February 7, 2020

National Grid’s contractor, Posillico Environmental, is implementing bulkhead barrier wall construction related to the Fulton former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) Site in accordance with the EPA-approved design.   This project includes replacing approximately 880 linear feet of existing bulkheads along the eastern side of the Gowanus Canal from the canal’s head end (at Butler Street) to the Union Street Bridge.  The new bulkhead barrier wall will include steel sheet piling with an anchored support system that has been designed to serve as both an environmental barrier and be able to support the EPA’s planned canal dredging and capping remedy. Mobilization for this phase of the work began on August 28, 2019 and barrier wall construction is currently expected to occur over an approximately 12-month period.  Community air monitoring and construction monitoring for vibration and movement is being performed throughout the project.

Completed Activities

Pre-clearing the bulkhead alignment of debris and potential obstructions to allow mobilization of equipment to the head end of the canal and facilitate construction of the barrier wall was completed in December 2019.  All debris removed during this pre-clearing was deemed to be not culturally significant and approved for off-site disposal by EPA.

Drilling equipment, a specialty barge, and a temporary water treatment system were mobilized to the site in January 2020 to support barrier wall construction activities.

Installation of the sound curtain between Parcel I building (270 Nevins Street) and canal was completed in early January 2020.

On-Going Activities

  • Preparing the upland area for pre-drilling of the bulkhead alignment.
  • Pre-drilling the barrier wall alignment using a drill rig along Parcel VI (242 Nevins Street) and Parcel VII (234 Butler Street).
  • Test pitting for utility locations.
  • Air monitoring.
  • Movement and vibration monitoring and assessment at Parcels I (270 Nevins Street), VI, VII and the head end of the canal.
  • Noise monitoring.
  • Drilling for a tieback anchor load test program at Parcel I and 525 Union Street.
  • Delivery of project related construction materials.

Upcoming Activities

Pre-drilling of the wall alignment within the canal is on-going and it is currently anticipated that this work will take approximately 3 -4  months to complete. Tieback anchor load testing is also anticipated to be performed within the coming weeks.      

Community Air Monitoring Plan Summary

Air quality monitoring is being performed consistent with the Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP) for the Fulton Site using a MiniRAE 3000+ PID for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and TSI Dust Trak DRX Dust Meter. No VOC or dust levels attributable to the barrier wall project have been detected above Action levels during working hours to date.

Contact Information

National Grid will provide updates as the work at the site proceeds.  For more information, please leave a message on our hotline at (718) 982-7349 or email us at info@fultonmgpsite.com

Website Update Information

National Grid will provide regular activity updates during construction of the Fulton barrier wall.  During the mobilization and site set-up phase, these updates are being provided on an approximately bi-weekly basis.  Once barrier wall construction is underway, these updates will be provided approximately weekly.  All updates will be archived under the Key Documents tab of this website.



Pre-drilling Operation from Land at Parcel VI.



Pre-drilling Operation from the Jack-Up-Barge along Parcel VI.



Drilling Load Test Anchors at Parcel 1.