Recent News
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
or NYSDEC, has asked the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency to help investigate elevated levels of radiation found in soil while National
Grid’s contractor was implementing a NYSDEC approved remediation at a former
manufactured gas plant site at 222 Maspeth Avenue in
Brooklyn, NY.
The EPA will be at the 222, 252, and 254 Maspeth Avenue properties, which make up the Brooklyn Union Gas-Equity Works site, from January 21, 2025, to January 31, 2025, to continue investigating for elevated levels of radiation. The EPA will collect soil samples on the three properties. The EPA will also sample indoor air for radon, a radioactive gas that is created by the breakdown of radioactive elements, at the on-property buildings
The EPA does not anticipate any
potential impacts to the nearby community from this investigation.
There is a health and safety
plan in place to make sure that all EPA and Occupational Safety and Health Agency, or OSHA,
regulations are being followed.
Background
From the late 1890s to late 1920s the property was a gas manufacturing facility. The facility produced gas which was piped to surrounding neighborhoods and used for cooking, lighting, heating, and commercial purposes. National Grid is currently cleaning up contamination from coal tar waste, a type of contamination found at many gas manufacturing sites.
In late December of 2023, National Grid learned
that soil removed from 222 Maspeth Avenue contained elevated levels of
radiation. National Grid stopped their activities in the areas where elevated
radiation was present.. After
investigating the cleanup area, under NYSDEC supervision, National Grid continued to complete cleanup
activities in areas without elevated radiation. National Grid stopped cleanup activities in September 2024 so
NYSDEC could coordinate with the EPA to investigate the areas with elevated levels of radiation.
The EPA will inform the public as soon
as possible about any next steps once this investigation is done.
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Additional Resources
The EPA’s
Website: www.response.epa.gov/BrooklynUnionGas-EquityWorksSite
Coal Tar: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts85.pdf
Radiation: www.epa.gov/radiation/radiation-basics
Radon: http://www.epa.gov/radon
NYSDEC Gas Manufacturing Facility Cleanup Program: https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/site-cleanup/brownfields-state-superfund-programs/manufactured-gas-plants/mgp-program
