Hello from CG CORD
This June 14, 2013 post from Save Gowanus is a must read.
GOWANUS REGATTA DANGEROUS PR STUNT WARNS COMMUNITY GROUP
http://savegowanus.org/gowanus-regatta-dangerous-pr-stunt-warns-community-group/
"NUMEROUS CARCINOGENIC RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RECREATIONAL USE OF THE CANAL, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN, ACCORDING TO EPA DATA
RACE IS A PLOY FOR PROPOSED LIGHTSTONE DEVELOPMENT
June 13, 2013, BROOKLYN, NY – The pro-smart development group Save Gowanus is opposing The Lightstone Group’s sponsorship of the June 15 Gowanus Regatta, a canoe race on a toxic, chemical-filled Superfund site. While Gowanus residents can’t wait for the day when the canal is clean for recreational activities, right now, it is a fetid pool of harmful chemicals and bacteria.
Save Gowanus is concerned for regatta participants, with dangers of splashing and capsizing, first responders who may have to rescue canoers and also for neighborhood children who may believe the canal is safe for boating.
But mostly, the group worries this race is a political ploy by the Lightstone Group and its allies to convince the public the canal is safe. “Lightstone is trying to send the message out that it’s safe to be in the canal and it’s not as bad as everyone says,” says Carl Teitelbaum, a member of Save Gowanus. “But it’s worse.”
The Environmental Protection Agency extensively examined the Canal and found that
it is contaminated with a variety of pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic contaminants (VOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and metals that traverse the entire length of the canal. Many of the detected contaminants are known carcinogens, capable of causing cancer and other neurological impacts. The EPA has said people who come into contact with the water are at risk of exposure to these harmful pollutants.
And Riverkeeper, a nonprofit group focued on water quality, found high levels of Enterococcus bacteria in the canal as well due to the canal’s repository for human waste when the local sewage system overflows.. Exposure to this bacteria can lead to gastritis and diarrhea. (see Riverkeepers report below, p. 23 and p. 37).
The Gowanus Dredgers, sponsors of the race, says that “all waters of NYC Inner Harbor are contaminated.” We feel this grossly inaccurate based on the science.
Save Gowanus worries about the impact this race could have our neighborhood children in particular who are impressionable. We would not want them emulating this behavior in any fashion. We are surprised how the health and safety officials in the community is allowing this happen.
Lightstone wants to build two 12 story towers housing more than 700 apartments in the environmentally sensitive Gowanus Canal region. They are sponsoring this race to convince the public that the canal is safe. Save Gowanus argues that the canal will only be clean when the EPA finishes its Superfund cleanup......."
(for the rest of this article please see: http://savegowanus.org/gowanus-regatta-dangerous-pr-stunt-warns-community-group/
DATA SOURCES:
http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/0206222c.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus/ri_docs/Gowanus_RI_Report_Text_combined.pdF
http://www.riverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/RvK_How-Is-the-Water-2012.pdf
RACE IS A PLOY FOR PROPOSED LIGHTSTONE DEVELOPMENT
June 13, 2013, BROOKLYN, NY – The pro-smart development group Save Gowanus is opposing The Lightstone Group’s sponsorship of the June 15 Gowanus Regatta, a canoe race on a toxic, chemical-filled Superfund site. While Gowanus residents can’t wait for the day when the canal is clean for recreational activities, right now, it is a fetid pool of harmful chemicals and bacteria.
Save Gowanus is concerned for regatta participants, with dangers of splashing and capsizing, first responders who may have to rescue canoers and also for neighborhood children who may believe the canal is safe for boating.
But mostly, the group worries this race is a political ploy by the Lightstone Group and its allies to convince the public the canal is safe. “Lightstone is trying to send the message out that it’s safe to be in the canal and it’s not as bad as everyone says,” says Carl Teitelbaum, a member of Save Gowanus. “But it’s worse.”
The Environmental Protection Agency extensively examined the Canal and found that
it is contaminated with a variety of pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic contaminants (VOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and metals that traverse the entire length of the canal. Many of the detected contaminants are known carcinogens, capable of causing cancer and other neurological impacts. The EPA has said people who come into contact with the water are at risk of exposure to these harmful pollutants.
And Riverkeeper, a nonprofit group focued on water quality, found high levels of Enterococcus bacteria in the canal as well due to the canal’s repository for human waste when the local sewage system overflows.. Exposure to this bacteria can lead to gastritis and diarrhea. (see Riverkeepers report below, p. 23 and p. 37).
The Gowanus Dredgers, sponsors of the race, says that “all waters of NYC Inner Harbor are contaminated.” We feel this grossly inaccurate based on the science.
Save Gowanus worries about the impact this race could have our neighborhood children in particular who are impressionable. We would not want them emulating this behavior in any fashion. We are surprised how the health and safety officials in the community is allowing this happen.
Lightstone wants to build two 12 story towers housing more than 700 apartments in the environmentally sensitive Gowanus Canal region. They are sponsoring this race to convince the public that the canal is safe. Save Gowanus argues that the canal will only be clean when the EPA finishes its Superfund cleanup......."
(for the rest of this article please see: http://savegowanus.org/gowanus-regatta-dangerous-pr-stunt-warns-community-group/
DATA SOURCES:
http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/0206222c.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus/ri_docs/Gowanus_RI_Report_Text_combined.pdF
http://www.riverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/RvK_How-Is-the-Water-2012.pdf
