Scope of Work: Brooklyn Marine Terminal

Comments on the Environmental Review Process (March 2026)

These comments on the Draft Scope of Work for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal

have been prepared on behalf of the City Club of New York. They represent the

collective effort of the organization and its professional consultants.

Background

The Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) is a unique part of the City’s infrastructure,

and the proposed action is ambitiously large. The environmental review of such

a project will require actions that are not well-suited to the general guidance

provided by the City’s Environmental Quality Review Technical Manual (Tech

Manual). While that document offers guidance on studying environmental

impacts for all projects undergoing state environmental review in New York City,

New York State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) is designed with a

scoping process for projects like this. The Lead Agency has the flexibility to

shape the Scope of the environmental review according to the action and site,

adjusting the review parameters to meet the needs of the project and the

public.

We understand that the Lead Agency will receive many comments on the

Scope of this review. Hopefully, these comments will be carefully considered,

and the Final Scope of Work (FSOW) fully demonstrates the purpose and need

for the project. Further, it is our goal with these comments to ensure that the

proposed action’s environmental impacts are fully disclosed and are compared

to feasible alternatives that may reflect a competing or complementary vision

for this area of Brooklyn. Only when the impacts and benefits of the alternatives

are thoroughly studied and disclosed can the Lead Agency and the public New

make an informed decision about this critical and unique resource of the City of

New York.

Read the full letter below for details: