Statement by the NYS Canal Corp. Regarding General Electric's Decision to Continue Hudson River PCB Dredging

Statement by the NYS Canal Corp. Regarding General Electric's Decision to Continue Hudson River PCB Dredging

The Canal Corporation commends General Electric's decision to continue their participation in the important environmental clean-up of the Upper Hudson River and Champlain Canal.

Unfortunately the project they plan to complete still does not address the navigational needs of the canal, which could not be dredged for the past 30 years due to the contamination in the waterway.

If the work plan does not change, at the end of the project in five to seven years the navigation channel will still be clogged with about 80 percent of the PCBs that are in place today.

The Canal Corporation and nearly all of the municipalities bordering the waterway believe now is the most cost-effective time to address navigational needs while the environmental remediation proceeds.

-30-