Airport Runoff Polluting Waters
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder recently sent a letter to Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority, requesting that every step be taken to prevent harmful runoff into Jamaica Bay and immediate attention be given to clean the waters of Bergen Basin, an inlet located off of Jamaica Bay on the western edge of John F. Kennedy International Airport.
“Unnecessary runoff of toxic materials from JFK has created an environment that is not sustainable for local fish and wildlife,” Goldfeder said. “Due to the geographical location of Bergen Basin within Jamaica Bay, water remains stagnate and has no natural way to circulate within the bay.”
“The Port Authority needs to move immediately to address the 26 outfall pipes that carry pollutants from JFK Airport into Jamaica Bay,” added Dan Mundy, president of the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers. “We believe this contaminated runoff, which includes millions of gallons of harmful chemical de-icing fluids, are the primary cause of the degraded quality of water found in Bergin Basin. Airports around the world are installing systems to recapture and treat this type of harmful discharge and it is about time that the Port Authority takes steps to address its environmental impact on Jamaica Bay.”
In his letter, Goldfeder called for an immediate review of JFK protocols regarding the dumping of potentially toxic materials into Jamaica Bay and requested the PA examine alternate means of disposing of such materials. In addition, Goldfeder proposed installing an air filtration device in Bergen Basin that would provide a constant supply of oxygen to the surface of the water.
A similar device was recently incity Department of Environmental Protection in Shellbank Basin in Howard Beach and has been proven successful, the lawmaker said.
“The pollutants from Bergen Basin are going right into Jamaica Bay and then fishermen are catching these contaminated fish and ingesting their toxins,” said Sal Mossa, president of the Howard Beach Old Mill Yacht Club.
Earlier this year, Goldfeder announced that his legislation to limit the dangers of dumping dredged material in Jamaica Bay and prohibit the use of contaminated materials for the purposes of filling borrow pits had passed the Assembly (A.9871-A).
“We need to preserve the delicate eco-system of Jamaica Bay and protect the thousands of species that inhabit its grounds each year,” said Goldfeder. “The hazardous waters of Bergen Basin should not be ignored any longer and I urge the Port Authority to take immediate action to stop needless dumping of airport toxins and implement a plan to clean Bergen Basin.”
