The Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund sponsored the new Greenpoint Public Library.
By Jean Brannum
Attorney General Leticia James and DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced the completion of the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund Sept 26, which provided $68.8 million for environmental issues after the Exxon Mobil Oil Spill settlement with the state in 2010.
The Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (GCEF) concluded as Climate Week concludes. James and Mahar highlighted the many projects made possible by the fund including a new public library, educational center, and green improvements at McGolrick Park and other locations around the neighborhood.
“Although no amount of money can make up for the environmental harm ExxonMobil brought to our neighborhood, funding these incredible projects has been a beautiful start,” said Assembly Member Emily Gallagher.
The projects included the addition of nature walks and bird-watching groups at McGolrick Park in addition to planting and beautification efforts.
The GCEF also sponsored the Greenpoint Library, a brand-new sustainable public library and environmental education center that continues to host programming for local families. A total of 77 grants ranging from $5,000 to $5 million came from the GCEF.
“Working together with the community, and with the generous support of GCEF, we were able to turn the tragedy of an oil spill into a modern, green library which will serve the community for generations to come,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library.
Dewey Thompson, founder of the North Brooklyn Community Boathouse, expressed his gratitude towards the fund. The GCEF contributed to the boathouse on the Newtown Creek.
“GCEF offered transformational grants for so many environmentally focused organizations in Greenpoint; not only giving local, volunteer-run non-profits like North Brooklyn Community Boathouse the ability to expand programs and capacity but creating synergies between grantees, such as our partnership with the Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center,” Thompson said.
Projects sponsored by the GCEF included improvements made for Msgr. McGolrick Park.
About The Spill
The fund was created in 2011 with funds from the ExxonMobil settlement with the state following a massive oil spill that was discovered in 1978. For 140 years, 17-30 million gallons of oil leaked across 55 acres of underground Greenpoint, according to the Newtown Creek Alliance.
Several years of litigation followed, but eventually, ExxonMobil was on the hook for cleaning up the spill. Since cleanup from Mobil, began in 1979, 12.9 gallons of oil have been recovered. ExxonMobil is currently petitioning the city to allow for consolidation of its groundwater pumping facilities.
ExxonMobil paid $25 million in total for projects that would benefit the community, restore Newtown Creek, and remediate the land, according to an announcement from the DEC. Funding increased to $68.8 million total.
The Department of Environmental Conservation will continue to require ExxonMobil to protect Newtown Creek.
