The Gowanus Canal site was a tidally influenced estuarine creek with several tributaries and associated wetlands at the western-most edge of Long Island in Brooklyn, New York. In 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed the site on the National Priorities List due to the presence of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, metals, and volatile organic contaminants (VOCs). The remedy including bulkhead replacement, dredging, solidification (as needed), and capping of sediments is ongoing.

The natural resource Trustees for the site are US Department of Interior (Fish and Wildlife Service), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and New York State (Department of Environmental Conservation). The Trustees initiated a natural resource damage assessment and restoration (NRDAR) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) in 2015. The Preassessment Screen and Determination (PAS) and Notice of Intent to Conduct an Assessment (NOI) are available on this website. The Trustees identified surface water, sediment, interjurisdictional fishes, migratory birds, benthic macroinvertebrates, and habitats supporting natural resources as potentially having been injured by exposure to the unpermitted releases of hazardous chemicals into Gowanus Canal. There may also be the loss of recreational uses as a result of the contamination, including the ongoing fish consumption advisories due to hazardous chemicals. Continuing to follow the CERCLA NRDAR regulations, in March 2024 the Trustees released a draft Assessment Plan (AP) for public comment. Over 400 comments were received during the 105-day public comment period. A main purpose of the assessment plan is to evaluate “whether the approach used for assessing the damage is likely to be cost-effective and meets the definition of reasonable cost”. 43 CFR § 11.31. The final assessment plan, including a response to comments, was released May 2026.

The Trustees are continuing to coordinate with EPA and the response actions at the site while the NRDAR assessment is ongoing. Future updates on the NRDAR will be made available on this website.