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
June 2026
Designation of Operable Units
Approval of Remedial Investigation Report for Parcels 2, 3, and 4 (Operable Unit 1)
Submittal of Supplemental Remedial Investigation (SRI) Report for Parcel 6
Submittal of Operable Unit 1 Alternatives Analysis Reports
A map of the site and parcels can be seen on the Site Description tab. Individual parcel summaries can be found at:
Completed Activities:
- September 2025,
- NYSDEC created the following operable units. The approach and schedule for investigation and remediation will be specific for each OU:
- Operable Unit 1: Parcels 2, 3, and 4
- Operable Unit 2: Parcel 1
- NYSDEC approved the RI Report dated August 2025 for OU 1, and
- NYSDEC requested an Alternatives Analysis for OU 1.
- October 2025, National Grid submitted a Supplemental Remedial Investigation (SRI) Report for Parcel 6.
- November 2025, National Grid submitted the draft Remedial Alternatives Analysis Report for Operable Unit 1.
- April 2026, the NYSDEC provided comments on the draft Remedial Alternatives Analysis for Operable Unit 1
- May 2026, the NYSDEC requested additional supplemental remedial investigation activities on Parcel 6.
Ongoing Activities:
- Revisions to the Remedial Alternatives Analysis Report for Operable Unit 1.
- NAPL recovery
- Development of a Parcel 5 SRI Work Plan
- Development of a Parcel 6 SRI Work Plan
Upcoming Activities:
- Submittal of the revised Remedial Alternatives Analysis Report for Operable Unit 1
- Submittal of the Parcel 5 SRI Work Plan
- Submittal of the Parcel 6 SRI Work Plan
If you have any questions or comments about the work on the Site, please use the Williamsburg MGP Telephone Hotline at (718) 982-7349.