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What's the Vision?
For decades, communities have been fighting for a comprehensive cleanup of the Hudson River. Today, Friends of a Clean Hudson (FOCH) — a coalition of organizations including Riverkeeper, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, the Sierra Club, Scenic Hudson, National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association — continue to lead the fight for a clean river that enhances the quality of life for all Hudson Valley residents and visitors.
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What's the Issue?
The mighty Mahicannituck (mah-hih-can-nih-tuck) — “water that flows both ways,” the Mohican name for the Hudson River — is central for people and wildlife, transportation, commerce, and recreation. Today, it is one of the largest Superfund sites in the country.
From the 1940s to the 1970s, General Electric (GE) dumped toxic PCBs into the river, contaminating a 200-mile stretch from New York Harbor up to Hudson Falls in the Adirondack foothills, and causing immense harm to communities and wildlife that rely on the river. A fishing industry worth $40 million a year collapsed. People are afraid to swim in the river or to fish to feed their families. And many communities faced significant health consequences that continue to this day, including increases in nervous system issues, developmental delays, and certain types of cancer.
Despite six years of dredging of contaminated “hotspots” in the Upper Hudson from 2009 to 2015, significant amounts of these toxic PCBs remain in the river’s water, sediment, and fish, both in dredged and undredged areas.
The contamination also highlights long-standing environmental justice issues in the Hudson Valley. A Scenic Hudson and Sierra Club survey indicated anglers in groups such as Latinos and African Americans, especially those with lower incomes, are exposed to higher risks since they are most likely to consume fish in levels exceeding state Department of Health advisories. Many immigrant populations also rely on fish from the river as part of their diet.
What's the status?
Every five years, the EPA is required to review the PCB cleanup process and determine if it is working as anticipated and is “protective of human health and the environment.” In 2018, the EPA decided to “defer” the determination until more fish tissue data could be gathered. The latest draft review, released in July 2024, again claimed that there is not enough scientific evidence to make a determination.
We strongly disagree with this finding. The remedy is not working — and we have the science to prove it! The Friends of a Clean Hudson (FOCH) coalition released an independent report in November 2023 detailing how the concentration of toxic PCBs in the river’s fish and sediment remain higher than anticipated. Alarmingly, it also indicated PCB concentrations will remain at dangerous levels for many more decades. (The National Academy of Sciences calls PCBs “the largest potential carcinogenic risk of any environmental contaminant for which measurements exist.”
Read the full Friends of a Clean Hudson report, the extended analysis (or check out the executive summary).
Regional political leaders have also raised their voice to demand the EPA take additional action to clean up these “forever chemicals” in the Hudson River:
- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued her support at a press event in February 2024, saying, “I’m calling on the EPA to acknowledge the insufficiency of the dredging remedy and to begin to investigate additional options to clean up the Hudson for good… I’m determined to get this done.”
- In March 2024, New York State Senator and chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Pete Harckham, joined with the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus (BPHA) to call for a complete cleanup.
- In a bipartisan effort in April 2024, Congressman Pat Ryan and Congressman Marc Molinaro issued a joint statement signed by 18 additional members of congress who are concerned about the health of the river and the vulnerable populations who rely on it.
What Can You Do Right Now?
Without changes to the cleanup approach, the current elevated human health and ecological risks from PCB contamination will remain at unacceptable levels for generations to come.
Now, we have until November 7, 2024 to submit public comments to the EPA. This is your opportunity to let EPA know that a healthy river is important to you and that they can’t keep kicking the can down the road on the cleanup.
Know the lingo
The following key terms are important to understanding the issues around this campaign.
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, better known as “Superfund” (see below).
Hotspots
Areas containing higher concentrations of pollutants.
Hudson River Natural Resource Trustees
Officers and agencies designated to implement the Natural Resource Damage provisions of CERCLA on the Hudson River — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Lower Hudson River
134-mile stretch of the river from the federal dam in Troy to the Battery in Lower Manhattan.
Natural Resource Damages (NRD)
Any damages recoverable by the United States or a state on behalf of the public for injury to, destruction of, or loss or impairment of natural resources resulting from the release of hazardous substances.
Natural Resource Trustees
Officers and agencies designated by the federal or state executive to act on behalf of the public to restore natural resources.
PCBs
Polychlorinated biphenyls, human-made industrial chemicals, either oily liquids or solids, that are a known human carcinogen.
Remedial Investigation
The mechanism for collecting data to characterize site conditions, determine the nature of contamination, assess risks to human health and the environment, and conduct testing to evaluate the potential performance and cost of treatment. An initial step before designing a Superfund cleanup plan.
Superfund
The federal environmental remediation program established by CERCLA and administered by the EPA. It is designed to investigate and clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances.
Upper Hudson River
In the context of the Hudson River Superfund site, the 40-mile stretch of the river from the GE plant site at Hudson Falls to the federal dam in Troy.
HELP US HEAL THE HUDSON!
Become a Valley Defender to get updates on how you can help the ongoing efforts to clean up the Hudson River.
What can you do now?
SEND A LETTER TO THE EPA by November 7 and let them know that a healthy river is important to you, and download the Friends of a Clean Hudson Take Action Toolkit which contains an overview, talking points, sample social media posts, and other resources to help you better understand the Hudson River PCB contamination and communicate successfully.
GET UPDATES! Join the Friends of a Clean Hudson (FOCH) mailing list to get updates on actions, events and learning opportunities from the coalition.
BECOME A VALLEY DEFENDER! You’ll be kept up to date with an engaging quarterly newsletter, get invited to special events, and will be the first to know when and how to take action to defend and protect the beautiful Hudson Valley!
READ THE RECENT REPORT from Friends of a Clean Hudson (FOCH) that details how the concentration of toxic PCBs in the river’s fish and sediment remain higher than anticipated. (Check out the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY or READ THE EXTENDED ANALYSIS.
READ THE 2021 REPORT from Natural Resource Damages experts who estimated GE could owe as much as $11.4 billion to heal the river. (Or check out the two-page summary or the 12-minute video).
WATCH the recent August 2024 FOCH Webinar: “What does EPA’s recent PCB report on the Hudson mean for the future of the river?” And watch the virtual premier of PCBs: A TOXIC LEGACY from acclaimed filmmaker Jon Bowermaster and Oceans8 Films, followed by a conversation with the filmmaker.
ADD YOUR VOICE! We bring the voices of the Hudson Valley directly to the decision makers and policy makers shaping our future.