Riverkeeper Files Comments on Army Corps Dredging Project

On April 9, 2009, Riverkeeper filed legal comments opposing a dredging project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which would place approximately 150,000 cubic yards of dredge spoil containing concentrations of PCBs, heavy metals, and other toxics on Houghtaling Island in New Baltimore, NY.

New York State has identified Houghtaling Island, one of the largest undisturbed parcels of land in the Hudson River estuary, as a legally protected critical habitat. Nevertheless, the Army Corps has used it for decades as a dump for dredged soil containing varying levels of contaminants.

Over the next several months Riverkeeper will be submitting additional comments in opposition to the continued use of Houghtaling Island as an Army Corps dump. We are currently drafting legal comments to the Department of Environmental Conservation, which must certify that the dredging conforms to state water quality requirements. In addition Riverkeeper will submit legal comments to the Department of State, detailing why we strongly disagree with the Army Corps’ coastal consistency certification, which states that the use of Houghtaling Island for dredge spoil disposal is consistent with New York State coastal management policy.