(AGENPARL) - Roma, 5 Aprile 2024 - (AGENPARL) – ven 05 aprile 2024 Issued: Apr 5, 2024 (11:32am EDT)
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EPA Proposes Plan to Address Contamination in Buildings at the Meeker Avenue
Plume Superfund Site in Brooklyn
Public Meeting to be Held on April 16
NEW YORK (April 5, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
proposed a plan to protect people living and working in residential and
commercial buildings at the Meeker Avenue Plume Superfund Site in the
Greenpoint/East Williamsburg area of Brooklyn. Groundwater and soil in the
area is contaminated with chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs),
which can vaporize into soil and seep into buildings through their
foundations.
“The most immediate threat to people is that the contamination can seep into
buildings where people can breathe it in, so EPA is testing under foundation
slabs to determine if there is a problem,” said Regional Administrator Lisa
F. Garcia. “I encourage people to comment on this proposed plan, which will
help EPA take action to reduce and address the potential risk to people in the
area.”  
The Meeker Avenue Plume Superfund Site covers over 190 acres across several
city blocks in the Greenpoint/East Williamsburg area of Brooklyn. The soil,
soil gas and groundwater at the site are contaminated with CVOCs, including
toxic tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), which are
classified by EPA as likely to cause cancer. This part of Brooklyn included
historical petroleum refining and storage operations along the banks of
Newtown Creek. The site was discovered when chemical contamination was found
in soil and groundwater outside the historic petroleum spill area.
As of December 2023, EPA sampled underneath and inside of 18 residential
structures, 11 public housing buildings, and one public school. EPA has
results that show no further action is needed at 15 of the residential
properties, the 11 public housing buildings, and the public school. Three of
the residential properties will require additional monitoring. In addition, in
February and March 2024, EPA sampled 18 properties and will be evaluating the
results, and will be conducting additional sampling in the future. Because
prior sampling from the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation did detect CVOC vapors inside several dozen properties, the State
installed specialized systems to handle the vapors. This proposed plan would
allow EPA to continue to install these systems, as needed, as it continues to
sample.
Under the proposal, EPA would install special systems called sub-slab
depressurization systems where needed and take preventative measures such as
the sealing of cracks and gaps in the lowest level of a structure, where
necessary. Sub-slab depressurization involves connecting a blower (an electric
fan) to a small suction pit dug into the slab in order to vent vapors
outdoors. EPA’s plan reflects the estimated costs for mitigation of up to
100 structures within the Meeker Ave site study area. The plan estimates that
EPA’s work will be conducted on an ongoing basis for at least 5 years, the
approximate time frame needed for EPA to complete the vapor intrusion sampling
necessary.
The EPA is working closely with property owners and area residents to ensure
that work is done with minimal disruption. EPA is continuing to investigate
the entire site to determine the full nature and extent of contamination.
EPA will hold a public meeting on April 16, 2024 to explain the cleanup
proposal and to take public comments. The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at
St. Stanislaus Kostka Lower Church, 607 Humboldt St, Brooklyn, NY. Comments
will be accepted until May 10, 2024.