Riverkeeper and Councilman Eric Gioia Take Aim at Concrete Polluters on Newtown Creek
Photo by Giles Ashford
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Contacts:
Craig Michaels, Riverkeeper: 917.579.5582
Eric Koch, NYC Councilman Eric Gioia: 617.733.6891
For immediate release:
NYCON Allegedly Dumping Concrete Illegally in Newtown Creek NEW YORK- Today, the environmental watchdog group Riverkeeper and New York City Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Queens), Chair of the City Council Committee on Oversight and Investigations, announced legal action against a major concrete manufacturer on Newtown Creek for violations of federal environmental laws. They are alleging that NYCON Supply Corporation, located in Long Island City, Queens, has been illegally discharging concrete waste without a permit into a tributary of the heavily polluted Newtown Creek, in violation of both the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Newtown Creek, the site of a massive oil spill, is one of the most polluted waterways in the United States. During its routine patrols of NYC waterways, Riverkeeper has observed NYCON dumping concrete waste into the Dutch Kills tributary of Newtown Creek without a required Clean Water Act permit. Riverkeeper also observed piles of gravel and layers of concrete covering the riverbed adjacent to the NYCON facility.
Today, Riverkeeper filed a Notice of Intent to Sue NYCON. In addition to the lack of a Clean Water Act permit, Riverkeeper also believes that the current discharge of NYCON’s waste constitutes an imminent and substantial endangerment to health and environment under RCRA. Both the Clean Water Act and RCRA authorize citizen groups to sue polluters, subjecting potential violators to up to $32,500 in penalties per day per violation.
"The pollution issues confronting Newtown Creek and other waterways surrounding New York City cannot be fully addressed without enforcing environmental laws and holding polluters accountable for their actions," said Riverkeeper Investigator Craig Michaels. "We will continue to work with elected officials and government agencies to track down and prosecute environmental lawbreakers who threaten the environmental and public health of our communities."
"For too long, Newtown Creek has been the forgotten waterway of New York City, and polluters have taken advantage by dumping with impunity," said Councilman Eric Gioia. "We're here today to send a strong message that that we will not stand for more dumping and more pollution in the creek. Polluters, beware: we are watching, we are vigilant, and we will go after you."
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