News - Press Releases

ALBANY — The New York State Senate, Assembly and Governor Andrew Cuomo have reached a consensus on landmark legislation to combat climate change this morning. Lawmakers now have a bill they can vote on by the end of Wednesday, which marks the close of the legislative session. The three-way deal establishes aggressive mandates to ensure New York achieves a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions — with 100 percent carbon neutrality — by 2050. In addition, the agreement […]

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During the annual Riverkeeper Sweep shoreline cleanup event on May 4, 2,400 volunteers cleaned up 32 tons of trash & debris from 122 locations in NYC & the Hudson Valley. Plastic bottles were the most pervasive item noted in the trash, fueling new efforts to expand NYS ‘bottle bill.’ Add your voice here. Ossining, N.Y. – Riverkeeper today announced the results of the 8th Annual “Riverkeeper Sweep” May 4, when 2,400 volunteers cleaned the shorelines of New York City and the Hudson Valley and removed a total of 32 tons […]

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8th Annual Riverkeeper Sweep happening at 123 locations, Adirondacks to NYC: More than 2,000 volunteers will clean shorelines, foster native plants Ossining, N.Y. – Thousands of volunteers will return to the shorelines in the Hudson Valley and New York City for the 8th Annual Riverkeeper Sweep on Saturday, May 4 – a day of service for the Hudson River. Riverkeeper Sweep is the largest one-day cleanup in the history of the Hudson River. In the seven years since the first Riverkeeper Sweep in 2012, volunteers have removed more than 227 […]

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Proposal would transport 445,000 tons of toxic ash per year on local roads. Catskill, NY — More than 200 people packed a community meeting last night at the Catskill Community Center to learn about the threats from a proposed incinerator toxic ash dump in an abandoned quarry in Catskill. This would be the first such use of a quarry in New York State. A diverse coalition supported by more than 50 community and environmental groups organized the meeting and will hold a follow-up organizing meeting on May 3, at 6pm. […]

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Statement on Governor Cuomo signing plastic bag ban bill at the Hudson River Maritime Museum   Kingston, NY —  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo joined advocates and lawmakers at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, New York today for a signing ceremony for the statewide plastic bag ban that will go into effect on March 1, 2020. The new law seeks to address some 23 billion single-use plastic bags New Yorkers use every year. “At our annual Riverkeeper Sweep, volunteers remove tons of plastics, including single-use bags from NewYork’s shorelines,” said Riverkeeper President Paul Gallay. “Plastic pollution is […]

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Riverkeeper President Paul Gallay released this statement today: Riverkeeper has major concerns about Tuesday’s announcement that Entergy will sell the Indian Point reactors to Holtec for decommissioning.  Both Holtec and its intended partner, SNC-Lavalin, have problematic operating histories, including a bribery scandal in Canada that threatens to topple the Trudeau government. This proposed license transfer therefore needs careful scrutiny by New York State, and, ideally, by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The stated goal of decommissioning more rapidly than the 60 years allowed by the federal government is welcome, but that […]

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Storm surge flood barriers being considered by the Army Corps of Engineers in response to Hurricane Sandy, threaten river health Contacts: Eileen Shader, American Rivers, (570) 856-1128, eshader@americanrivers.org Leah Rae, Riverkeeper, (914) 478-4501 ext. 238, lrae@riverkeeper.org Washington, D.C. – American Rivers today named the Hudson River among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2019, citing the grave threat that the potential construction of storm-surge barriers could pose to this rich tidal estuary. American Rivers and its partners called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider alternative solutions that address […]

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New York — Riverkeeper, New York’s Clean Water Advocate, will honor rock musician, actor and fashion icon Debbie Harry at its annual Fishermen’s Ball on May 8, 2019 at Pier Sixty One (The Lighthouse) at New York City’s famed Chelsea Piers. Harry, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with her band, Blondie, in 2006, will be honored as Riverkeeper’s “Big Fish” for her years of environmental advocacy, her work to eliminate the threats to pollinators and her efforts to recycle plastics into fashion-forward clothing. Also honored will be Pace University’s […]

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More than 50 environmental and community groups detail opposition to proposed incinerator ash dump in Catskill   Proposal would transport 445,000 tons of toxic ash on local roads.   Groups call on Catskill Town Supervisor to reject proposal, release sign-on letter opposing the dump.   Wheelabrator Technologies, the second largest trash incineration company in the U.S., has proposed creating a large incinerator ash dump in a former quarry in the Town of Catskill near the shore of the Hudson River. The company is in the process of applying for permits […]

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