On March 1, 2021, Danskammer’s application was deemed complete by the New York State Siting Board. This marks the commencement of the Article 10 permitting process, which can last from 12-18 months.  During this time, trial-type evidentiary hearings will be held, along with opportunities for public comments.

A public hearing was held on March 31, 2021. Thank you to all who came out in opposition to Danskammer at the virtual public hearings. There was numerous comments against Danskammer and very little support for the plant. Unfortunately, the state agency hosting the hearing (the Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment/Siting Board) was overwhelmed by the turnout and not everyone was given the chance to be heard. Because of this, The Stop Danskammer Coalition is pushing for more hearings to be held. Visit https://stoptheplant.org to stay informed about ways you can demand more when it comes to the public engagement process. Beacon City Council passes resolution opposing Danskammer (August 2019)

If you weren’t able to share your personal comments because they cut the hearings short, you can take a video of yourself reading them, and send it to shay.oreilly@sierraclub.org. For more information about how to do this, click here.  Videos will be shared on the Stop Danskammer Coalition YouTube channel, send them to key decision-makers like Governor Cuomo and the siding board, and potentially share them at public events.

The public can continue to push back with written comments to the Siting Board to make sure the Siting Board recognized the overwhelming opposition. Please submit the comment you either prepared and didn’t get to share, or one that you read last week. Use this easy comment form on the website, along with talking points in case you’d like to submit another comment. You can submit as many as you’d like!

Here’s some upcoming educational events:

  • May 7- Hudson Valley Environmental Justice Coalition’s Danskammer event  Featuring Anthony Grice (Newburgh City Councilman) & Chief Vincent Mann (Ramapough Lenape Nation); moderated by Gregory Simpson- link & details coming soon.

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Marks Blackwood

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Marks Blackwood

Barge Anchorages on the Hudson

A group of companies from the shipping and petroleum industries have asked the US Coast Guard to consider 10 new anchorage grounds totaling 43 berths on the Hudson River. This will expand industrial use of the river and greatly increase the chances of oil spills, damage the habitat of endangered species, and negatively impact the natural beauty of our area.

There is widespread opposition to this proposal, including Beacon's Conservation Advisory Committee, as well as local, state, and national elected officials.

We support the efforts of Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson in their opposition to increased industrial traffic on the Hudson.

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Proposed Pilgrim Pipeline

Two parallel oil pipelines are proposed to cross 25 municipalities throughout six New York counties. Check the Coalition Against Pilgrim Pipeline website for updates.

Opponents say that the pipeline is susceptible to corrosion and leakage problems, and that the transported products, which they say are highly volatile, are dangerous to both humans and environment. Opponents also say that leaks threaten the water supply to homes, businesses and schools.

Damage to both urban communities and open spaces through which it would pass is cited, as is the possible destruction of wetlands and critical habitats, a negative impact on waterways, endangered and threatened species affected, toxic air emissions and further erosion due to construction.[Read the full article here]

Photo courtesy EPA

Photo courtesy EPA

Hudson River PCBs

Is the cleanup finished? GE thinks so. Since 2009 General Electric has been forced to undertake a multibillion dollar project to remove industrial pollutants known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that the company discharged into the upper Hudson River between 1947 and 1977. Now, having dredged 2.65 million cubic yards of contaminated river sediment, GE has requested that the federal Environmental Protection Agency issue a Certificate of Completion, ending the court-ordered cleanup.

The request comes months before the EPA will issue a five-year review of the cleanup to gauge the effectiveness of the project and determine if GE should keep going. Should the EPA issue a Certificate of Completion now, before its report, it would limit the agency’s ability to force GE to undertake additional cleanup if the agency determines more work is needed. [Read the full article here]