People care about the health of the Hudson River because they realize it impacts their well-being and local economies. That’s why in the height of summer 500 people turned out to meetings hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency in Poughkeepsie and Saratoga.
But many people don’t realize that the Hudson continues to be harmed by millions of pounds of sediment contaminated with cancer-causing PCBs. Until Sept. 1, the EPA is accepting public comments on whether more dredging should be done. The agency’s own five-year review of the dredging by General Electric to remove PCBs it dumped in the river concluded that the company’s cleanup doesn’t currently protect the health of the public or the river.
Citizens should call for the EPA to remove any statements about the cleanup being “protective” five decades from now, because state and federal scientists say time and nature won’t fix the project’s shortcomings.
We have created a page at scenichudson.org/pcbs with a link to the EPA’s public comment site and background information, as well as a letter for business owners to sign to remind the EPA that a polluted Hudson River diminishes local businesses and jobs.
Jay Burgess, Scenic Hudson, Poughkeepsie
