DoD makes commitment on Newburgh water pollution: Riverkeeper statement
December 17, 2018
Riverkeeper Team
More than 2.5 years after Riverkeeper first called for the Stewart Air National Guard Base to “immediately and permanently” stop polluted discharges, the Department of Defense has committed to treat the water flowing off the base that has contaminated the City of Newburgh’s Washington Lake Reservoir, as well as fish in Silver Stream and Moodna Creek. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced the commitment, and Riverkeeper is grateful to him, and to the elected leaders and agency officials at the local, state and federal levels who have been part of the chorus calling for this action.
There are important decisions to come, and Riverkeeper will advocate for a transparent process that involves real community input. Importantly, we must also recognize that this is an “interim” remedial measure, and the Department of Defense must commit to an aggressive schedule to develop and implement a comprehensive cleanup, too.
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