Major Milestone: PCB Cleanup Marks Another Great Victory for the Hudson

Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan in Fort Edward observing the beginning of the General Electric's long-awaited PCB cleanup.

Scenic Hudson's 25-year campaign for a safe cleanup of toxic PCBs in the Hudson River reached an important milestone on May 15, with the beginning of the massive General Electric Superfund cleanup. Details of the cleanup can be found in this New York Times article and this Associated Press report.

"This is the end of a 25-year crusade by Scenic Hudson and the Friends of a Clean Hudson coalition to hold GE accountable," explained Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan. "It’s fitting this historic occasion took place amid Quadricentennial celebrations. Removing PCBs safely and effectively will make the Hudson and shoreline communities healthier, both environmentally and economically. The project also has created thousands of jobs – a win-win by any standard."

Second great Scenic Hudson success

Scenic Hudson mobilized thousands of citizens armed with scientific facts who persuaded the Environmental Protection Agency to compel GE to undertake the cleanup. Overcoming GE’s army of lobbyists and lawyers, Scenic Hudson and passionate citizens achieved the valley’s second great grassroots victory. The first victory was when Scenic Hudson saw its 17-year legal fight succeed in saving Storm King Mountain in the legendary Hudson Highlands -- a victory that is credited with launching the modern environmental movement and providing the cornerstone of federal environmental law

Continuing to fight for the Valley's future

Today Scenic Hudson is engaged in an epic new battle -- to preserve land and open parks that connect people and communities to the river while creating the “green” infrastructure” that’s key to the region’s economic opportunity and quality of life. Our visionary campaign to Save the Land That Matters Most along the Hudson. This historic Quadricentennial undertaking is aimed at protecting 65,000 acres of land along the Hudson that meets New York State's highest standards of ecological, scenic and agricultural values. Progress on the PCB cleanup and this legacy land protection initiative represent the most important steps that can be taken to ensure a sustainable Hudson River Valley over the next 100 years.