As the Hudson River PCB cleanup design advances, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is establishing engineering performance standards to help ensure that the cleanup is done safely and stays on track.
One of the most common questions is, "Will the dredging stir up everything, send PCBs downriver and make things worse?"
In response the EPA plans to monitor PCBs in the water during dredging to make certain that PCBs do not exceed the federal Safe Drinking Water Act standard of 500 parts per trillion (ppt).
A trillion is a big number - 12 zeros. Divide a pie into a trillion pieces and each piece is one part per trillion. A PCB limit of 500 ppt would mean that there are 500 parts PCBs and 999,999,999,500 other pieces.
This limit may seem low, but any amount of PCBs can endanger public water supplies and the ecosystem. Therefore, in designing the cleanup, General Electric Co. should take precautionary measures to minimize resuspension and protect the water. |
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PCBs MONITORED DAILY
To accurately gauge dredging impacts, the EPA will examine PCB levels throughout the duration of the project. Daily water samples will be taken downstream of the dredging operation to measure PCBs and protect drinking water supplies.
If waterborne PCBs reach 350 ppt, or 70 percent of the standard, the EPA will notify public water suppliers. If it exceeds 500 ppt for two days, then dredging will be temporarily halted to correct the problem.
Other engineering benchmarks being set for the PCB cleanup include a productivity standard to complete the project in a timely manner and a residual standard to prevent harmful PCB levels after the cleanup. The EPA also will measure and control noise, air quality, odor and river navigability.
Ultimately, the removal of this toxic substance from the Hudson River will substantially reduce its presence in water and fish, resulting in greater protection of human health and the environment. Scenic Hudson is an active player in the cleanup and encourages citizens to continue their support and involvement in this important ongoing battle. |
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PCB Cleanup |
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2000 PCB Dredging Report (pdf/859kb) |
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U.S. EPA Hudson River PCBs |
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ADVOCATE FOR PCB-CLEANUP |
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Write letters to officials and let them know how you feel about dredging PCBs from the Hudson River. Use our printable Contact List |
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Stay informed of new developments, opportunities and critical moments when decision-makers need to hear from the public. E-mail environqual@scenichudson.org to join our list. |
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Subscribe to EPA's Hudson River Listserv to automatically receive notices of public meetings, news releases and other timely information. |
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VOLUNTEER AND DONATE
Scenic Hudson's future achievements are only possible with the generous support of people like you. To donate, please use our donation form. And as always, we offer volunteer opportunities for both individuals and groups. |
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