Thanks to a handful of determined tree-huggers, pollution may not stand a chance.

At a Manhattan press conference on Jan. 26, environmental organization Riverkeeper, filed a letter of intent to sue ExxonMobil and other fuel companies in violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Research Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) as a result of the over fifty year old oil spill that resides in Greenpoint, a section of Brooklyn, NY.

The 17 million gallon leak covers 55 acres of Greenpoint, running along the now devastated Newtown Creek. Harmful substances contained in the oil plume including lead, MTBE, and carcinogenic constituents have destroyed the local aquifer, rendering the water undrinkable.

Exposure to the leak not only threatens the general health of a large community of people and wildlife, but it also presents a tremendous fire hazard for those living and working in the Greenpoint area.

The accused parties have 60 days to comply with the violations of the CWA and 90 days to respond regarding the RCRA. Riverkeeper and the people of Greenpoint initiated the suit in hopes of accelerating the clean up and restoration promised years ago.

Greenpoint is not an isolated situation, as bays, oceans, creeks, and lakes are being polluted daily as a result of land developers and big businesses. But like the people of Greenpoint, you too can initiate positive change in your neighborhood.

Frustrated by the fact that his young daughter could not swim in the polluted Raritan Bay, Andy Willner started the Baykeeper organization in 1990 in scenic Sandy Hook, NJ. Through advocacy and litigation, Baykeeper works to protect and restore the 700- mile shoreline that is the Hudson/Raritan Estuary. Willner literally started from the ground up, and so he encourages action on a community level.

"One of the things that people can do is to reassert their right to breathable air, clean water, edible fish, a place for their kids to swim and accessible beaches", Willner said. "People should become aware that they own these natural resources and therefore have a responsibility for them."

It will be several months before ExxonMobil and the other accused parties take action to clean up the mess in Greenpoint. But people that live or have family in Greenpoint, like Chris Lennon, 21, student, said they are worried about the health of loved ones.

"From what I have heard, these chemicals are really harmful, and I'm surprised that is has taken this long for them to clean it up."