Hudson River PCBs SuperFund Site

For the past decade, the Hudson River has consistently ranked among the most polluted waterways in New York state. One of the primary concerns about the river's environmental health is related to the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Upper Hudson, especially in a stretch down river from Hudson Falls to just north of Albany. From the late 1940s until 1977, the General Electric Company discharged as much as 1.3 million pounds of PCBs, which are used in the production of electric capacitors, into the Hudson from two of their plants on the banks of the Hudson. PCBs have been linked to increased risk of cancer in humans, and have multiple impacts upon fish and wildlife. As far back as 1984, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed removing the PCBs by dredging the sediment on the bottom of the river. Opponents to the proposal have argued that the consequences of dredging might create even greater dangers than any current risks, because buried PCBs might be disturbed during by the dredging. Further, they argue, PCB levels have been in decline in recent years, apparently because of the river's natural cleaning processes. In February of 2002, after years of study and review of community opinions, the EPA authorized a cleanup plan for the Hudson that specifies dredging 2.65 million cubic yards of the river bottom over a three year period. Many details remain to be worked out, and the debate continues. The following resources provide background information on the subject and references to certain key studies.

Official Government Sites

EPA Hudson River PCBs SuperFund Site : Official EPA project site. Includes news releases, draft work plans, fact sheets and progress reports. Also provides information on how to subscribe to EPA's Hudson River Listserv to automatically receive notices of public meetings, news releases, etc.

CLU-IN, Hazardous Waste Clean Up Information : "The Hazardous Waste Clean-up Information (CLU-IN) Web Site provides information about innovative treatment technology to the hazardous waste remediation community. It describes programs, organizations, publications, and other tools for federal and state personnel, consulting engineers, technology developers and vendors, remediation contractors, researchers, community groups, and individual citizens. The site was developed by the U.S. EPA but is intended as a forum for all waste remediation stakeholders"

The Hudson: A River That Flows Two Ways : NYS Department of Environmental Conservation web site

Hudson River PCB Superfund Site : NOAA Damage Assessment and Restoration Program web site

Hudson River Natural Resource Damage Assessment : U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service web site

Background Information : Pro Dredging Groups (selected)

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater : "The non-profit organization Hudson River Sloop Clearwater was created to defend and restore the Hudson River, one of the great and historic rivers of this nation." Presents The Hudson River PCB Story with reports, news, fact sheets, and resource guides. Includes Hudson River PCB Pollution Timeline : A detailed chronology of the history of PCBs in the Hudson River and steps that have been taken to address the problems.

Riverkeeper, Inc : "Our mission is to safeguard the ecological integrity of the Hudson River, its tributaries and the watershed of New York City (protecting the city's drinking water supply) by tracking down and stopping polluters." Special "Clean Up GE PCBs" section.

Scenic Hudson : This group's mission is "to ensure that tomorrow's Hudson River Valley - from Manhattan to the foothills of the Adirondacks - is environmentally and economically sustainable and that its capacity to awe and inspire residents and visitors is preserved forever."

Background Information : Anti Dredging Groups (selected)

Hudson Information : web site established by General Electric, including the company's tech reports on the pollution situation.

New York Farm Bureau : Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, volunteer organization financed and controlled by families for the purpose of solving economic and public policy issues challenging the agriculture industry.

Property Rights Foundation of America, Inc. : A national organization that advocates "the fundamental right to own and use private property."

Background Information : Other

Bioremediation and Phytoremediation Glossary : "This is a glossary terms related to bioremediation (biological treatment) and phytoremediation (remediation using green plants) of environmental pollutants. Links to other environmental glossaries are at the bottom of the page."

National Library for the Environment : "A universal, timely, and easy-to-use single-point entry to environmental information and data for the use of all participants in the environmental enterprise." From the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE).

New York State Toxic Release Inventory Information : Including links to annual reports. Report year 2000, published May 2002.

University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database : "Microbial biocatalytic reactions and biodegradation pathways primarily for xenobiotic, chemical compounds."

News Sources

Hudson River : special projects web page from the Albany (NY) Times-Union

PCBs and the Hudson River : news from the Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal

Academic Research Centers

Hudson River Research at Columbia University

Health Effects of PCBs

Agency For Toxic Substances and Disease Registry : ToxFAQ for Polychlorinated Biphenyls

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency : PCBs and Human Health

New York State Department of Health : 2003-2004 Health Advisories: Chemicals in Sportfish and Game

Survey of Hudson River Anglers and an Estimate of Their Exposure to PCBs : September 30, 1998, Prepared by: NYS Department of Health, under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry