Join NCA as we review the final presentation of the Brownfield Opportunity Area report! There will be a morning and an evening session for the community where BOA consultants will present their findings.

February 13, 2012 at 6:oo-8:00 p.m.
The Anoroc Democratic Club Building
45-23 47th Street
Sunnyside, NY 11377

AND they have their own informative website here…

Dear Colleague:

As part of development of a water quality improvement plan for Newtown Creek, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are holding a public meeting to present information and obtain public input.  NYSDEC and DEP want to consider and, as appropriate, include comments from the public in the Newtown Creek Watershed/Waterbody Facility Plan (WWFP) before it is finalized.  A WWFP is the initial step in the process toward achieving water quality goals for Newtown Creek.  Following final WWFP approvals, DEP will commence the Long Term Control Plan for Newtown Creek.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility Visitor Center, 329 Greenpoint Avenue – entrance is at the intersection of Greenpoint Avenue and Humboldt Street, Brooklyn NY 11222.

The Newtown Creek WWFP was originally developed under a 2005 Consent Order between NYSDEC and DEP.  Public meetings were conducted to present information and hear from interested parties.  The WWFP has now been modified in conformance with the recently negotiated NYSDEC-DEP 2011 Consent Order.  As a clarification, this plan is separate from the EPA-designated Superfund National Priorities List Program for Newtown Creek.

DEP has placed the WWFPs for electronic review at this location: http://www.hydroqual.com/projects/ltcp/wbws/index.htm.  For persons who wish to review  the repository copy, the WWFP is available on Fridays between 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm or may be viewed by appointment at other times at the Newtown Creek Visitor Center.  Please contact Ms. Jessica Bergeron, Events Coordinator, at (860) 919-7724 or jbergeron@dep.nyc.gov to make arrangements to see the repository copy.

In addition to soliciting public comments on February 22^nd, the public comment period will continue through March 9, 2012.  Comments or questions may be sent by email to kmahoney@dep.nyc.govand gekline@gw.dec.state.ny.us.  If you prefer to mail your comments, please send them to Mr. Keith Mahoney, P.E., DEP Bureau of Wastewater Treatment, 96-05 Horace Harding Expressway, Flushing NY 11373 and Mr. Gary E. Kline P.E., NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233-3506.

For more information, please contact me at (718) 595 3519 or markl@dep.nyc.gov or you may reach Martha M. Holstein who is coordinating the meeting at (718) 625 1005 x 223 ormholstein@urbansol.com.

If you are available, we hope you will join us at the meeting.

Sincerely,

Mark Lanaghan

Assistant Commissioner

If you can’t participate in one of the workgroup meetings, but would like to…be sure to come to the Feb 27 public meeting where members will report on whats happening in the workgroups.

NCA Workgroup Meetings:
Education
Tuesday, Jan 31 at 6pm
Location TBA

Green Infrastructure
Friday, Feb 3 at 10am
Location TBA

Workforce Development
Wednesday, Feb 8 at 10am
St. Nicks Alliance
790 Broadway, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11206

Bioremediation
Friday, Feb 10 at 2pm
Greenpoint Public Library
107 Norman Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222

Newtown Creek Alliance Public Meeting
Monday, Feb 27 at 6pm
LaGuardia Community College
31-10 Thomson Avenue
Long Island City, N.Y. 11101
E500 (E Building)
Directions and map

To read the City’s Press release click here.  To read NRDC’s take on the announcement click here.  NCA is still still absorbing the news and combing through the documents to figure out whether this is an outright win for the Creek and the Harbor or more of a mixed bag.  The devil is in the details.  Stay tuned, we’ll update our blog and home page with our analysis as it becomes available.

Brooklyn
When: Tuesday, October 25th, 2:00pm – 4:00pm & 7:00pm – 9:00 pm
Where: St. Nick’s Alliance, 2 Kingsland Avenue, Arts@Renaissance at the Garden Level [map]

Queens
When: Thursday, October 27th, 2:00pm – 4:00pm & 7:00pm – 9:00 pm
Where: LaGuardia Community College, 31-10 Thomson Avenue, Room E-500 [directions]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites you to attend an informal public information session to discuss upcoming field work at the Newtown Creek Superfund site as part of the first phase of the remedial investigation. EPA representatives will be available to answer questions regarding the field work at Newtown Creek in an informal one-on-one setting.  To view the EPA public information session announcement and related site documents click here.

This weekends’ Open House New York Newtown Creek walking tours with NCA member and maritime photographer Mitch Waxman are sold out.

Free Newtown Creek Boat Tour for Educators

When: Tuesday, October 18th, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Where: The boat departs from the Long Island City East River Ferry terminal  [Directions]
Cost: Free!  But you must RSVP to kzidar@newtowncreekalliance.org

The Newtown Creek Alliance and the Working Harbor Committee are sponsoring a two-hour boat tour of Newtown Creek, just for teachers. The purpose of the tour is to inform educators on the most relevant environmental, economic and equity issues on the creek, with an eye toward incorporating this information into your curriculum. Please share this invitation with other educators you know along the Creek! The tour runs rain or shine.  This tour is made possible by funding from the NYCEF Newtown Creek Fund of the Hudson River Foundation.

Low Cost Newtown Creek Boat Boat Tours for the Public

When: Sunday, October 23rd, 10:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Where: TBD
Cost: $10/person [Tickets]

There will be two Newtown Creek boat tours on October 23rd. The first is from 10:00am – 12:00pm and the second from 1:00pm – 3:00pm. Come aboard for an intense Newtown Creek exploration! Our comfortable charter boat will travel the length of Newtown Creek. The tour will pause at many interesting locations for narration and discussion. Guest narrators will cover historical, environmental, and conservation issues. We will be motoring in a large comfortable vessel with indoor & outdoor seating. All guests receive a free Newtown Creek Souvenir Tour Brochure with historical information and vintage maps. The tours run rain or shine. These tours are made possible by funding from the NYCEF Newtown Creek Fund of the Hudson River Foundation.