By Joseph Alexiou
Now that the EPA is formally planning a cleanup of the Gowanus canal, officials overseeing the project discussed plans which include getting responsible companies to finance the work, and the digging 450-foot wells to find out just how polluted it is.
About 200 people were at the information meeting yesterday at P.S. 58 on Smith St. and 2nd Pl. in Carroll Gardens to discuss the newly designated Superfund status of the Gowanus canal.
“The companies that we are asking question of,” said Walter Mugdan, the EPA’s director of District 2, “include household names: Hess, Chevron, Exxon-Mobil, Honeywell, DuPont, Kraft Foods, Citygroup.”
The audience murmured and chuckled. “We’re dealing with companies that are financially capable, some with very deep pockets,” said Mugdan. Organizations already involved in financing the cleanup include the U.S. Navy, ConEd, National Grid, and the City of New York.
The presentation included plans to dig wells, some as deep as 450 feet, on public and private land surrounding the canal to test for chemicals in the ground. Mugdan also said the EPA was looking into business that have been around the canal for the past century. Those found to be responsible for the pollution are legally required to aide the cleanup. The project, which will take 10-12 years, will cost roughly $500 million.
One community member asked about the rumor that the FHA would not insure or approve any loan applications for living spaces within 3000 feet of a Superfund site. Mugdan immediately dispelled the rumor.
“If it were true,” said Mugdan, “You wouldn’t have any loans being made in any open area in the United states.”
“An FHA official told me this on Monday,” continued Mugdan, “Their concerns are primarily with the land itself, so a Toll Brothers propose building condominiums and trying to get an FHA loan to pay for it, they’d be concerned if the property has been adequately cleaned up for the people moving into those apartments.”
According to Mugdan, the best part about the Superfunding of the site is that the site will be cleaned up.
“It’s the best thing that could have happened,” he said.
Earlier:
Pro-designation activists happy about Gowanus Superfund declaration | The Brooklyn Ink
First investor pulls back from Gowanus project | The Brooklyn Ink
Gowanus declared Superfund Site | The Brooklyn Ink
Gowanus: The Background | The Brooklyn Ink
Gowanus Decision: Winners and Losers | The Brooklyn Ink
Leave a Reply