Con Edison Update from November PA Meeting

At our regular Parents’ Association meeting on November 18, representatives of Con Edison presented an overview of their plans for addressing the coal tar contamination beneath our school building and grounds. Parents listened intently as the Con Ed spokespersons described the results of their August indoor air quality tests along with their plans to install a depressurization system, something like a vacuum cleaner, underneath the basement floor of the school building. This new system will reduce air pressure beneath the building and vent any chemical vapors rising from the contaminated soil away from the building and into the atmosphere. In addition, Con Edison will install a barrier system to control further movement of coal tar toward the Harlem River.

Con Edison personnel were joined by William Ottaway from the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Dawn Hettrick from the NY State Department of Health. In attendance as well were the PA’s independent environmental consultants, Lenny Siegel and Peter Strauss, and our legal representatives from NY Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI), Gavin Kearney and Dawn Phillip. Bernard Orlan from the DOE, Yvonne Przybyla from State Senator Jose Serrano’s office, and Shanifah Riera from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer’s office were also present; the PA is grateful for their continued support. Mr. Siegel summarized Con Edison’s formal presentation in plain English, stating that the air quality in the school building is safe (at least no worse than that outside the building and around NYC) and that Con Edison’s approach to this project has so far been professional.

Con Edison will release their formal Analysis of Alternatives Report (AAR) in January or February, after which the public will have 30 days to comment. A public meeting will be convened during that 30-day period to receive public input and address questions. The PA will look to Mr. Siegel and Mr. Strauss for their technical evaluations of the AAR and anticipates that they will be involved in the public comment process. Copies of Con Edison’s November 18 slide presentation are available through the PA.