NYCDEP Commissioner to Meet with Public about the Gowanus Canal Clean-up

*NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) Commissioner to Meet
with the Public about the Clean-up of the Gowanus Canal*

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On Tuesday, Sept. 27, NYCDEP Commissioner Carter Strickland and staff will
meet with the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) at its monthly
meeting from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at PS 58, 330 Smith Street.  The meeting
is open to all members of the public.****

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Commissioner Strickland and his staff will be presenting the latest
information about NYCDEP’s role in cleaning up the canal, including reducing
or eliminating sewage overflows.  ****

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As a result of years of discharges, storm water runoff, sewer outflows and
industrial pollutants, the Gowanus Canal has become one of the nation's most
extensively contaminated water bodies. Contaminants include PCBs, coal tar
wastes, heavy metals and volatile organics. The contamination poses a threat
to the nearby residents who use the canal for fishing and recreation.****

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On March 2, 2010, USEPA added the Gowanus Canal to the Agency’s Superfund
National Priorities List (NPL), allowing the Agency to further investigate
contamination at the site and develop an approach to address the
contamination. ****

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--Jeff Edelstein****

Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group Facilitator****

(207) 632-8440****