JOHN E. SWEENEY
22d District, New York
February 27, 2001
Ms. Carol W. LaGrasse
PO Box 75
Stony Creek, New York 12878-0075
Dear Ms. LaGrasse:
Thank you for your letter regarding the Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) decision to order the dredging and landfilling
of PCBs from the Hudson River. I certainly share your views on
this issue.
Unfortunately, the EPA’s recent announcement that it
intends to order the dredging of 2.6 million cubic yards
of sediment from the Hudson River raises more questions than
answers. Where and how will the 100,000 truckloads of toxic sediment
be transported? Where will toxic PCB treatment facilities be
located? Will the non-toxic portion of the dredged material be
deposited in local landfills? Is the five-year timetable for
the dredging operation realistic, given experiences in similar,
smaller projects? The EPA must address the serious disposal issues
and their effects on our communities prior to moving ahead with
the dredging project in our region.
Dredging is a drastic cleanup method that has the potential
to create even greater environmental hazards to the river’s
delicate ecosystem. That is why I have urged the EPA to incorporate
the recently issued recommendations of the National Academy of
Sciences (NAS) on the risks of dredging. The NAS report states
that the “paramount consideration for PCB-sediment sites
should be management of overall risks to humans and the environment
rather than the selection of a remediation,” such as dredging.
In response to a post-briefing question, the NAS Committee Chairman,
John W. Farrington, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,
stated that the dredging of hot spots in one affected area of
the river could result in migration of PCBs and the creation
of new hot spots down river. I have consistently said that sound
science should guide our path and that I cannot support any proposal
that does more environmental harm than good.
Once again, I appreciate your support on this important issue.
Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please
feel free to contact my office.
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