L-R: Gallay, Clearwater Environmental Director Manna Jo Greene, Hawkins
BEACON – Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park in Beacon was the setting for a midday rally on Wednesday as environmentalists and government officials called on General Electric to finish the job. The issue is an old one – PCBs in the Hudson River, from an upriver plant.
Most of GE’s cleanup will be completed by this fall, two years ahead of schedule.
Hudson Riverkeeper Paul Gallay said that doesn’t mean GE’s work is done.
“At this stage, it’s GE’s responsibility to finish the job,” Gallay said. “It’s not discretionary. It’s not something that would do because they’re nice people. We don’t care whether they’re nice people or not. We care about whether they finish the job and satisfy the law.”
Gallay said what’s still in the Hudson River will continue to do damage, not just in the so-called ‘hotspots’.
“Sixty-five percent of the PCBs are still within the hotspots. The damage that can be done by leaving the remaining 35 percent alone is enormous.”
Beacon Mayor Randy Casale agreed, saying the character of the river has gone from commerce to a blend of business and recreation.
“I’ve lived in the city while we were an industrial community and that was our economic engine,” Casale recalled. “Today, our economic engine is tourism. And, with a cleaner river and a better river, we will be able to really use the natural resources that we have here.”
Hudson River Fisherman’s Association President Gill Hawkins said his hope is that perhaps his grandchildren will be able to safely eat fish from the Hudson River.
