Environmental Groups Condemn EPA's Final Review of the Hudson Superfund Site
January 17, 2025
Riverkeeper Team
The Upper Hudson River PCB cleanup is not protecting Hudson River communities and the environment
HUDSON VALLEY, N.Y.—Environmental groups decry the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) conclusions in the Final Third Five-Year Review of the Hudson River PCB Superfund cleanup released this week. The review irresponsibly concludes that more data is needed to determine if the dredging of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Upper Hudson is meeting the expectations of the original cleanup plan.
The EPA’s conclusions ignore the agency’s own data, which show that the amount of cancer-causing PCBs remaining in the river following the dredging project is significantly higher than anticipated. A report issued by the Friends of a Clean Hudson coalition in November 2023 found neither fish nor sediment are recovering at the rates needed to achieve the EPA’s established goals.
The coalition maintains, based on its independent analysis of the data trends, that the Upper Hudson River PCB cleanup is not protecting human health and the environment as required. The health risks associated with fish consumption are well above the EPA’s accepted risk range and well above New York’s advisories. The agency disregards long-standing environmental justice policies intended to address pollution in disadvantaged communities.
For over 30 years, General Electric (GE) dumped PCBs into the Hudson River, turning a 200-mile stretch of the waterway into one of the country’s largest Superfund sites. This toxic pollution has burdened the entire region for over 70 years. The persistent nature of PCBs ensures that GE’s pollution will continue to travel throughout the Hudson River, resisting degradation and accumulating in human and animal tissue. At the current rate, and without additional interventions, the health risks and impacts to those living, working, and playing within a heavily polluted Superfund site will persist for generations.
Scenic Hudson Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Science (and former EPA Region 2 Administrator), Pete Lopez said, “For over 70 years, millions of people along the shores of the Hudson have faced significant environmental, economic, and public health impacts of living, working, and playing near one of the nation's oldest and largest toxic waste sites. With the release of the Final Third Five-Year Review, EPA has squandered its opportunity to put the cleanup back on track and achieve the modest cleanup goals the river communities were promised and deserve. The conclusions in its Five-Year Review mean many low-income families will continue eating tainted fish, and millions of dollars of waterfront economic development remains on hold. Scenic Hudson will press on, regardless, in its campaign for a clean Hudson and the health and economic benefits it will bring.”
“Riverkeeper fiercely opposes the EPA’s findings in its latest review of the Upper Hudson River PCB cleanup. The EPA’s conclusions dismiss clear evidence that PCBs in fish and sediment remain at concentrations hazardous to humans and wildlife. Despite the data, and thousands of public comments, the EPA has once again failed to acknowledge that the cleanup is not succeeding in protecting our communities and our river,” said Tracy Brown, President of Riverkeeper. “The agency continues to delay necessary steps to put the Hudson on a real path to recovery. PCBs still course through the Hudson River ecosystem, and without additional action, the river's toxic burden will endure, harming the health and well-being of current and future generations. Riverkeeper remains steadfast in our advocacy and will continue to push for a meaningful and enduring cleanup of the Hudson River.”
“The findings of EPA’s Final Third Five-Year Review ignores their own data and misses a critical opportunity to get the Hudson River PCB cleanup back on track. A “Not Protective” determination would have triggered a much needed reevaluation of the cleanup remedy. Communities along the river will experience the impact of this outcome for years to come, particularly families who rely on the river as a primary or secondary food source. The public and scientific consensus support of the need for additional action to expedite the recovery of the Hudson, and regardless of this outcome, Clearwater will continue our advocacy.” said David Toman, Executive Director of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
“It is evident from the EPA’s own and other sampling and analysis that GE’s alleged cleanup of the Hudson River is not adequately protective of human health or the environment. The river remains significantly contaminated with PCBs and thousands of New Yorkers, many of whom represent immigrant, low-income, and minority communities, regularly eat the fish they catch from the Hudson for sustenance and through long-standing traditions - despite health advisories. Barring citizens from eating fish and releasing wait-and-see guidance does not represent the kind of justice Hudson River communities deserve. True justice means the EPA listening to its own data and protecting Hudson communities now,” said Mallory Rutigliano, Hudson River Committee Chair for Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter.
Contacts:
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Jen Benson, jen@clearwater.org, 585-943-7454
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Jen Benson, jen@clearwater.org, 585-943-7454
Riverkeeper, Lewis Kendall, lewisk@riverkeeper.org, 914-478-4501 ext. 238
Scenic Hudson, Pete Lopez, plopez@scenichudson.org, 518-378-8039
Sierra Club-Atlantic Chapter, Mallory Rutigliano, mallory.rutigliano@newyork.sierraclub.org
The Friends of a Clean Hudson (FOCH), a coalition of national, state, and regional organizations including Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Sierra Club, Hudson River Fishermen's Association, Arbor Hill Environmental Justice Corporation, and NRDC, has been fighting for decades for the restoration of the Hudson River.
Related campaigns
Hudson River PCBs
Without effective action, the health risks and impacts to those living, working, and playing within the 200-mile stretch of the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site will persist for generations to come
Remediating and preventing contamination
Cleaning up decades of pollution and preventing more requires scientific understanding, targeted legal action, and sustained advocacy
Saving Hudson River fish
Protecting iconic species vital to our local ecosystems
Related news
January 17, 2025
Riverkeeper opposes latest EPA findings in Hudson River cleanup
Position statement
November 8, 2024
Environmental groups challenge findings in EPA’s Hudson River Superfund Site review
Press release
April 16, 2024
With the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site Five-Year Review approaching, Congressional leaders urge EPA to determine that the cleanup has not been protective of human and ecological health
Press release