Despite dredging, the Hudson River remains contaminated with toxic PCBs – putting Hudson River communities at risk. Tell EPA to acknowledge the dredging of the Upper Hudson River is “not protective of human health and the environment.”

Over 200 miles of the Hudson River from Hudson Falls to New York Harbor is contaminated with toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pollution from General Electric following decades of dumping from the 1940s to the 1970s. PCBs take decades to break down and have accumulated in sediment, water, and wildlife, posing a risk both to human and ecological health. 

The Friends of a Clean Hudson released a report in November 2023 that explores how the PCB concentrations in Hudson River fish and sediment remain higher than anticipated despite the removal of contaminated sediments from “hot spots” in the upper Hudson River from 2009 to 2015. 

In communities across the Hudson Valley, people rely on the Hudson River as a food source – a 2010 angler survey found 27% of respondents stated that obtaining food as one of their reasons for fishing.

We must do better for our neighbors and the Hudson River ecosystem, and hold General Electric accountable to the goals established in the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Record of Decision (ROD).

Join Clearwater and Friends of a Clean Hudson in calling on EPA to acknowledge in their forthcoming 5-Year Review of the cleanup that the dredging of the Upper Hudson River is “not protective of human health and the environment.”

Contact Lisa Garcia, EPA Region 2 Administrator (garcia.lisa@epa.gov), and request EPA:

  • Hold General Electric accountable for meeting the goals established in the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Record of Decision (ROD)
  • Acknowledge the upper Hudson River dredging is “not protective of human health and the environment” within the upcoming third Five-Year Review

 

Contact your state and federal elected officials and ask them to join us in standing up for the Hudson River and local communities by contacting EPA.

 

Learn more about the Hudson River PCB contamination.

Support Clearwater’s efforts to protect and restore the Hudson River – donate to support our environmental advocacy efforts.