POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (WAMC) - Congresswoman Nan Hayworth was in Dutchess County Monday afternoon, where she met with coalition of environmental groups to discuss a host of environmental issues important to the Region. Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas was there and files this report.
Hayworth led a roundtable discussion at Scenic Hudson Headquarters in downtown Poughkeepsie. With Maurice Hinchey retiring from Congress this year, many of the Hudson Valley's environmental groups are looking to Hayworth to become an even more active champion of New York's vast resources. They urged her to work across party lines to support ecological issues.
Among the topics: clean air and water, agriculture, infrastructure, hydrofracking and tourism. The activists presented the Congresswoman with their ideas and initiatives - Hayworth told the panel she is already aware of most of their concerns.
Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan emphasized that the groups have one particular issue high on their list of priorities: getting Congresswoman Hayworth to work with them to convince the US EPA to take a hard look at the PCB clean-up in the Hudson River. Hayworth says she understands it's a long term issue. The activists are confident that Hayworth returned to Washington with renewed resolve to protect New York's environmental resources.
