Join the Fight for a Cleaner Hudson River
In a major victory for the health and beauty of the Hudson River, the U.S. Coast Guard recently announced it would backtrack on its recent regulatory action to allow oil tankers and barges to anchor along the Hudson River anywhere from Tarrytown to Albany — turning much of the river into huge parking lots for hazardous cargo. Behind closed doors, the Coast Guard did an end-run around its own rules and federal law — adopted in 2020 through a consensus — and science-based process that Scenic Hudson helped shape. These massive barges would directly threaten vital drinking water supplies, aquatic habitats, and the recreation resources and beauty of the Hudson.
This outrageous attempt to circumvent the public didn’t go unnoticed. Scenic Hudson — working with Congressmen Ryan and Molinaro, Riverkeeper, and other stakeholders — fought back and prevailed. This echoes our victory in striking down the Coast Guard’s initial 2016 proposal, galvanizing 10,000 citizen activists in opposition.
Although we have once again prevailed, the job is not done. We will continue to hold the Coast Guard accountable and ensure that future proposals do not threaten the water, wildlife, or people of the Hudson Valley. Sign up here to stay informed about the battle and learn more about how we can stop the project together.
A Critical New Phase in the PCB Battle
On another front, we and our allies in the Friends of a Clean Hudson (FOCH) coalition are waging a full-court press to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to require a full cleanup of toxic PCBs in the Hudson. The agency will be releasing its third five-year review of the cleanup early in 2024. In advance of EPA’s report, the FOCH has issued an independent analysis with stark science-based findings: Data show little reduction in contaminants in sediment in the Hudson, and reductions of PCBs in fish similarly show little reduction.
Why does this matter? It is because PCBs are among the most hazardous chemicals – directly linked to cancer, respiratory disease, and others. Yet people are continuing to consume and even subsist on tainted fish. And for low-income families and disadvantaged populations who rely on river fish for food, the EPA’s delay has created a growing environmental justice issue. Of the fish species that have been surveyed, PCB levels are 10 or more times higher than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s standards for safe consumption.
How You Can Help
I urge you to tell Governor Kathy Hochul and EPA Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia that the time has come for a cleaner, safer Hudson River. Contact them here and here to make your voice heard. Without further action, we will all feel the impacts for generations to come.
Thank you for standing with Scenic Hudson, and best wishes for the holiday season.
P.S. Here are some links for more information:
The Public News Service’s recent coverage of PCBs in the Hudson.
WAMC Northeast Public Radio also reported on the failed cleanup.
Congressman Pat Ryan discusses anchorages and Scenic Hudson’s Althea Mullarkey talks more about PCBs on Green Radio Hour with Jon Bowermaster, which aired in November ahead of a series of PCB-related webinars hosted by Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, and Clearwater.
