VERNIKOV HOLDS INTERAGENCY MEETING ADDRESSING GASOLINE ODOR, POSSIBLE SOURCE

NEW YORK, NY : Councilwoman Inna Vernikov today held an interagency meeting to address the gasoline odor that has affected parts of South Brooklyn, particularly Sheepshead Bay. Attendees included Senator Scarcella-Spanton, Assemblymember Kalman Yeger, and representatives from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), FDNY, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Residents first reported the odor in late August. This week, DEC identified its first significant lead: a local facility reported a leaking drop tube in one of its tanks. Vapors from the leak could be entering the sewer system and causing the odor. This source is not confirmed and is only presumed to be the source of the problem by circumstantial evidence. There is also a possibility that there is more than one facility at issue.
Since making this discovery, the facility repaired the leaking tube, hired a consultant and developed a work plan. The work plan includes soil and vapor samples, as well as inventory reconciliation to figure out how long there has been a leak as well as how much was leaked. Every gas station is supposed to perform inventory monitoring and reconciliation. DEC advises that once the reconciliation is done, penalties and enforcement will be addressed.
Agency officials stressed that the cause is not yet confirmed and all evidence is circumstantial. Earlier inspections missed the problem because the faulty part was a small and specific piece–a drop tube–and not the fuel tank itself, which is what gets checked.
While the investigation continues, agencies will continue to manage the odor by remediating affected sites and flushing sewer lines in problem areas. If officials find additional leaks or concerns during the investigation, they will address them immediately.
FDNY is monitoring gas levels for explosive and flammable conditions and oxygen deficiency. To date, there have been no fires, hospital transports, or evacuations. If there are concerning readings, FDNY will take immediate steps.
Councilwoman Vernikov’s office has received numerous complaints of dizziness, headaches, and upper respiratory irritation. A Department of Health  representative advised that any symptoms caused by the gasoline smell should not have long-term effects and should subside quickly after exposure ends. Residents whose symptoms persist should consult a health care provider.
DEC is the lead agency on this and advises that repairs have been made along the way, stopping discharge, as well as collecting samples. They have also discovered issues in buildings and private homes which have escalated the situation. These include faulty P-traps. A P-trap is a curved, U-shaped pipe beneath a fixture drain that keeps sewer gases from rising into the home. Residents who have noticed an odor in their homes can check the P-traps.
If you notice a strong gasoline smell, please report it to 911. Additionally, please use the tracker linked below to make a report, which helps agencies pinpoint a location