24 Jul
Air Emissions Facilities - Newtown Creek
Within 1 mile of Newtown Creek there are 18 point source air emissions facilities listed in the EPA's 2002 National Emissions Inventory. Collectively they release approximately 1 million pounds of toxic air emissions annually. Two polluters, SimsMetal and the Newtown Creek Sewage Treatment Facility, account for over half the total.
24 Jul
Attorney General vs. Newtown Creek Polluters
In February 2007, The Attorney General's Office, with a newly elected Andrew Cuomo at the helm, filed a notice of intent to sue against ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Keyspan (National Grid) and Phelps Dodge (Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold) for violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act by creating an imminent and substantial endangerment to health and the environment in Newtown Creek and portions of the adjacent shoreline.
24 Jul
Brownfields - Newtown Creek
A brownfield is a property whose redevelopment is complicated by potential contamination. All the properties detailed on the map are/were part of the NYSDEC Brownfields Cleanup Program (BCP) or its predecessor, the Voluntary Cleanup Program. The BCP was designed to incentivize the redevelopment of brownfields by offering tax credits and liability waivers to developers.
4 Nov
Meeker Ave. Contaminant Plumes
The NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation has identified several large plumes of chlorinated solvents (TCE & PCE) in the soils and groundwater beneath Greenpoint and East Williamsburg. These plumes are collectively referred to by DEC as the "Meeker Ave. Plume". The plumes are the result of decades of dumping and irresponsible manufacturing practices by historic and contemporary dry cleaning, dyeing, and metalworking businesses. For more information visit: http://tinyurl.com/5n9pc9. [pdf map: http://tinyurl.com/5ehnrt]
4 Nov
Newtown Creek Access Points
The Newtown Creek Nature Walk provides the safest and easiest access to the Creek. When approaching the Creek from Apollo St., 58th Rd., or the English Kills Bridge use caution. Decaying bulkheads, exposed soil, and broken glass make reaching the Creek from these locations potentially treacherous.
24 Jul
State Superfund Sites - Newtown Creek
The New York State Superfund Program identifies, investigates, and remediates hazardous waste sites. In most cases, the parties responsible for the pollution pay for the cleanup and carry out the required work. However, about a third of the time the State must pay the costs of cleanup using money from the 1986 Environmental Quality Bond Act.
24 Jul
Waste Transfer Stations - Newtown Creek
There are 19 waste transfer stations within a 1/4 mile of Newtown Creek. Together they handle almost 5 million tons annually or 38% of all the waste moving through waste transfer stations in New York City. To put this in perspective, the whole of Manhattan hosts only a single waste transfer station, handling approximately 270 tons of waste annually.
24 Jul
Waterfront Parks - Newtown Creek
The banks of Newtown Creek - occupied by industry and pocked by contaminated land - are largely fenced off from the communities that surround them. These three parks, one of which is still in the planning stages, are a welcome addition to neighborhoods without adequate open space and previously lacking safe access to the Creek.
