Gas used for cooking, lighting, heating and commercial purposes was manufactured at the Williamsburg Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) from approximately 1887 through the late 1930’s or early 1940’s. Historical records, while incomplete, indicate that an independent company operated the plant before that company merged to form Brooklyn Union Gas in 1895. The plant used coal and petroleum products to create a flammable gas which was piped into the surrounding neighborhoods. After the property was sold by Brooklyn Union, it was subdivided and now has multiple private owners and uses, including commercial and warehouse operations and a former City of New York Department of Sanitation garage. National Grid is responsible for the investigation and remediation of the site because it was operated by a predecessor company (Brooklyn Union) at the time MGP-related contamination occurred.

This website provides information on the Williamsburg former MGP Site, the Remedial Investigation of the site, and opportunities for public participation. National Grid is committed to the protection and enhancement of the environment, always seeking ways to minimize the environmental impacts of our past, present and future activities. We hope this website, a part of our public participation and outreach efforts, is helpful and informative. If you need additional information or have suggestions to make our website better, please contact the individuals listed under Contacts.

For more information about the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Manufactured Gas Plant Site program go to: http://www.dec.ny.gov/
chemical/8430.html

Update, December 22, 2022

Remedial Investigation Commences

Remedial Investigation

Remedial Investigation field work at the former Williamsburg Works MGP is being conducted under a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)-approved Remedial Investigation Work Plan Addendum (RIWPA) for Parcels 3 and 4. The work includes the installation of soil borings, monitoring wells, test pits, and soil vapor points to gather information required to determine the nature and extent of impacts at Parcels 3 and 4 of the former Williamsburg Works MGP. The RIWPA field work began on July 7, 2022. Community air monitoring was initiated on Monday, July 11, 2022, and is complete.

Website Updates:

On-going activities:

• None.

Recently Completed:

• Completed soil vapor sampling.
• Completed demobilization. 
• Completed restoration.

Upcoming activities:

• None.

If you have any questions or comments about the work on the Site, please use the Williamsburg MGP Telephone Hotline at (718) 982-7349.