Cleaning Up New York’s Brownfields

Thousands of contaminated and abandoned gas stations, factories, other industrial and commercial sites are poisoning the air, land, and water for communities across New York.

Case Overview

Thousands of contaminated and abandoned gas stations, factories, other industrial and commercial sites are poisoning the air, land, and water for communities across New York. The state adopted regulations that fell far short of the landmark law passed in 2003 to clean up many of these brownfields.

In February 2008, the court ruled that contaminated sites must be cleaned up to the statutory cleanup objectives, not simply to the contaminated background levels at the site.

A brownfield site in Hell's Kitchen, New York City.
A brownfield site in Hell's Kitchen, New York City. (Photo courtesy of Adam Kuban)

Case Updates

June 26, 2008 Press Release

Decades of Delay in Landfill Cleanup Prompts Lawsuit by Staten Islanders

Fed up with years of inaction, residents will sue to clean up site of illegal toxic waste dumping

June 5, 2008 Press Release

Groups Continue Fight To Strengthen NY's Brownfield Cleanup Standards

Environmental advocates file opening legal papers in Brownfield Cleanup court appeal

June 5, 2008 document

New York Brownfields Appellate Brief

Legal papers filed in June 2008 in support of Earthjustice's New York Brownfield cleanup court appeal.