News - Latest Developments

On March 18, Riverkeeper (RvK) submitted comments opposing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) review of the environmental impacts of Indian Point, which recommended relicensing the plant. Refuting NRC’s claims that the plant poses no significant public or environmental health threats, RvK's comments state that the plant kills more than a billion fish every year; its spent fuel pools are leaking radioactive water; it is vulnerable to terrorist attack; and, it is amassing thousands of tons of nuclear waste that will remain on the site for decades.

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On March 5, the NRC denied an appeal filed by Entergy, the owner of Indian Point, which sought to throw out an important environmental claim raised by Riverkeeper in its challenge to the plant’s relicensing. Riverkeeper’s claim objects to Entergy’s assessment of the environmental impacts of highly toxic radioactive water leaks from the facility’s spent fuel pools. Now that the Commissioners have rejected this final appeal, Riverkeeper, bolstered further, will continue to litigate this important issue.

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In recognition of Clean Water Week (2/23 - 2/28), Riverkeeper and Whole Foods Market have teamed up for the Tap Water Awareness Project—a collaborative effort to educate consumers about New York City’s tap water which flows unfiltered from reservoirs in the Catskill Mountains and Westchester County to 9 million New Yorkers in and around the city.

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In a significant victory for environmentalists concerned about the proposal to build a desalination plant in Rockland County, using Hudson River water, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is requiring the applicant, United Water New York, to provide detailed information on alternatives, including water conservation, loss minimization and minimization of demand.

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On a clear Tuesday night in January, art lovers and Riverkeeper aficionados gathered for Reflected Light, an auction of art and unique experiences to benefit Riverkeeper. Nearly 500 guests and volunteers gathered at the Frank Gehry designed IAC building in Manhattan for this bi-annual benefit chaired by Andrea Raisfeld and board member and renowned photographer, William Abranowicz. The event was a huge success, raising needed funds for Riverkeeper’s important work, and providing a fabulous evening for everyone who came out to enjoy the bidding, the party and an intimate acoustic set by Deborah Harry. Thank you to everyone who made Reflected Light IV a success!

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In a victory for the Community Advisory Group for the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site, General Electric has agreed to reimburse the EPA for certain costs relating to ensuring a safe drinking water supply to the communities at risk for PCB contamination from the upcoming dredging of the Hudson River.

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On January 1, 2009, Riverkeeper submitted comments on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Draft Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Shad and River Herring. Riverkeeper called for ASMFC to require extensive monitoring and reporting of river herring populations in member states, mandate programs to reduce and monitor bycatch, coordinate at-sea monitoring programs on a coast-wide basis, implement habitat restoration, reduce anthropogenic threats to fish survival, and work with member states to implement sustainable management of commercial and recreational fisheries. https://www.riverkeeper.org/campaign.php/hudson_fisheries/we_are_doing/1532-riverkeeper-calls-for-protecti

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On December 1, Riverkeeper submitted written comments on the new Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 environmental review documents. While a few of Riverkeeper’s concerns have been addressed by the New York State Department of Transportation, concerns about the legal procedure, environmental impacts, and commuter rail option remain.

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Riverkeeper served notice of its intent to sue Lehigh Cement Company for ongoing violations of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at the company’s Catskill, NY facility on July 10. A 2006 helicopter patrol of the Hudson River revealed three gold colored ponds adjacent to the Hudson on Lehigh’s property and sparked Riverkeeper’s investigation into the facility.

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