February 21, 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 be completed in late Fall 2020.  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.

Pre-drilling the barrier wall alignment along Parcel VII (234 Butler Street) was completed in early February 2020.

On-Going Activities

  • Continued preparation of the upland area for pre-drilling of the bulkhead alignment.
  • Pre-drilling the barrier wall alignment using drill rigs along portions of Parcel VI (242 Nevins Street), Parcel I (270 Nevins Street), and 525 Union Street.
  • Test pitting for utility locations.
  • Air monitoring.
  • Movement and vibration monitoring and assessment at Parcels I, VI, VII, 525 Union Street and the head end of the canal.
  • Noise monitoring.
  • 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.


Pre-drilling Operation from Land at Parcel VI.



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