in the ROD for Fulton, which only had the wall on one side and the cleanup of the park. On the other side, there\u2019s the possibility of a PRP group which has to replace the bulkheads and, where there is above ground contamination, they\u2019ll have to seal the bulkhead. It may be similar; both are designed to keep tar from coming into the Canal.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: Will we have more info to inform the DEP comments deadline of June 16?<br \/>\nEPA: No.<\/p>\n<p>The second Item is regarding overall cleanup schedule.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I sounded a warning last time about the schedule. EPA has decided that the PRP group does not satisfy our views on how to proceed in an efficient, smart, safe and quick manner. I am reiterating that the cleanup won\u2019t happen by 2022. With the schedules we\u2019ve received, it could be prolonged toward the end of the decade. We\u2019ll do everything possible to move that process forward. One way for us to enforce the schedule is to issue directives. The order in place says the PRP group has to take comments by EPA on whatever approach they have and address them. If they are not addressed to EPA\u2019s satisfaction, the PRPs can become a non-compliant party.<\/li>\n<li>The order is written to include one round of comments and one round of responses. We\u2019ve had several rounds of responses and EPA has been patient. Last week, starting with the 4<sup>th<\/sup> Street Basin, EPA sent the PRP group a directive; we gave them a new approach and dates, and asked them to comply. They wanted to hire a general contractor, and we told them to break it down to prioritize the bulkhead work. What I received \u2013 a response saying they don\u2019t agree with EPA \u2013 was not to our satisfaction. EPA asked for an immediate response and told the PRP group that they\u2019ve been put on notice for financial repercussions. We won\u2019t impose penalties now but once we finish the design and move on to next phase of construction.<\/li>\n<li>There are other issues of great concern to the community. In the last meeting we talked about Natural Resource Damages. Ken Finkelstein mentioned there could be a settlement that would lead to ecological work in the Canal. This was likely to happen at a time when EPA was signing the next order, for dredging. The more we prolong the design, the longer it will take for us to begin that discussion and start talking about ecological restoration. Lots of things have been affected by the slow pace of the schedule. We\u2019ve looked at all the data provided by the PRPs and we really don\u2019t agree with their approach and pace. Not everyone likes that the Canal is changing as all the redevelopment occurs, but if you want to know how long it takes to actually do something in terms of designing and implementing it \u2013 you can see how long it takes to do things to EPA specifications if you\u2019re a developer. Hundreds of millions of dollars of work has already been done, sites have been cleaned up along the Canal, and people are living there. We\u2019ve given the PRP group notice by email. From now on, there\u2019s going be one directive after another for the work we\u2019ve planned for them. I hope to report that we\u2019ve reached agreement in the next meeting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Questions and Answers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: Do you think there\u2019s anything other than financial reasons for the stoppage? Do the City and the State have a stake?<br \/>\nEPA: It might be the makeup of the team \u2013 I don\u2019t know who really leads it. We used to deal only with National Grid and then this group was formed consisting of five or six different companies.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: At the last meeting you said your leverage is somewhat limited \u2013 how much can putting them under order after order speed up the process?<br \/>\nEPA: We don\u2019t want to spend several years in court with them fighting about penalties. We\u2019ve told them in the interim we\u2019re going to start penalties but won\u2019t start collecting them until the next phase. This is the only time when the PRPs can get a concession from the government. If they\u2019re not in compliance, there will be no settlement compromises \u2013 we\u2019ll order them to do it and proceed to the next phase. They owe us interest on unpaid money since 2013 (15 million dollars). We have a list of six actions they have to do; when they\u2019re in noncompliance, we will issue directives for work within a certain timeframe.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: There were a lot of concerns expressed by PRPs in other forums. Not having the CSO tank to stop recontamination made them reluctant to proceed. Is that the reason for noncompliance? There is some news out of DC, an internal directive that any regional office that deals with Superfund decisions that require approval from headquarters.<br \/>\nEPA: No, everyone understands the Canal has to be cleaned up before tanks are built. The directive only applies to new RODs and the Gowanus ROD has already been approved.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: We\u2019ve been discussing how we as a community can put pressure on the PRPs. If the work is not moving forward, why are we paying a rate increase that was instituted by the Public Service Commission with a timeframe in mind?<br \/>\nEPA: We\u2019re concentrating on avoiding unnecessary costs by National Grid that will delay cleanup. We\u2019ve had a number of instances with the PRP group where we\u2019ve had to tell them not to do things \u2013 we\u2019re not in a position to recommend how to dissect this.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member:Are the meetings with the PRPs public? Can we attend them to understand the dynamic?<br \/>\nEPA: No, they\u2019re not public. We\u2019re telling you about this because you have to know. We had a meeting with National Grid yesterday and had Natalie come on behalf of the community. She is in a position to answer your questions, though not in this discussion. We came out of the last meeting and said we won\u2019t have to report to the CAG that this was an uncooperative meeting. We are 6 to 8 months from starting the pilot dredging and all the documents are subject to FOIA. If we get to a point where the CAG is interested in documentation about a particular loggerhead, you can submit a FOIA request. We said we\u2019re going to have adaptive management; we broke down the study area into 3 areas (top, middle, and bottom of Canal). We started doing studies for the new technologies. Usually when we go to design, we turn it over to PRPs and we oversee the design. I wanted to make sure that we have some control over the design, specifically the portion with ISS \u2013 and we finished all that by summer 2015. What we\u2019re asking the PRPs to do is what we\u2019ve done already \u2013 step by step \u2013 instead of waiting to do everything together in massive way. Everyone brings this site up as model site for having gotten to its current state in such short time, so those techniques proved to be workable.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: Do we assume all PRPs are acting in concert with no dissent? Are there any PRP representatives in the room now?<br \/>\nEPA: We get one response, and we don\u2019t get dissenters. No one is present tonight.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Update on Gowanus Canal Public Health Assessment<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Scarlett McLaughlin (new Project Manager for the site)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Our role as the health department is to work with EPA, DEC and ATSDR to evaluate what site-related contaminants people could come into contact with through ingestion, inhalation or by dermal contact. Based on the public health assessment, DOH and ATSDR have concluded that there are physical, biological and chemical hazards for swimmers in the Gowanus Canal.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve reached four main conclusions regarding people who live near, swim and recreate (boating, fishing, wading) in the Canal:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Conclusion 1 (swimming): exposure to chemicals in the surface water and sediments is a potential health concern for swimmers and others. People can accidentally drink some of the water, which contains a slew of contaminants (PCBs, VOCs, metals, biological organisms, parasites, viruses). There is also a possibility of increased risk associated with coming into contact with the water.<\/li>\n<li>Conclusion 2 (boating): People can accidentally touch the water but contact is not really expected so there is no increased health risk associated with boating.<\/li>\n<li>Conclusion 3 (living): A remedial investigation with air quality sampling was conducted and found no increased risk associated with living by the Canal.<\/li>\n<li>Conclusion 4 (fishing): A new fishing advisory has been issued for 2017. if people don\u2019t follow DOH\u2019s fish consumption advisories, and eat more fish and crabs from the Gowanus Canal than recommended in the advisory, their risk for adverse health effects will increase and their health could be harmed\n<ul>\n<li>women under 50 and children under 15 should not eat fish from the Canal<\/li>\n<li>men above 15 could eat 1 to 4 meals a month<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Additional information was collected from the Canal but it was insufficient to change the advisory.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Questions and Answers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: Have any of your agents gone out and actually found any fish? How often is the water tested?<br \/>\nEPA: At beginning of our investigation, we did collect the fish and we passed the information on to DOH.<br \/>\nDOH: We don\u2019t do the sampling, we just do the assessment based on data other agencies have collected.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: The air quality assessment was done at a particular time of year, and at other times the air is horrendous. Riverkeeper has shown that during the summer the coal tar is bubbling up all over the place and if you\u2019re there for even 20 minutes, you get a headache. I also have a number of neighbors whose family members have died of emphysema or cancers. I think you should qualify that in saying it\u2019s OK to inhale it at certain times because it\u2019s never been evaluated at other times when we in the community feel it\u2019s dangerous. They\u2019ve also shown that exposure to the PAHs is tied to learning disabilities, so they are harmful. The CAG issued you a letter about three years ago; we looked at your study, we asked questions and we haven\u2019t gotten a response. We\u2019d appreciate if you could look at that study and respond to the community on that letter.<br \/>\nDOH: That\u2019s a very good point. But we come into contact with chemicals all the time, which may cause one person a headache but not another. If you\u2019re referring to a letter from April 20, 2017 on the draft public health assessment, we responded to this in the responsiveness summary in the Public Health Assessment (page 56), where responses are summarized and responses provided. The PHA is available on ATSDR\u2019s website.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: The problem with eating fish is not dependent only on the water quality, but also sediment quality. Fishing advisories for NYC limit ingestion of fish around all of our rivers. When will DOH put up signage for fishing advisories in the languages of the community all around?<br \/>\nDOH: The sediment has a huge impact on the fish and benthic organisms \u2013 a lot of contaminants can bioaccumulate. With a lot of these sites, even after cleanup and removal of sediments, it takes a certain amount of time for ecosystems to redevelop and fish to get cleaner. The most restrictive advisory will extend to all the places the fish can swim to. In the PHA, DOH recommended that the signs be posted and one of the ways that information is disseminated is when people get a fishing license, which comes with a hard copy advisory.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: Natalie, are there any things EPA is doing at Newtown Creek that might inform this?<br \/>\nEPA: The Newtown Creek CAG has worked with EPA to develop and approve signage and places where it might be posted around the Creek.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: One of our main comments on the PHA was that we were concerned about sediment so we shouldn\u2019t allow men of 20 to eat crabs from the Gowanus Canal. EPA has data that EPA that sediment quality in the harbor is improving in some areas and not others. The answer in all the responses to comments was \u201cif new information becomes available, this advisory will be reassessed.\u201d Are you going out there and sampling more crabs from the Gowanus Canal to protect the community? We were told that DOH would not do more science in Newtown Creek but stay abreast of EPA studies, which is why we felt it\u2019s important to place warning signs. What I\u2019m looking for is \u201cdon\u2019t fish there\u201d and I\u2019ve never heard DOH say that.<br \/>\nDOH: First and foremost, we don\u2019t collect samples so we have to review what\u2019s available. Based on the information we had from EPA and ATSDR, there was no change. What we\u2019re looking for is increased risk, which doesn\u2019t mean there\u2019s no potential for effects. Part of it is that we\u2019re not a regulatory body \u2013 we can\u2019t ban people from fishing or recreating in the Canal.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: The question is why are your recommendations the same in places where there is toxic sediment as where there isn\u2019t.<br \/>\nDOH: When the assessment was conducted, we didn\u2019t have enough information to change that advisory; there wasn\u2019t a sufficiently high level of toxicity.<br \/>\nEPA: We\u2019ve said before, they do qualitative assessment and they did it based on our data. That\u2019s why their advisory is broad. We did a quantitative assessment and what we said was there were bioaccumulations of PCBs and PAHs, so you do have information.<\/p>\n<p>CAG Member: One of the concerns people tell me is about the handling of the fish, such as pulling up from the mud and transfer of contaminants. Did you guys test that in the investigation, sediments on the outside of critters not just fish tissue?<br \/>\nEPA: We do have advisories on our website and a guide people can follow with regard to exposure.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>CAG plans for comments on the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Draft Scoping Document <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The CAG discussed the potential for having comments produce in time for the June 16 deadline. The difference between a CAG response and individual comments is that a CAG response carries much more weight. Getting 5000 comments that all check the same box is less effective than a single coordinated, thoughtful response from the community. However, committee work is required before a resolution can be successful at the CAG meeting.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Committee Reports<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Admin<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Did not meet<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Facilitation<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Working on communication plan and will try to finish by the first Tuesday in June.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Land Use\/Archaeology<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Archaeology discussed the historic building near the tank site, which is covered by the scoping. The committee sent a letter and will share it with the CAG. At least 20 people have sent an email or letter to DEP regarding the Gowanus Station building.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Water Quality\/Technical<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Water Quality\/Technical discussed the EPA schedule shift at their meeting. It was suggested we invite PRPs to meet with us and continue the discussion. There\u2019s concern about rating fees covering cleanup that\u2019s not happening for few more years. We want to put up PRP names on the CAG website so people know who they are. Gowanus Dredgers are doing water quality testing once a week at two sites; DEP is doing testing at three sites.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Outreach<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Outreach met to discuss the Town Hall with Nydia Velazquez and the EPA \u2013 we\u2019re pushing into the fall. We\u2019re wondering if EPA can do a newsletter at some point, a general one pager on the current status and what to expect in coming months. The committee wants to inform the community without interpreting EPA\u2019s words. [EPA is willing to disseminate periodic updates.]<\/p>\n<p>Discussed the idea of potentially combining Outreach and Facilitation committees, since all people who attend Outreach committee meetings are Facilitation team members.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Other Business<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There was a combined Waterfront Alliance and CAG table at the Gowanus Expo.\u00a0Thank you and congratulations to the Gowanus Canal Conservancy for organizing a great event.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>CAG Members Present <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Jerry Armer<br \/>\nSabine Aronowsky<br \/>\nKen Baer (Sierra Club alternate for Diane Buxbaum)<br \/>\nBeverly Corbin<br \/>\nEymund Diegel<br \/>\nSean Dixon<br \/>\nMarlene Donnelly<br \/>\nLouis Kleinman<br \/>\nHildegaard Link<br \/>\nLinda Mariano<br \/>\nEric McClure<br \/>\nJohn McGettrick<br \/>\nAndrea Parker<br \/>\nPeter Reich<br \/>\nTriada Samaras<br \/>\nBuddy Scotto<br \/>\nBrad Vogel<\/p>\n<p><strong>EPA, Staff and Presenters<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Doug Sarno, CAG Facilitator<br \/>\nChristos Tsiamis, EPA<br \/>\nNatalie Loney, EPA<br \/>\nBrina Carr, EPA<br \/>\nScarlett McLaughlin, NYS DOH<br \/>\nLeah Graziano, ATSDR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gowanus Canal CAG Meeting Tuesday, May 23, 2017 Mary Star of the Sea Senior Apartments, 41 1st Street Announcements Doug Sarno opened the meeting at 6:40. The April meeting summary&#8230;  <a href=\"https:\/\/gowanuscag.org\/index.php\/2017\/07\/31\/minutes-may-23-2017-meeting-gowanus-canal-community-advisory-group\/\" class=\"more-link\" title=\"Read Minutes of the May 23, 2017 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9,12,7],"tags":[82,31,83,17,84],"class_list":["post-2551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-epa-updates","category-frontpage","category-general-meetings","tag-epa","tag-gowanus-cag","tag-gowanus-canal","tag-health-assessment","tag-meeting"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Minutes of the May 23, 2017 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group - Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gowanuscag.org\/index.php\/2017\/07\/31\/minutes-may-23-2017-meeting-gowanus-canal-community-advisory-group\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Minutes of the May 23, 2017 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group - Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Gowanus Canal CAG Meeting Tuesday, May 23, 2017 Mary Star of the Sea Senior Apartments, 41 1st Street Announcements Doug Sarno opened the meeting at 6:40. The April meeting summary... 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