PCB-pollution problem in the upper Hudson River: From environmental disaster to environmental gridlock

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Northeastern Environmental Science; (USA)

OSTI ID:5841952

Sanders, J E ^[1]

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1. Barnard College, New York, NY (USA)

The PCB pollution of the upper Hudson River has been traced to two discharge pipes from capacitor-manufacturing plants of the General Electric Company (GE) at Hudson Falls and Fort Edward, located about 40 miles north of Troy, New York. In August 1974, EPA biologists carried out a field investigation upstream of, at, and downstream of the GE discharge pipes. In September 1975, goaded by articles about PCB-contaminated fish from the Hudson Estuary, the Commissioner of the New York State Department of conservation (NYS DEC) commenced an administrative proceeding against GE, alleging violations of several NY State Environmental Conservation Law sections, and seeking cessation of PCB discharges, penalties for past discharges, and rehabilitation of the upper river. One stipulation of the resulting settlement agreement was that New York State sign off with GE over PCB pollution of the Hudson River and, if the Advisory Committee recommended in favor of rehabilitation, it would use its best efforts to find funds from sources other than GE to help pay for rehabilitation. The future of the PCB problem in the upper Hudson River seems likely to be settled by the outcome of a class-action lawsuit that commercial fisherman have filed against GE. In January 1989, a NEW York Appeals Court voted in favor of the ruling that the fishermen were entitled not only to payments for lost income, but to injunctive relief (which implies that GE must clean up the River). 311 refs., 30 figs., 14 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 5841952
• Journal Information: Northeastern Environmental Science; (USA), Journal Name: Northeastern Environmental Science; (USA) Vol. 8:1; ISSN 0730-630X; ISSN NOESD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CONTAMINATION
FISHES
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HUDSON RIVER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
LEGAL ASPECTS
LIABILITIES
LIQUID WASTES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION SOURCES
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT