Between 1947 and 1977, general electric polluted the hudson river by discharging polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs. Revisiting projections of pcbs in lower hudson river fish. Read clearwaters public comment on epas plan for the hudson river start with the executive summary or the conclusion and recommendations. Hudson river contamination sparks action hudson river. The original erie canal, opened in 1825 to connect the hudson with lake erie, emptied into the hudson at the albany basin, just three miles 5 km south of the federal dam in troy at mile 4. Epa pcb pages includes information about pcbs, health and environmental risks associated with pcbs, what people can do to limit their exposure to pcbs and epas ongoing study of what, if anything, can be done to remediate pcb contamination of the hudson river. As a result, in many places, water contamination was simply a fact of life, particularly after evidence of pcbs which are probable carcinogens, according to the e. Sloop clearwater, an environmental education organization and an actual boat a sloop, that promotes awareness of the river and its history. The objectives of the hudson river pcbs superfund cleanup are to reduce risks to people and the environment including wildlife by lowering pcb levels in fish, reducing the level of pcbs in hudson river water, reducing the mass of pcbs in sediment to which biota plants and animals can be exposed, and minimizing the downriver transport of pcbs.
Ge dumped more than one million pounds of hazardous pcbs directly into the river from the 1940s through the 1970s, and as a result the hudson is now the largest federal superfund site in. In 2001, after a tenyear study of pcb contamination in the hudson river, epa proposed a plan to clean up the river by dredging more than 100,000 pounds 45,000 kg of pcbs. The river also has a storied history of contamination. Pcbs in the upper hudson river hudson river foundation. Begins to dredge hudson for pcbs the new york times. In 1966 a writer for sports illustrated, robert boyle, got together with a few fishermen in garrison new york and decided they had had enough of the industrial abuse of the hudson river. Food and drug administration establishes a tolerance level of 5. That means about 120,000 pounds still remain along the bottom, including in the navigation channel of the stateowned champlain canal. The river became cleaner of other pollutants as well.
Jay field, noaa office of response and restoration. The purpose is to look at how polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs affect peoples nervous system. Nearly twothirds about 200 miles of the hudson river has been contaminated by pcbs, from hudson falls to the battery in new york city and beyond. Between 1947 and 1977, general electric polluted the hudson river by discharging polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs, causing a range of harmful effects to wildlife and people who eat fish from the river or drink the water. Sep 14, 2016 the history of pcbs in the hudson river. Once upon a time, transportation in the hudson valley was a challenge to say the least. Why is the cleanup of the upper hudson river needed. Steamboats, including the 1898 steam tug mathilda are the major focus of this museum, which highlights their place in commerce, industry and leisure. Remembering the historic fight over pcb dredging on the hudson.
Aug 24, 2016 the risk posed by pcbs remaining in the hudson river is very real and i have seriously concerns about the effectiveness of the current cleanup strategy, said rep. A general electric dredging barge lifting soil to remove pcbs from a hudson. That amounted to about 310,000 pounds, or 72 percent of what is now known to be in the river. Skinner bureau of habitat, division of fish, wildlife and marine resources new york state department of environmental conservation albany, new york july 2005. Revisiting model projections of lower hudson river fish pcbs using model emulation and recent data hudson river foundation new york, ny. The quality of significance in american history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture is present in. Clearwater 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. With respect to the hudson river, it was well known that the general electric corporation contributed most of the pcbs to the river, primarily through use of pcbs for capacitor manufacturing at hudson falls from 1952 to 1977. A hghly detailed and well researched history lesson of the full lenght of the hudson river, its contents, its polluters and of the fisherman who fought using existing laws to clean it up. His research shows that certain cancer rates are higher here because of the insidious pollution by pcbs that goes back to the 1940s, painting the region in darker strokes. The native american tribe of the iroquois called the river muhhekunnetuk also known as the great mohegan.
Books hudson river bookstore hope farm press the book house of stuyvesant plaza. Remembering the historic fight over pcb dredging on the. National priorities list hudson river pcbs hudson river, new york. September 21, 1984 conditions at listing september 1983.
Of time, pcbs and the fish of the hudson river by ronald j. The most publicized pollution of the hudson river was due to the contamination of the river with polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs by the general electric company, beginning in the late 1940s. Ge dredged pcbs from about 40 miles of river bottom between fort edward and troy between 2009 and 2014. For more information and to purchase the dvd visit. The hudson river pcb story a toxic heritage youtube. It guided henry hudson in search of a northwest passage and served commerce as a transportation route during the industrial revolution. Martin said, i am definitely against dredging in the hudson river. Its interesting to read with the perspective of years between its publication and today. One of the best books ever written about the hudson river, if not the best. Revisiting model projections of lower hudson river fish. The 315mile hudson river is steeped in american history. Similarly, books 3 and 4 are on the bioaccumulation models, with book 3. May 25, 2015 general electric claimed the hudson river is restoring itself.
General electric claimed the hudson river is restoring itself. Their compelling narratives attest to the hudson rivers distinctive place in american history and the american imagination. While not directly related to pcbs in the hudson river, it is important to note that the srpfunded research conducted to evaluate contaminants in the river and in the new york harbor, affords srp scientists access to unique data and samples that will be invaluable in the determination of both the geographic and temporal impact of the wtc disaster. Lisa rosman, noaa office of response and restoration. The hudson river maritime museum in kingston features exhibits on this period of the rivers history. With repeated contact, pcbs build up in living creatures including humans over time. The pollutants of the industrial revolution had brought the majestic. Among those who have figured in the history of the hudson are benedict arnold, alexander hamilton, franklin and eleanor roosevelt, the astors and the vanderbilts, and thomas cole of the hudson river school. Hot spots of pcbs are mapped by gps, and a dredge barge. The modeling effort for the hudson river pcbs site reassessment has been designed to predict future levels of pcbs in upper hudson river sediment, water and fish. National priorities list hudson river pcbs hudson river.
Many noxious discharges have ceased, but leftovers from past pollution haunt the hudson, and new problems are becoming evident. Despite the river and its fish being poisoned, the cleanup isnt complete. Particularly, the last chapters on the future of the river. Cleanup plans and documents hudson river pcbs superfund. Epa picked the current cleanup planwhich included dredging and a rest period for pcbs to cycle out of the riverbecause it was expected to make. Ge pcbs in the hudson 1947 to 1977 ge discharged as much as 1. A rich heritage from a 500acre estate to a rustic cabin in the woods, from the hudson river school to the american revolution. Epa white paper responses to noaa manuscript entitled revisiting projections of pcbs in lower hudson river fish using model emulation march 2016 pdf 5. Sep 09, 2016 as a result, in many places, water contamination was simply a fact of life, particularly after evidence of pcbs which are probable carcinogens, according to the e.
Before that ban, ge got permits to dump more than a million pounds of pcbs into the hudson river from their factories near fort edward and hudson falls in washington county. The hudson river is navigable for a great distance above mile 0 at 4042. Ge dumped more than one million pounds of hazardous pcbs directly into the river from the 1940s through the 1970s, and as a result the hudson is now the largest federal superfund site in the. Additionally, usepa observed that pcb loads from the upper hudson river uhr to the lower hudson river lhr prior to the start of dredging in 2009 were substantially greater than predicted by the models and showed little evidence of decline usepa, 2010. Carpenter, the director of the school of public health, has studied the health impacts of pcbs in the river, soil and air up and down the hudson valley. Lays out the reason why it was and remains important to remove 1. His research shows that certain cancer rates are higher here because of the insidious pollution by pcbs that. This report provides predictions under baseline conditions, that is, without remediation of pcbcontaminated sediment in the upper hudson river equivalent to a no action scenario. The modeling effort for the hudson river pcbs site reassessment has been.
The river originates in the adirondack mountains of upstate new york, flows southward through the hudson valley to the upper new york bay between new york city and jersey city. The hudson river is a 315mile 507 km river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern new york in the united states. Now 45 years after this book was written we have a hudson river which is not on a list of 100 most polluted rivers in the united states. Theres also a display on hudson river lighthouses featuring the 1915 rondout ii lighthouse. The clearwater and the clearwater festival have worked to draw attention to the problem of pollution of the hudson river. The worst pcb hotspots are targeted for remediation by removing and disposing of more than 2. Near the atlantic, the river flows north, and near its origin in lake tear of the clouds, it flows south. Industry provided jobs, created communities, and brought economic growth to the region. Pcbs polychlorinated biphenyls in new yorks hudson river. The risk posed by pcbs remaining in the hudson river is very real and i have seriously concerns about the effectiveness of the current cleanup strategy, said rep. Investigation of exposure of migratory birds to pcbs, pcdd, pcdfs and organochlorine pesticides along the hudson river, final, august 1, 2011.
The company argued pcbs would biodegrade and break down into lesstoxic compounds for a decade. Pollution in the river has included mercury contamination and sewage dumping, but the most discussed issue has been general electrics contamination of the river with polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs between 1947 and 1977. Ge dumped over a million pounds of toxic pcbs into the hudson between 1947 1977. Edward plant on the eastern shore of the hudson river. Nov 20, 2019 while not directly related to pcbs in the hudson river, it is important to note that the srpfunded research conducted to evaluate contaminants in the river and in the new york harbor, affords srp scientists access to unique data and samples that will be invaluable in the determination of both the geographic and temporal impact of the wtc disaster. The tape tells the story of pcb pollution in the hudson river, and what might be done to alleviate the problem. Folks in the hudson valley are the gatekeepers of the hudson river its our home and an economic engine for our local cities but unfortunately the hudson and. Quantitative environmental analysis qea, may, 1999 amended july, 1999. The hudson river maritime museum in kingston features exhibits on this period of the river s history.
The hudson river pcb cleanup a light at the end of the tunnel hudson river pcb update march 2006 statement to the new york academy of sciences nynj harbor consortium by hudson river sloop clearwater and scenic hudson regarding hudson river pcbs comment on usepa quality of life performance standards for the hudson river pcbs superfund site. The hudson river pcbs site is a 40mile stretch of the hudson river between mechanicville and fort edward, new york. Pcbs were used as dielectric and coolant fluids in transformers, capacitors, and electric motors. River pcbs hudson river pcbs hudson river, new york federal register notice.
Explore the hudson valleys rich history historic hudson. The hudson river pcbs superfund site extends nearly 200 river miles from hudson falls. Hudson river cleanup hudson river pcbs superfund site us epa. He warns of the possibility of exploitation and the risks of thennewly discovered chemical pollution, like pcbs. Other kinds of pollution, including mercury contamination and cities discharging untreated sewage, have also caused problems in the river. Epa picked the current cleanup planwhich included dredging and a rest period for pcbs to cycle out of the riverbecause it was expected to make hudson fish safe to eat within a certain timeframe. The hudson river communities project is an environmental health study being done by the new york state department of health nysdoh in the fort edward, hudson falls, and glens falls areas of upstate new york. Over 30 years, general electric discharged polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs into it, sparking a second. Organochlorine contaminants in biota from the hudson river, new york,usgs final report fy993101 dated july 2000, fws project title. The hudson river has been heavily contaminated with pcbs from general electric ge since the 1940s. Traveling across the hudson river was vital to trade, as a large percentage of american manufacturing was done in new york and new england to the east of the hudson, while to the west lay pennsylvania and the midwest, purveyors of large quantities of coal and grain.
61 1551 864 580 1132 49 648 239 391 1016 42 1072 218 1384 967 924 622 1226 1224 599 1420 1272 360 218 1246 1129 238 427 934 1036 95 255 1260