On Wed., Jan. 25 the Board of Standards and Appeals will hold a public hearing for an appeal to a fuel storage waiver at a Tribeca telecommunications building.
Last June, the city’s Department of Buildings granted the owners of 60 Hudson St. a conditional waiver allowing them to store 6,400 gallons of diesel fuel on six floors of the 20-story Art Deco building.
Although diesel fuel is difficult to ignite, once ablaze the ensuing flame is hard to extinguish. Nearby 7 World Trade Center burned uncontrollably for hours when the diesel fuel it stored ignited in the Trade Center disaster. The building collapsed in the afternoon on Sept. 11, 2001.
Local residents have long voiced concern that the fuel stored at 60 Hudson poses an imminent safety risk to the community and could be a likely target for an attack.
A neighborhood coalition, Neighbors Against N.O.I.S.E., filed an appeal of the Buildings ruling with B.S.A. in August. B.S.A. has the authority to overrule the waiver.
The 60 Hudson St. tenants—predominantly telecommunications companies—rely on the diesel to operate their generators and cooling equipment.
The waiver does not account for 80,000 gallons of fuel stored below ground in the building, which sits at the corner of Worth and Thomas Sts. Although residents have voiced opposition to the subterranean fuel, the city does not regulate or limit sub-level fuel storage.
The hearing will be at 10 am at 40 Rector St., 6th floor, Room E, and will be open to the public.
—Ronda Kaysen
WWW Downtown Express
