Meeting Tonight On Cleanup Of Citizens Manufactured Gas Plant

GOWANUS – Thanks to Gowanus Canal CAG member Brad Vogel for providing a heads-up on a meeting tonight (June 13) regarding cleanup plans for the former Citizens Works Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) site at Smith & 5th Streets.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)—which will oversee National Grid’s remediation of the site—is hosting the meeting at P.S. 372 Thursday evening to discuss the cleanup activities and answer any questions from attendees.

Remediation of the site is scheduled to begin this month and is expected to take 20 months to complete. Cleanup will include: excavating approximately 42,000-cubic-yards of contaminated soil which will be disposed of off-site; filling the excavated sections with clean soil that meet “soil cleanup objectives”; demolishing building foundations, underground facilities, and remaining MGP structures; and constructing an approximately 880-foot steel bulkhead along the Gowanus Canal.

The soil and groundwater at the site have been contaminated by coal tar. The contamination has migrated up to 153 feet below the surface and also under the Gowanus Canal, according to DEC.

The site, also known at Public Place, is part of the NYC Department of City Planning’s (DCP) Gowanus Rezoning Plan to develop the land and build affordable housing, community facilities, commercial/retail space, and open space on it.

Citizens MGP Site Update Meeting
Thursday, June 13, 7pm to 9pm
P.S. 372, The Children’s School, 291 1st Street