As a result of more than 800 public responses, the Environmental Protection Agency was unable to make a decision on whether the Gowanus Canal will be designated as a Superfund. The decision was expected to be made by September 16th. Clean up for the canal is currently estimated to be about $400 million. The Superfund distinction would require polluters to pay for clean up costs. Whereas most Superfund proposals receive an average of fifteen comments, the high turnout with this particular proposal is causing the decisionmaking process to be more time consuming.