National Grid:Fulton

October 16, 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 in late August 2019 and the barrier wall construction is currently expected to be completed later this year. Community air monitoring and construction monitoring for vibration and movement is being performed throughout the project.

Completed Activities

December 2019

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.

January 2020

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.

February 2020

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

March 2020

Pre-drilling the barrier wall alignment along portions of Parcel I (270 Nevins Street) was completed in early March 2020.

April 2020

Installation of sheet piling along Parcel VII was completed in early April 2020.
Fortification of the foundation system of Parcel I building was completed in early April 2020.
Tieback anchor load testing along Parcel I was performed in mid-April 2020.
Fortification of Parcel VI building was completed in late April 2020.
Probing of barrier wall alignment along 525 Union Street was completed in late April 2020.

May 2020

Installation of sheet piling along Parcel VI was completed in mid-May 2020.

June 2020

Installation of sheet piling along Parcel I was completed in mid-June 2020.

July 2020

Installation of sheet piling along DeGraw Street right-of-way.

August 2020

Installation of micropiles for CSO RH-033.
Installation of micropiles for barrier wall anchorage system at Parcels VI and VII.
Installation of tieback anchors along Parcels VI and VII.

September 2020

Fortification of the existing foundation system of the 525 Union Street building.
Installation of steel beams for barrier wall system at RH-038.
Installation of tieback anchors along Parcel I.

October 2020

Micropile load testing for barrier wall anchorage at Parcel VI and VII.

On-Going Activities

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 and equipment, including steel sheet piling.
Demolition of top of existing wall systems and backfilling between new and existing bulkheads.
Preparation of upland area within Parcel I for installation of barrier wall anchorage systems.
Placement of concrete for barrier wall system at RH-038.
Excavation, pile cap installation, and pipe placement for CSO RH-033 extension.
Fortification of the existing foundation system of the 525 Union Street building.
Installation of barrier wall anchorage connections along Parcel VI and VII.
Installation of sheet piling along 525 Union Street.

Upcoming Activities

Continued delivery of sheet pile materials.
Continued installation of wall anchoring systems.
Continued installation of sheetpiling and tiebacks.

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.

Installation of Sheeting Along 525 Union Street.

Installation of Barrier Wall Anchorage Connections Along Parcel VI and VII.