« CB8 sends ESDC committee and individual criticisms of DEIS | Main | Densest "census tract" in the nation? »
October 2, 2006
Gowanus Crapgate Update: Riverkeeper Weighs In
Gowanus Lounge
Riverkeeper, the environmental group that keeps an eye on water-quality issues in New York State (and that is a prime mover in lawsuits to force action on the Greenpoint Oil Spill), filed a stinging critique as well that says Atlantic Yards will, in fact, have a serious impact on the Gowanus and on the East River, and by extension on New York Harbor and various ecosystems.
"If built as proposed and evalutated in the DEIS, Atlantic Yards will increase both the volume and frequency" of untreated sewage discharges into both the Gowanus and East River, Riverkeeper's comment on the DEIS says. The group compliments Forest City Ratner for proposing the use of holding tanks and water-free urinals, but says the project will still have a very significant impact on local water quality when rainfall overwhelms treatment capacity.
The group also accuses the Empire State Development Corporation of withholding the consultant's report on water quality issues for so long that it failed to make "full and proper public disclosure" and "thwarted public participation." Atlantic Yards Report summarizes this objection and has been covering ESDC's stonewalling of Freedom of Information Law requests.
This is only the latest installment of "Crapgate." Last week, GL featured testimony from Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus (FROGG) which revealed that the Atlantic Yards DEIS uses old data that suppresses the seriousness of the problem of sewage flowing into the Gowanus Canal every time it rains.
Posted by lumi at October 2, 2006 9:36 AM