ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The Latest on the federal review of the $1.7 billion Hudson River cleanup (all times local):
3:30 p.m.
New York state and environmental groups strongly differ with a federal review of the $1.7 billion Hudson River cleanup that found the river’s rebound is on track and more dredging isn’t necessary for now.
The Environmental Protection Agency said in its review Thursday that six years of dredging at the Superfund site is working so far, although PCB levels in fish remain high. PCBs are a probable carcinogen. The EPA also said it will take decades, at least, for the project to reach its goal of protecting people and the environment.
Elected officials and environmentalists have been calling for more dredging, saying the cleanup is incomplete. And New York environmental commissioner Basil Seggos took exception to the review Thursday, saying significant amounts of contamination are left in the river and threaten both public health and the environment.
Boston-based General Electric said the review makes clear that “no additional dredging in the Upper or Lower Hudson is recommended.” GE has removed 2.75 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment from a 40-mile stretch of the upper Hudson through 2015.
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1:30 p.m.
Federal regulators say a six-year cleanup of the Hudson River is producing positive results, but PCB levels in fish remain high.
The Environmental Protection Agency released a review of the $1.7 billion cleanup Thursday. The agency said it will take decades, at least, for the Superfund project to reach its goal of protecting human health and the environment.
Boston-based General Electric removed 2.75 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment from a 40-mile stretch of the upper Hudson through 2015. Some New York elected officials and environmentalists have called for more dredging, saying the cleanup is incomplete.
GE says it interprets the EPA review as recommending against any additional dredging.
Until the mid-1970s, GE factories discharged PCBs into the river. PCBs are a probable carcinogen. They were banned in 1977.
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