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| Environmental Quality |
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Hudson River PCB Cleanup Campaign Goes National
by Rich Schiafo
Just when you thought the battle to clean up Hudson River PCBs had waned, the heat is being turned up. Scenic Hudson, Inc., working with national, state and regional environmental groups, has launched the next phase of the Hudson River PCB cleanup campaign.
A Call to Arms: PCB Fight Goes National
Following an active public comment period, efforts now focus on Washington, D.C. to ensure that an appropriate and aggressive cleanup is ordered by the new administration without further delay. The Hudson River PCB decision will be a test case for President George W. Bush and his Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Todd Whitman. The verdict will set the tone for the type of hazardous waste remediation decisions that can be expected from our nation's capitol during the next four years.
While the new administration's environmental health decisions have not been particularly favorable, President Bush recently recognized the dangers of PCBs in announcing U.S. support for the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Treaty:
President Bush said -
"First, concerns over the hazards of PCBs, DDT and the other toxic chemicals covered by the agreement (POPs Treaty) are based on solid scientific information. These pollutants are linked to developmental defects of cancer (sic) and other grave problems in humans and animals. The risks are great and the need for action is clear: We must work to eliminate or at least to severely restrict the release of these toxins without delay."
Scenic Hudson echoes this call for action. We believe in the power of good planning and know that a PCB cleanup is needed for the economic and ecological health of the river. No further delays of a Hudson River PCB cleanup are acceptable.
The General Electric Co. is lobbying relentlessly to force a political about-face on the EPA's proposed Hudson River PCB cleanup plan. GE's financial and political might must not be allowed to undermine the EPA's sound, comprehensive science and the need to protect public health.
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| FACT: On Earth Day, President Bush announced U.S. support for the Persistent Organic Pollutants treaty (POPs) to eliminate dangerous chemicals, such as PCBs worldwide. |
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Your Action Remains Critical
It is imperative that our Washington decision-makers know the facts - and you can help.
Impacts from the Hudson River decision will be far-reaching. If the cleanup plan does not move forward, toxic waste remediation efforts around the country could be stalled for years, continuing to threaten the health of our citizens and the environment. If GE is successful in shirking its responsibility to clean up an American Heritage River, the entire federal toxic waste cleanup program will be in jeopardy, as other polluters will resist the EPA's efforts to enforce the law (Please see Scenic Hudson Responds to GE Attack on Superfund).
The EPA's Hudson River cleanup plan must proceed. A final decision is due this August.
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DID YOU KNOW?
* 500 pounds of PCBs flow over the Troy Dam annually, contaminating the lower Hudson River.
* As much as 50 percent of PCBs in the NY/NJ Harbor originate from GE's upriver dumping. |
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Please write:
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Administrator Christine Todd Whitman
U.S. EPA 1101A, EPA Headquarters
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20460
Senator Charles E. Schumer
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Hillary Clinton
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Your congressional representative:
please go to www.house.gov/writerep or call (845) 473-4440, ext. 233 for more information
Gov. George E. Pataki
Executive Chamber
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Your state legislators:
please go to www.assembly.state.ny.us, www.senate.state.ny.us or call (845) 473-4440, ext. 233 for more information.
Please urge your national, state and local leaders to write a letter to EPA Administrator Whitman in support of an aggressive Hudson River PCB cleanup. For more information please visit www.cleanhudson.org. |
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