Local reps call for cleanup of Hudson River

Hudson Valley Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) is leading 15 House members from New York and New Jersey in calling on EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to rule that additional PCB cleanup is needed in the Hudson River. Zeldin is a former congressman.

The bipartisan group of lawmakers includes regional members George Latimer (D, NY-16), Michael Lawler (R, NY-17), and Josh Riley (D, NY-19).

The House members are calling on the EPA to begin the addendum process immediately and issue a “not protective determination.”

Over three decades, General Electric dumped millions of pounds of PCBs into the river, causing mass pollution and disruption to the river’s ecosystem.

The lawmakers say that samples taken from the river continue to demonstrate that the cleanup has failed to achieve PCB concentration benchmarks within a timeframe established by the EPA.

In late 2024, under the prior administration, the EPA conducted its third five-year review of the cleanup and concluded that more data is needed to determine if the dredging in the Upper Hudson is meeting the expectations of the original cleanup plan. The agency is expected to issue an addendum to the third five-year plan no later than the end of 2027, however, lawmakers are looking for more swift action. 

“For decades, General Electric has put their profits ahead of the health and safety of Hudson Valley families, and nobody knows that as well as our fellow New Yorker, Lee Zeldin,” Ryan said. “The time for talking is over; the time for action is now.”

“Riverkeeper is deeply disappointed that the EPA continues to ignore the overwhelming evidence that the cleanup of PCBs in the Hudson River is failing to protect human health and the environment,” said Tracy Brown, president of Riverkeeper.

“Fortunately, the addendum process allows EPA to act now rather than waiting another five years,” said Pete Lopez, executive director of Scenic Hudson. Lopez is a former EPA regional administrator.

Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan said they are asking Zeldin and Regional Administrator Michael Martucci “to take this opportunity to finally provide relief to the millions of people and the many businesses along the Hudson River.”