Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY - New Chemical Fear

Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY - residents had their worst fears realized when new environmental tests revealed high concentrations of dangerous chemical vapors lurking beneath their soil.

Tests released by the state Department of Environmental Conservation showed elevated levels of the carcinogen benzene and the potentially combustible gas methane in the soil under stores and warehouses in the Brooklyn neighborhood.

At the request of the DEC, the tests were conducted by ExxonMobil, whose predecessor companies spilled 17 to 30 million gallons of oil in the area in 1950. The agency required the tests after Riverkeeper - which filed a federal suit against ExxonMobil in 2004 demanding a clean-up - did its own testing and found vapors.

A public meeting on the new findings will be held on Sept. 27.