GE Could Appeal Decision Upholding EPA Housatonic Cleanup Plan

A stretch of the Housatonic River under remediation.
Berkshire Environmental Action Team

General Electric says it's "disappointed" by a decision upholding the Environmental Protection Agency's plan that requires the company to clean chemicals from a western Massachusetts river.

The Berkshire Eagle reports that General Electric issued a statement Wednesday indicating that it may appeal Tuesday's decision upholding the $613 million proposal. It would have a 30-day window after the EPA issues its final cleanup permit.

The EPA proposes cleaning PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, from more than 400 acres along a 10.5-mile stretch of the Housatonic River in Pittsfield and Lenox. It includes dredging and trucking contaminated soil and sediment to an out-of-state facility.

The decision by the EPA's Boston office says GE's argument that the removal requirements are "arbitrary" and "unlawful" fails to present sufficient information to dispute the agency's plan.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn