Proposed List Of Members For The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group Released

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Proposed Gowanus Canal CAG Organizational Members

Gowanus Canal CAG Members At-Large

This past May, when Jeffrey Edelstein of Edelstein Associates was chosen by the Carroll Gardens/ Gowanus Canal Area residents to be the Neutral Facilitator for the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) as part of the EPA's Superfund designation of the polluted waterway, his first order of business was to meet with neighborhood organizations and individuals who wished to be on the CAG and to come up with a group that was representative of the community.

This was an important first step. A Superfund Community Advisory Group is designed to serve as the focal point for the exchange of information among the local community and EPA, the State regulatory agency, and other pertinent Federal agencies involved in cleanup of the Superfund site. As its facilitator, Mr. Edelstein will serve as a representative for the CAG and will help its members understand the technical and scientific information put forth by the EPA.

Today, Mr. Edelstein has released his preliminary list of the Gowanus Canal GAG. (Please click here for the entire document) He is now asking the community for review the list and to comment before it is finalized. He writes:

Attached you will find a memorandum presenting the proposed list of members of the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) for the Superfund clean-up. The memorandum also describes: 1) the assessment approach that was used to develop this list; 2) the issues of concern that were described to me by members of community during the assessment; 3) the observations, conclusions and criteria that I used to develop the membership list; 4) the elements and structure that are needed for the CAG to be successful; and 5) other background information.

The public is invited to submit comments to me about this memorandum.

Comments should be sent either via email (edelstein@psouth.net) or US mail (PO Box 389, East Waterboro, ME 04030) by 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Friday, September 17. Following the review of comments, any changes to the proposed list, if warranted, will be announced along with the date, time, and location for the first CAG meeting, which is expected to be in October. The meeting will be open to the public. In order to provide all members of the community equal opportunity to comment on the proposed formation of the CAG, this memorandum has not been shared with any individuals, agencies, businesses, or organizations prior to its public release today.

Thank you to the 52 individuals representing the diverse sectors of the community who have expressed interest in serving the community through CAG participation and who have provided valuable and thoughtful input during this assessment phase.

Regards,

Jeff Edelstein

Please take some to review his proposed list here. We all need to stay informed and involved in this process.

I, myself, volunteered to be a member of the CAG and am very proud that my name has been included on that preliminary list.

The Coalition For Respectful Development (C.O.R.D.) one of the neighborhood groups that tirelessly lobbied to get the Gowanus Canal listed as an E.P.A. Superfund site, has also been chosen to be on the G.A.G. The group has just issued a statement on their website. To read it,click here.

Related Reading:

Jeffrey Edelstein Chosen As Neutral Facilitator For Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group

SUPERFUND! Gowanus Canal Gets Listed!

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