Gas used for cooking, lighting, heating and commercial purposes was manufactured at the Rockaway Park Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) at Beach Channel Drive and 108th Street between the late 1870's and 1958. During that period, the plant expanded several times as land was reclaimed from Jamaica Bay. The by-products of gas production that were released on the site are responsible for contamination which is now being addressed through a Remedial Action Plan and Remedial Design approved and being conducted under the oversight of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation by National Grid. The site is owned by National Grid, which is responsible for the investigation and remediation of the site because it was operated by a predecessor company at the time the contamination occurred.
This website provides information on the Rockaway Park former MGP Site, the remediation projects and opportunities for public participation. National Grid is committed to the protection and enhancement of the environment, always seeking ways to minimize the environmental impacts of our past, present and future activities. We hope this website, a part of our public participation and outreach efforts, is helpful and informative. If you need additional information or have suggestions to make our website better, please contact the individuals listed under Contacts.
Site Activities Update - December 2024
Remedial Construction for the bulkhead area phase of work began in October 2015 and was completed in May 2016. The bulkhead area is located immediately north of Beach Channel Drive between Beach 108th Street and the end of the Rockaway Freeway, north of the main site parcel. The remediation was performed by National Grid, under the oversight of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).
National Grid's contractor completed the esplanade work as part of the Rockaway Park Former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) site remediation in coordination with NYC Parks Department. This esplanade went beyond our environmental commitment by installing planting beds, a staircase, walkway, benches for the Rockaway community.
Along Beach Channel Drive, National Grid coordinated closely with NYC DOT to repair the area of the road adjacent to the bulkhead. Road re-construction was completed on May 2016. National Grid will begin composing a Final Engineer Report and a Site Management Plan for the former Rockaway Park MGP site. Once both documents are finalized and approved by the NYSDEC and NYSDOH, the Site Management Plan will be implemented on National Grid property and the bulkhead area.
National Grid will provide activity updates as developments warrant for the neighbors of the Rockaway Park Former MGP site. The Archive section of this website includes the past construction and information Updates and periodic submissions. National Grid maintains a telephone hotline for the site, (631) 348-6250, for any questions or comments from the community.