New York state, the federal government and environmentalists up and down the Hudson have been readying for months for the next chapter of General Electric’s mandated cleanup of the river.
This morning, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it is issuing a “Certification of Completion of the Remedial Action” for GE’s cleanup of toxic PCBs from the Hudson River.
The company discharged the contaminants from its facilities in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls for decades.
EPA also announced in its second five-year review of the federal Superfund cleanup that it would defer a determination on the protectiveness of the remedy for human and environmental health until more data is collected.
The move has drawn pointed criticism from environmentalists and New York state leaders, who say the EPA should reconsider its decision. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would sue EPA over its declaration.
Speaking this afternoon, EPA Region 2 Administrator Pete Lopez explained to WAMC’s Lucas Willard how the Agency determined GE met its cleanup requirements that included dredging between Fort Edward and Troy.
