Comments on: NY Officials Try to Save Canal From Superfund List http://earth911.com/news/2009/08/10/ny-officials-try-to-save-canal-from-superfund-list/ Make Everyday Earth Day Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:41:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: enviroNY http://earth911.com/news/2009/08/10/ny-officials-try-to-save-canal-from-superfund-list/comment-page-1/#comment-31309 enviroNY Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:49:38 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=22094#comment-31309 Troubling news about the Superfund program from AP: "In Obama's first two years in office, the Environmental Protection Agency expects to begin the final phase of cleanup at fewer Superfund sites than in any administration since 1991, according to budget documents and agency records." More at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32351544/ns/us_news-environment/ Troubling news about the Superfund program from AP:

“In Obama’s first two years in office, the Environmental Protection Agency expects to begin the final phase of cleanup at fewer Superfund sites than in any administration since 1991, according to budget documents and agency records.”

More at:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32351544/ns/us_news-environment/

]]> By: Haley Paul http://earth911.com/news/2009/08/10/ny-officials-try-to-save-canal-from-superfund-list/comment-page-1/#comment-31284 Haley Paul Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:16:42 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=22094#comment-31284 An update on the EPA superfund listing of the Gowanus Canal: http://blog.sprlaw.com/2009/08/new-york-dec-says-alternative-to-gowanus-superfund-listing-deserves-careful-consideration/ An update on the EPA superfund listing of the Gowanus Canal:

http://blog.sprlaw.com/2009/08/new-york-dec-says-alternative-to-gowanus-superfund-listing-deserves-careful-consideration/

]]> By: Silent Spring http://earth911.com/news/2009/08/10/ny-officials-try-to-save-canal-from-superfund-list/comment-page-1/#comment-31150 Silent Spring Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:05:46 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=22094#comment-31150 Does having a stigma really matter? I understand the importance of avoiding the tag of 'polluted area' for economic reasons, but surely EPA intervention is a good thing if it ensures that the area gets cleaned up quickly? It seems that the mayor's office has been dragging its feet for ages can the area really afford to wait any longer? PCBs, pesticides and heavy metals are serious chemical pollutants. They all have a way of leaching into new unexpected areas of the environment. The longer it takes to clean up the area the more contaminated extended regions of the local environment becomes. Action needs to be taken as soon as possible. Does having a stigma really matter? I understand the importance of avoiding the tag of ‘polluted area’ for economic reasons, but surely EPA intervention is a good thing if it ensures that the area gets cleaned up quickly? It seems that the mayor’s office has been dragging its feet for ages can the area really afford to wait any longer?

PCBs, pesticides and heavy metals are serious chemical pollutants. They all have a way of leaching into new unexpected areas of the environment. The longer it takes to clean up the area the more contaminated extended regions of the local environment becomes. Action needs to be taken as soon as possible.

]]> By: FROGG http://earth911.com/news/2009/08/10/ny-officials-try-to-save-canal-from-superfund-list/comment-page-1/#comment-31033 FROGG Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:30:53 +0000 http://earth911.com/?p=22094#comment-31033 Haley, The Gowanus community embraces an EPA Superfund Cleanup. The mayor's office isn't saving us from the EPA, rather they are trying to spoil this opportunity to finally have the environmental problems of our area addressed in a comprehensive scientific manor. The mayor's office is a political entity with little capacity to carry out the effort that needs to take place here. The track record that the city has in dealing with the Gowanus is evidence of how inept the city is in dealing with such a complex environmental problem. (They haven't actually done a single thing to bring this water into compliance with the 1972 Clean Water Act, despite decades of court orders trying to get the city to act responsibly here.) The Gowanus community looks forward to an EPA Superfund Cleanup that places Public Health and the Environment on the priority list. Those backing the mayor's plans have stated over and over that the Gowanus is clean today to build massive new residential housing structures along. Under the mayor's plans, the construction of new residential buildings will trump environmental concerns that might limit such construction in any way. The city can't even deal with the volume sewage in the canal responsibly, how can we expect they will deal with the toxic elements in a responsible manor? Haley,
The Gowanus community embraces an EPA Superfund Cleanup.
The mayor’s office isn’t saving us from the EPA, rather they are trying to spoil this opportunity to finally have the environmental problems of our area addressed in a comprehensive scientific manor.
The mayor’s office is a political entity with little capacity to carry out the effort that needs to take place here. The track record that the city has in dealing with the Gowanus is evidence of how inept the city is in dealing with such a complex environmental problem. (They haven’t actually done a single thing to bring this water into compliance with the 1972 Clean Water Act, despite decades of court orders trying to get the city to act responsibly here.)

The Gowanus community looks forward to an EPA Superfund Cleanup that places Public Health and the Environment on the priority list. Those backing the mayor’s plans have stated over and over that the Gowanus is clean today to build massive new residential housing structures along. Under the mayor’s plans, the construction of new residential buildings will trump environmental concerns that might limit such construction in any way. The city can’t even deal with the volume sewage in the canal responsibly, how can we expect they will deal with the toxic elements in a responsible manor?

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