Greenpoint (Brooklyn)

The Northeast section of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY is a heavily industrialized area and the former site of numerous refinery and chemical operations dating back to the mid 1800's. Refinery operations ended in 1966, when the Mobil Oil Refinery (formerly Standard Oil of New York) was dismantled. In September of 1978 the United States Coast Guard on a routine patrol discovered a light sheen on the surface of Newtown Creek, a waterway long used for industrial transportation. A subsequent investigation revealed a plume of petroleum products generally 30-40 feet beneath the earth's surface. Unlike oil spills produced by a single event, the plume accumulated over more than 100 years as a result of multiple releases by multiple contributors. Although ExxonMobil does not believe it is the only responsible party for the area's contamination, it takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and has been working hard since 1979 to remediate the site. This information offers a greater understanding of the area, its history, the technology used in remediation, and the progress being made.