All Gowanus remedial construction activities are subject to a Cultural Resources Monitoring Plan (CRMP), as directed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Project’s CRMPs are available in the Document Library. The CRMP governs how cultural resources are addressed in the Canal during the GRT’s remediation activities.

The CRMP requires that cultural resource experts review all material that is handled during remedial construction activities to determine if there are items that have potential cultural significance. When an item is identified as having potential cultural significance the item is separated, photographed and retained for further review. After conducting historical research and analysis, the item is designated as either Debris, an Object of Local Interest, or an Artifact under the definitions provided by the CRMP. The item is then sorted for final placement based on this designation.

Objects of Local Interest are defined as meeting all of the following criteria:

• Identifiable by type, function, material and/or time period.
• Has a general association with the area, but not with a specific site, event, or person along the Gowanus Canal during the canal’s period of significance (1853 to 1965).
• Does not confirm previously unconfirmed archival information along the canal or reveal new facts that change our understanding of the history of the area. 
  
  

Artifacts are defined as meeting all of the following criteria: 

• Identifiable by type, function, material and time period.
• Has an identifiable association with a specific building, site, event, or person along the  Gowanus Canal during the canal’s period of significance (1853 to 1965).
• Confirms previously unconfirmed archival information along the canal or reveals new  information that changes our understanding of the history/development of the area.
  
  

Debris is defined as any other item recovered from excavation/dredging, including:

• Unidentifiable objects
• Objects with no apparent association with the local area
• Construction debris
• Objects made after 1965
• Natural items (such as trees, brush, rocks, etc.)