News - Press Releases

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it would set health-protective limits for several perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water at concentrations close to zero, establishing the first federal limits on pollution from the class of synthetic chemicals known as PFAS. Riverkeeper has supported health-protective PFAS standards such as those EPA proposed today. “We’ve seen that PFAS contaminate many drinking water supplies in New York State, especially in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley,” said Dan Shapley, Riverkeeper Co-Director, Science and Patrol. “Once in force, these new federal standards […]

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The settlement provides for independent oversight of waste transfer stations’ efforts to contain odor, noise, dust, and manage stormwater. New York, NY, January 4, 2023 – Two residents of Southeast Queens and environmental organizations Riverkeeper and NY/NJ Baykeeper, represented by New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) and co-counsel Super Law Group, and local waste transfer stations operated by American Recycling Management LLC (American) and Regal Recycling Co., Inc. (Regal) reached a final settlement in a lawsuit intended to improve the quality of life for residents of Southeast Queens and help […]

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Contact: Jeremy Cherson, Riverkeeper Senior Manager of Government Affairs, [email protected]; 770-630-6790 Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed legislation that will extend the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Protection of Waters Program to class C streams intended to provide oversight to projects which may disturb stream banks or beds. Class AA, A, B, and a small number of Class C trout streams already require permits. Riverkeeper and our partner organizations have documented waterways across the Hudson River watershed and New York that are misclassified, leaving our freshwater habitat and drinking water sources vulnerable […]

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Riverkeeper and allies call for Governor to sign stream protection bill passed by New York State Legislature ADD YOUR NAME: Send a message to Governor Hochul by December 14 > Albany, N.Y. – New York State Senator Pete Harckham and representatives from a number of important environmental groups held a press conference in the New York State Capitol Tuesday, December 6, urging Governor Hochul to enact vital legislation that protects streams and drinking water throughout the state. Gathered in front of the Million Dollar Staircase inside the Capitol building, Harckham […]

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Riverkeeper, NRDC, and Save the Sound, the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic submitted comments to the New York State DEC urging the agency to set new water quality standards for the coastal waters in and around New York City in a way that makes them healthier for recreation and restores ecological functions.

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On Tuesday, November 8, New York voters overwhelmingly supported Prop 1, the $4.2 billion Clean Air, Clean Water and Green Jobs Bond Act of 2022. Funds from the bond act will support capital improvements across the state including vital water infrastructure upgrades, water quality improvements, dam removals, environmental justice projects, and renewable energy all while creating 100,000 good paying jobs. Riverkeeper is a proud member of the Clean Water and Jobs coalition, a 300+ member coalition made up of environmental and conservation groups, labor and healthcare, faith, and good government […]

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Media contacts: Erin Macchiaroli (she/her) [email protected] Leah Rae (she/her) [email protected] Beacon, N.Y. – Onboard the sloop Clearwater Tuesday, members of staff and board from the three leading Hudson Valley environmental groups, Clearwater, Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson sailed together to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water Act, passed on October 18, 1972. Sixty years ago, a beautiful river once celebrated through the Hudson River School of Art, was heavily polluted, malodorous, and congested from over a century of industrial development. In the 10 years that followed […]

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Agreement between EPA & GE paves the way for long overdue data collection – and potential cleanup – in the Lower Hudson. The Environmental Protection Agency announced a legal agreement with General Electric this week that begins an overdue and critically important phase in dealing with GE’s legacy of toxic contamination from PCBs in fish and sediment throughout the Hudson River. Under the agreement, GE will plan and fund a study of contamination extending throughout the “Lower Hudson” – the entire 160-mile stretch from the Federal Dam at Troy south […]

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The legislation is critical to ensuring U.S. climate policy gets back on track.

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