http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/03/02/2719629/among-most-polluted-in-us-nyc.html#
Among most polluted in US, NYC area awaits cleanup
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One of the most polluted neighborhoods in the nation was added to the EPA’s Superfund site list in 2010. This area is across the East River not far from the bustling city of Manhattan. For much of the 20th century, industrial waste was dumped in the bottom of Newton Creek. Now in this inhabitable, “dull gray waterway” you can find industrial waste, sewage overflow, petroleum, and all sorts of garbage. An underground oil leak that occurred has estimated to have left 30 million gallons of oil in its wake, much more than the Exxon Valdez oil spill. All of these pollutants have combined to create a 15 foot thick layer of ooze at the bottom of the creek. The sludge runs through a neighborhood of homes and warehouses just outside Brooklyn and Queens. The first steps to address this problem are being taken, but the area may never be clean again.
Pollution is a major environmental issue in our country, partly because there were no set standards one hundred years ago. Emerson and Thoreau would want us to see nature as a place where we can find our spirituality, not dump our trash. Imagine if this was Walden Pond where Thoreau went to learn more about life; the disgusting remains of this waterway would not have been very inspiring. As humans we have great power, but with great power comes great responsibility. If we want to preserve nature for future generations, we need to stop treating waterways as garbage dumps. Emerson and Thoreau would be happy with those few people who have decided to do something about this area, that way more people can go into nature to find their own“reason and faith.” |