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Kenneth Eng
Chief, Air Compliance Branch
US EPA, Region 2
Mr. Eng
I am a medical doctor and am reporting a serious air quality health hazard at the west end of Vesey Street where the New York Waterway ferries dock. They have old, unclean diesel engines in all of the boats. When they dock, the boats rev the engines and dark black exhaust spews out (see video). This happens every day.
The direct and acute health hazard comes from the fact that 60 yards away, on land, is a well-kept and popular series of children’s playgrounds. At certain times of the day when multiple ferries are docked at once, the fumes are so powerful that they burn the eyes and throat. These fumes contain benzene, ozone, and many other toxic compounds that the Clean Air Act would never find permissible.
Since these boats fall under interstate commerce, no single city or state seems able to do anything about this problem. I believe that your “Mobile source unit”, led by Mr. Michael Moltzen, might be able to deal with this and use new clean diesel regulations to deal with the problem.
We contacted the CEO of New York Waterway, Mr. Paul Goodman, and he refused to comment.
The EPA would certainly make thousands of friends down here if you can be the agency to finally solve this health hazard.
We filed a report at the EPA, # 987024
Steven Greer, MD
BatteryPark.TV