Riverkeeper supports proposed Consent Decree Modification for Hastings waterfront cleanup
January 11, 2016
Riverkeeper Team
Photo Courtesy of Hastings Historical Society
For Immediate Release
January 11, 2016
Contact: Leah Rae, Staff Writer and Media Specialist (914) 478-4501 ext. 238, lrae@riverkeeper.org
Ossining, N.Y. – Riverkeeper has reached agreement with the Village of Hastings and BP/ARCO on a proposed Consent Decree Modification for the Harbor at Hastings site – one of the most contaminated locations along the Hudson River and a massive source of toxic PCBs. The new Consent Decree, once approved by the federal district court, will pave the way for thorough cleanup of both the Hastings waterfront and the Hudson River.
Riverkeeper’s fight for cleanup at the former Anaconda Wire and Cable Company site dates back to its earliest years as the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association, founded 50 years ago.
“Riverkeeper is proud to stand in support of this decree,” said Paul Gallay, President and Hudson Riverkeeper. “Think of the symbolism. We have an opportunity to turn the 'birthplace of PCBs' into a healthy ecosystem. We have an opportunity to invest in fish habitat restoration, access to the river and enjoyment of the water. Let's learn from the mistakes of the past, and begin to heal this beautiful stretch of the Hudson.”
“We are very pleased to be on the verge of completing the final legal steps that will allow us to see this cleanup through,” Riverkeeper Staff Attorney Abigail Jones said.
“Riverkeeper will now dedicate itself to making sure the design and implementation of this cleanup removes as much of the toxic PCBs contamination from the river as possible, without causing undue harm to the environment or human health,” Jones said. “We will stay closely involved over the next year as the state Department of Environmental Conservation develops detailed plans for removing these massive amounts of contaminants from the river. “We look forward to a day when the toxic PCBs are out of the river, and Hastings can finally reclaim its waterfront.”
Background:
Riverkeeper began fighting for cleanup of contamination from the former Anaconda Wire & Cable site in Hastings shortly after its creation as the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association. In 1969, HRFA started investigating Anaconda Wire and Copper Company for a history of dumping oil and solvents into the river and collected a $200,000 penalty from the company in 1973.
In 2003, Riverkeeper, ARCO and the Village of Hastings signed a settlement agreement, resolving a 1994 federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) lawsuit filed by Riverkeeper against ARCO. Riverkeeper and the Village of Hastings and Scenic Hudson continued to push BP/ARCO and the State to broaden the cleanup plan to include the portion of the Hudson heavily contaminated by PCBs from the site. In 2012 and 2013, agreements were reached regarding the in-River contamination.
The proposed Consent Decree would modify the 2003 Consent Decree, incorporating these more recent agreements regarding PCBs in the Hudson. Once approved by the U.S. District Court , the BP/ARCO can begin to move forward with the cleanup with oversight by the DEC.
View more documents and the mayor's announcement at the Village of Hastings website.
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Riverkeeper is a member-supported watchdog organization dedicated to defending the Hudson River and its tributaries and protecting the drinking water supply of nine million New York City and Hudson Valley residents.
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