Contaminated Hudson River Cleanup Project
The Hudson River, a vital waterway in the United States, continues to be the focus of a significant environmental cleanup effort. The Upper Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site, a notorious polluted area, is still undergoing remediation, as highlighted in the final third five-year review report released in January 2025.
For those interested in staying updated on the progress, subscribing to the EPA's Hudson River Listserv provides project updates via email. The EPA has made various resources available to the public, including a video series on Lower River Sediment Sampling (2023) and a community update on Lower River sampling and investigations provided in August 2024. A recording of a public meeting held on August 28, 2024, is also available for viewing.
Community engagement remains a crucial part of the process, with local groups like the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site Community Advisory Group providing input to the EPA to ensure ongoing cleanup efforts address health risks and environmental justice concerns.
Despite the removal of over 2.75 million cubic yards of PCB-contaminated sediment, substantial contamination remains. The site spans about 200 miles, and General Electric (GE) is responsible for the PCB pollution from about 30 years of dumping.
As of the final third five-year review in 2025, the cleanup of the Upper Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site is ongoing but not yet complete. The EPA will issue a report addendum by 2027 after finalizing the review of the Upper Hudson PCB Cleanup and considering public comment.
In the meantime, it is essential to remember that chemicals in Hudson River fish can harm your health even if the fish look healthy and the water looks clean. Information on New York State health advisories on eating Hudson River fish is available to learn. Factsheets for the report are available in English and Spanish.
For those interested in the technical aspects of the cleanup, an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Testing/Investigation Lower Hudson River (09/13/22) is available, as well as an Appendix A - Site Map of the Lower Hudson River and an Appendix B - Statement of Work.
Lastly, a video series about Lower River Fish Sampling (2023) and a video series about Lower River Sediment Core Sampling (2024) are also available for those seeking a more visual understanding of the cleanup process. The Hudson River PCBs cleanup remains one of the largest and most complex Superfund efforts nationwide, with ongoing activity and community involvement indicating the cleanup has not yet reached completion by mid-2025.
- The ongoing cleanup of the Upper Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site involves the removal of chemicals such as PCBs, which are harmful to human health, even when the water looks clean.
- For individuals interested in the health-and-wellness implications of the Hudson River cleanup, resources like the New York State health advisories on eating Hudson River fish are available.
- In the field of environmental science, the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site is a significant focus of ongoing research and cleanup efforts, requiring expertise in areas such as sediment sampling, fish sampling, and the investigation of contaminated waters.
