The NuHart site, located at the intersection of Dupont St. and Franklin St. in Greenpoint, has recently come under increased public scrutiny. The property owner, Dupont Street Developers, LLC, has completed the Remedial Investigation phase as part of the New York State Superfund process. This investigation is a crucial step that lays the groundwork for the next phase, the Feasibility Study, where the property owner will propose a cleanup plan for the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last Saturday, Dupont Street Developers permitted a large-scale party to be organized on the NuHart property, selling over 4,000 tickets for the event. Local residents and officials only became aware of the event when they noticed the setup, which shockingly involved people accessing contaminated areas of the property. The site is known to contain hazardous substances, including toxic plumes with 40,000-60,000 gallons of phthalates and trichloroethylene (TCE), which have spread beyond the site. Fortunately, the FDNY canceled the event due to inadequate fire safety measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This evening, we convened a meeting with the community\u2019s environmental consultant, Environmental Stewardship Concepts, LLC (ESC), Council Member Stephen Levin, representatives from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the NYS Department of Health, the NYC Office of Environmental Remediation, Roux Associates (the environmental consultant for the property owner), and a representative of the property owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting had been in the works for months, with the primary focus on the progress of the Superfund process. However, we also addressed the highly irresponsible decision by Dupont Street Developers to allow a major event to be planned on a contaminated Superfund site. Community members demanded accountability from the property owner and clarity about who approved the event. We obtained permit applications and approvals from the NYS Liquor Authority and the NYC Department of Buildings and are investigating further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those seeking more information about the contamination and the Superfund process, our environmental consultant ESC has provided a detailed presentation. Additionally, the ESC newsletter offers a summary of the NuHart Remedial Investigation Review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay updated! The property owner is expected to release the Feasibility Study before the end of 2015. After that, the NYS DEC will review it and release a Proposed Remedial Action Plan (PRAP). Once the PRAP is released, there will be a public comment period. The DEC will consider these comments before issuing the final cleanup plan. The community\u2019s involvement is crucial in ensuring a responsible cleanup effort!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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