Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Oil Spill (With Cement!) In Brooklyn's Paerdegat Basin
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 30, 2012
Modified Sep 30, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 30, 2012
Modified Sep 30, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Did Brooklyn really need another oil spill? The NYC Office of Emergency Management has warned the public not to fish or participate in any recreational activities near the Paerdegat Basin because of an oil spill in the channel, which opens to the Jamaica Bay. Of course, some of those near the basin may have been tipped off by the gas odor.
What happened? According to WABC 7, "National Grid was replacing a gas main on Thursday that runs through the waterway when 1,100 gallons of a petroleum-cement mixture spilled into the basin. Workers were 'killing' the gas main by filling it with cement, when something went wrong, and the product spilled into the water."
The U.S. Coast Guard is overseeing the cleanup, and Sheepshead Bites reports, "Coast Guard and local governmental agencies will investigate the cause of the accident. If National Grid is determined to have caused it or acted inappropriately, they will be fined, [U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Erik] Swanson said. There will also be continued testing of the waters to ensure the public’s safety."
The 1,100 gallons is nothing compared to the oil spill (from Exxon) that occurred in Greenpoint and Newtown Creek over decades—it's believed that amount of oil is between 17 million and 30 million gallons. That's why Newtown Creek is a Superfund site, after all!
Tagged
brooklyn
cement
gross
jamaica bay
national grid
oil spill
paerdegat basin
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani opts not to define antisemitism in report to combat Jewish hate crimes
The decision avoids a hotly debated issue over whether certain kinds of criticisms of Israel constitute antisemitism.
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Sep 29, 2026 at 11:36 a.m. ET
Police are still investigating bike crash that killed dad of 2 in Central Park
The family is raising money for the wife and two daughters he leaves behind.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Police are still investigating bike crash that killed dad of 2 in Central Park
The family is raising money for the wife and two daughters he leaves behind.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NYC has a plan to stop homeless people from cycling between hospitals and the streets
By
Karen Yi
Early Addition: Billy Joel is auctioning off 70 of his motorcycles
By
James Ramsay
Man dragged to death by subway in Brooklyn after getting caught on closing doors
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .