Gowanus Toxique No. 2: Nasty Stuff Takes Aim at Park Slope?

There is some nastiness underfoot in Gowanus. Specifically, the Brooklyn Papers reports an underground 'toxic plume.' And, the plume--which contains benzene is under the Gowanus Whole Foods site and moving in the general direction of Park Slope.

The "underground cloud of toxins," as Ariella Cohen calls it in the Brooklyn Papers, is spreading, according to engineers. It is said to originate from property owned by Verizon next to the old Power Station, which is part of the future site of Gowanus Village. (Should make for some interesting clean-up issues on that project.) Whole Foods says that they should be able to keep their 2008 opening date. Thank God. Benzene has also been found in groundwater moving from the Keyspan site near the Smith-9th Street Station toward Carroll Gardens.