By Nathan Duke
Cuomo's suit would be the fourth to be filed against the company for the spill. In 2005, residents of Greenpoint, Brooklyn filed a class-action suit, while elected officials from both affected boroughs have filed two separate suits. But Cuomo's action would be the highest profile suit against the oil giant to date. “This is one of the worst environmental disasters in the nation, larger than the Exxon Valdez and slower in the cleanup,” Cuomo said. “ExxonMobil has proven itself far less than a model corporate citizen, placing its greed for windfall profits over public safety and the well-being of the environment.”A spokesman for ExxonMobil said he was aware of the attorney general's intent.”It would be inappropriate for me to comment before we get the suit papers,” he said.Cuomo said his office also plans to sue British Petroleum, Chevron, Keyspan and Phelps Dodge for their alleged roles in the creek's contamination.The attorney general said he would sue the companies on grounds of violating the federal Clean Water Act by continuing to allow pollutants to spill into the creek.”It is imperative that ExxonMobil and the other companies responsible for this pollution be held fully accountable,” Gov. Eliot Spitzer said.To date, an estimated 17 million gallons of oil have seeped into the creek from a spill which took place more than a half century ago. The U.S. Coast Guard detected the spill in 1978, but only an estimated 9 million gallons have so far been removed. Officials from the Tarrytown environmental advocacy group Riverkeeper said 32.5 gallons of oil continue to seep into the creek each day.Although Greenpoint, Brooklyn is believed to be most affected by the spill, Queens neighborhoods such as Long Island City, West Maspeth and Sunnyside also border the creek.Environmental advocates and elected officials praised Cuomo's intent to sue and said action against the oil company on the state level has been long overdue.”It was like the cavalry coming in,” said Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Sunnyside), who is involved in two suits against the oil giant. “This has been like David fighting a polluting Goliath.”The state Environmental Protection Agency is currently planning to conduct an independent study of the spill which would analyze soil, water and air to assess the health and safety impacts on Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods near the creek. Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
