Support a local resolution on PCBs in the Hudson River
Help your community send a message to EPA: Protect people and wildlife, not GE
Every village, town, city and county along the river should send a message to the EPA, urging continued investigation and removal of PCB contamination in the Hudson River.
Use the following information to help your municipal leaders take a stand.
Download a sample resolution and share it with your elected officials >
Contact your municipal officials (towns, cities and villages), county government officials, political clubs, community and environmental groups to urge them to support a resolution.
CALL YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES
Here is a script you can use:
“Hi, my name is (your name) and I am one of your constituents. I am calling to ask that you lead (county/municipality) in adopting a resolution that urges EPA to conduct further investigation and removal of additional PCBs in the Hudson River. EPA determined that the Hudson River PCB cleanup “will be protective of human health and the environment,” even though two to three times as many PCBs remain in the river than expected. EPA cannot declare the cleanup sufficient until the PCB contamination in the entire Hudson River reaches a level that does not threaten human health and the environment. EPA needs to protect New Yorkers, not GE.”
WRITE YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES
Here is a sample email or letter you can use:
Name of recipient (example: Bob Jones)
Title (example: Mayor)
Address, (example: ### Main Street
Peekskill, NY 10566)
Dear _______________,
The EPA’s latest five year review of the Hudson River PCBs Superfund site shows that the Hudson River remedy is not yet protective of human health and the environment. EPA must require GE to meet the goals of the cleanup, instead of moving the goalposts, allowing GE to walk away.
As someone who values the Hudson River. I strongly support continued progress toward restoring its vitality and health. The economic and ecological need for additional dredging is clear. I urge (Place) to adopt a resolution regarding the investigation and additional removal of PCBs in the Hudson River. EPA cannot declare the cleanup sufficient until the PCB contamination in the entire Hudson River reaches a level that does not threaten human health and the environment. EPA needs to protect New Yorkers, not GE.
Thank you,
(Your name)
TALKING POINTS
Here are some additional points you can make:
- EPA’s own data shows that below the Troy Dam (all the way to Manhattan), PCB concentrations in fish haven’t declined as expected as a result of the upriver dredging.
- With more PCBs left in the river than anticipated, additional dredging of the upper 40 miles of the Hudson River is necessary.
- EPA must require GE to further investigate the lower 150 miles of the Hudson River to ensure cleanup goals are met.
- EPA must give more weight to studies by federal and state agencies that challenge EPA’s findings.
- EPA cannot declare the cleanup complete until the PCB contamination in the entire Hudson River reaches a level that does not threaten human health and the environment.
Find Your County District Legislator
Delaware County: Supervisors
Dutchess County: Legislators
Orange County: Legislators
Putnam County: Legislators
Rockland County: Legislators
Sullivan County: Legislators
Ulster County: Legislators
Westchester County: Legislators
Columbia County: Supervisors
Green County: Legislators
Albany County: Legislators
Rensselaer County: Legislators
New York City: City Council Members
Let us know when a resolution passes in your LOCAL GOVERNMENT by emailing a copy to [email protected].
