Brooklyn: Greenpoint
![Contaminated Site: Severely polluted site that may be on an official governmental "clean-up" list. May include oil spills. Contaminated Site](https://www.opengreenmap.org/sites/default/files/taxonomy_image/category_pictures_48.gif)
![Significant Organization/Agency: Socially responsible non-profit organization, NGO or educational group, government office, club or advocacy group that contributes to sustainability in important ways. Significant Organization/Agency](https://www.opengreenmap.org/sites/default/files/taxonomy_image/significant_org.gif)
![Solid Waste Transfer Station: Where refuse is transferred for more efficient movement to a landfill, recycling processor or other resource/waste facility. Some transfer stations offer places to exchange useful items, separate recyclables or dispose of household toxics. Solid Waste Transfer Station](https://www.opengreenmap.org/sites/default/files/taxonomy_image/solid_waste_transfer.gif)
![Diverse Neighborhood: A part of the community where many different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs are represented. Diverse Neighborhood](https://www.opengreenmap.org/sites/default/files/taxonomy_image/diverse_neighborhood.gif)
![Gentrification: A neighborhood or district that has been redeveloped by upper- and middle-income individuals and stores, displacing low-income families and small businesses. Gentrification](https://www.opengreenmap.org/sites/default/files/taxonomy_image/gentrification.gif)
Overview
The north Brooklyn neighborhood of Greenpoint has a history of both pollution and environmental activism, as community residents and activists have banded together, sometimes with the aid of their local representatives, to fight highly polluting facilities and practices situated in a now rapidly being gentrified traditionally working-class and Polish immigrant neighborhood. Over the last 30 years, the huge Greenpoint incinerator, which was out of compliance with all state, city, and federal regulations was closed, and after an increasing series of highly odorous releases from the Sewage Treatment Plant, the city was compelled to control the outflows and build a vastly expanded facility. Greenpoint’s Newtown Creek sits atop one of the worst oil spills in United States history. 17 to 30 million gallons of oil are believed to have been seeping into the groundwater since the 1950’s, with a recent lawsuit against ExxonMobil, BP and Chevron Corporation resulting in a 19 million dollar fund for environmental community projects.
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Connections
- New York
- Staten IslandUnited States
- Colombia
- Pereira
- CamdenUnited States
- CaliColombia
- Colombia
- United Kingdom
- CamdenUnited States
- FlorianópolisBrazil
- CamdenUnited States
- CamdenUnited States
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- CamdenUnited States
- CamdenUnited States
- Mogi MirimBrazil
- CamdenUnited States
- SquamishCanada
- FifeUnited Kingdom
- United States
- CamdenUnited States
- Mexico
- CamdenUnited States
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- CaliColombia
- CamdenUnited States
Multimedia
![](https://opengreenmap.org./sites/default/files/imagecache/320max/user_upload/greenpoint_waterfront.jpg)
Brooklyn: Greenpoint
Impacts
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