As General Electric (GE) prepares to decommission its multimillion-dollar infrastructure for the cleanup of toxic PCBs in the Hudson River, upriver and downriver officials and community leaders are joining environmental advocates in ramping up public pressure for GE to address its additional responsibilities related to the cleanup.
Because current cleanup plans only address 65 percent of the PCBs in the Upper Hudson River, if the company shuts down its cleanup operations by next fall as anticipated, it will leave behind significant pollution in the Hudson that could block the river’s recovery and waterfront revitalization plans for generations.
If GE won’t accept responsibility for its toxic legacy, New York State taxpayers will end up paying the bill for the crucial cleanup work.
To inform and mobilize residents and public officials in calling on GE to do the right thing for the environment and the communities, a forum to discuss these issues is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Marist College Cornell Boathouse, on the campus’ Hudson River waterfront.
Welcoming remarks will be made by Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro and additional speakers will include state Senator Kathy Marchione, Hudson Valley Tourism President Mary Kay Vrba, Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan, Riverkeeper President and the Hudson Riverkeeper Paul Gallay, Riverkeeper Attorney Abigail Jones, Natural Resources Defense Council Attorney Daniel Raichel and Clearwater Environmental Director Manna Jo Greene.
A roundtable discussion will feature upriver business and community officials speaking about what action—or inaction—by GE will mean to downriver communities.
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Press Release