Over a year ago, on September 27, 2010, the EPA opened a new chapter on the ongoing saga of our polluted waterway by designating the Newtown Creek a federally recognized Superfund Site. This program, which allocates federal money towards research and remediation and aggressively pursues polluters for subsequent remuneration, is contentious because it carries a powerful stigma; however, being on the Superfund list provides our neighborhood with powerful tools for improvement.
Following these will be chemical analyses to determine the exact nature of the contamination and identify areas that may still be leaching pollutants into the waterway. Interestingly – perhaps suspiciously – these studies will be conducted by firms hired and paid for by the polluters themselves, though this will of course be under EPA scrutiny and direction.
This is a long process, and we shouldn’t expect remediation to begin for at least 5-7 years. I was told – hesitantly, and in no uncertain terms that this was only the widest of estimates – that the cost of remediation would be around 500 million at the absolute minimum. Ours is what the EPA terms a regional “megasite” due to the nature, extent, and history of contamination. It’s a dubious honor, to be sure.
This process will prove pivotal to the future of our neighborhood, so be sure to keep a close eye on the EPA website for updates and future public meetings. If you have additional questions, contact these EPA representatives for more information:
Caroline Kwan-Appelman
Remedial Project Manager – General questions
Phone: (212) 637-4275
Email: Kwan.caroline@epa.gov
Michael A. Mintzer
Assistant Regional Counsel – Legal questions
Phone: (212) 637-3168
Email: mintzer.michael@epa.gov