To get raw sewage out of Newtown Creek, EPA takes the cheap route
The neighbors aren't too pleased.
The federal agency tasked with overseeing the cleanup of Newtown Creek recently approved a proposal put forth by the city to limit the amount of raw sewage entering the waterway — but residents say the plan falls short.
The Long-Term Control Plan — which calls for building a massive tunnel underneath the federal Superfund site to collect waste — would reduce the amount of combined sewer overflow entering the waterway by roughly 61 percent. The Environmental Protection Agency, however, could have selected “100 percent CSO control,” but decided to choose a cheaper option that leaves the creek in a more polluted state.
Attendees at a Newtown Creek Community Advisory Group meeting on Monday questioned that decision, alleging that the EPA is potentially skirting its duties by choosing the less comprehensive option.