As the new home of NJPIRG's environmental work, Environment New Jersey can be contacted regarding this news release.
Today
elected officials and community leaders encouraged New Jersey counties
and towns to endorse the EPA's plan to clean up the Hudson. In
December, the EPA announced its recommendation to dredge a 40-mile long
series of locations near GE's factories in upstate New York. For 30
years, GE dumped over a million pounds of toxic PCB's into Hudson.
Currently, up to 500 pounds of PCB's flow downriver towards New Jersey
each year.
"We're
calling on towns and counties to join us in this fight to preserve New
Jersey's coastline," said Dena Mottola, of New Jersey Public Interest
Research Group. "GE owes it to the citizens of New Jersey to clean up
its own mess."
Faced
with the potential responsibility of cleaning up a 100,000 pounds of
PCB's, GE has launched a massive media and lobbying campaign to
convince the public and elected officials that the Hudson is "cleaning
itself." Last week, the president of General Electric-owned NBC lobbied
New York city council members against passing a bill to endorse
cleanup.
"Acting
Governor DiFrancesco and other political leaders must make sure
Washington knows how New Jersey stands on this issue," said Jeff
Tittel, executive director of The Sierra Club's New Jersey chapter.
"The Governor should tell President Bush that New Jersey wants the
Hudson River PCB's removed without delay."
Concerned
about the impact of Hudson River pollution on human health and water
quality, activists and elected officials have begun mobilizing. Over
100 residents attended a public meeting in Monmouth County on Monday
calling upon the EPA to follow through on its plan . Last week, State
Senator John Bennett (R-Shrewsbury) and Assemblyman Joe Doria
(D-Bayonne) introduced resolutions in the New Jersey Legislature
endorsing the cleanup. On Thursday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate
Jim McGreevy sent a letter to Christine Todd Whitman in support of the
EPA's plan.
"It's
time to turn the tide," said Andrew Wilner, NY/NJ Baykeeper. "It's time
for our state, county and municipal leaders to join with their
colleagues in New York who have already signed resolutions in favor of
the cleanup."
Additional Contacts:
Clean Ocean Action, Cindy Zipf 732-872-0111
Andrew Willner, NY / NJ Baykeeper 732-291-0176
Jeff Tittel, Sierra Club - NJ 609-397-2506
Tom Fote, Jersey Coast Angler's Association, 732-270-9102
Pat Daley, Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment, 973/ 579-1732, voice 973-579-9919
