by Daniel E. Estrin
Supervising Attorney, Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, Inc.
Adjunct Professor of Law, Pace Law School
I am thrilled to report that, in partnership with the Office of the New York Attorney General and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the Hudson Riverkeeper has reached a settlement in its epic eight-year legal battle to hold ExxonMobil legally responsible to remediate the 17 to 30 million gallons of petroleum contamination underlying parts of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The petroleum contamination has also been leaching into Newtown Creek (which was recently added to the National Priorities List, aka “Superfund”) for decades. Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic legal interns, supervised by Pace Law professors, represented Riverkeeper in the federal litigation and settlement negotiations that have today culminated in this settlement.
Riverkeeper’s press release detailing the settlement can be viewed here. Attorney General Cuomo’s press release can be viewed here. A 2007 New York Magazine article about the contamination that is the subject of this settlement can be viewed here.