Cornell: New Law Protects Safety Of Public, Hudson River

From The City of New City: Legislator Harriet Cornell is praising new legislation signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that allows the state to consider environmental conditions when permitting petroleum-bearing vessels to operate on the Hudson River.

“By backing these new rules, Gov. Cuomo has taken decisive action in defending the safety of both the public and the Hudson River,” Legislator Cornell said. “This new oversight and the protections they bring are part of a continuing effort that so many of us have been working on for so many years - one that focuses on a cleaner river with fish that are safe to eat, water that is healthy enough to swim in and waterfronts that enjoy local marinas and restaurants that contribute to the economy.”

The new legislation amends existing law to allow the state Department of Environmental Conservation to work with the state Department of State and the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to establish the conditions under which petroleum-bearing vessels can enter and move upon the river. Tanker-avoidance zones will also be created.

The U.S. Coast Guard proposed placing 43 berths for commercial barges, plus their associated tug, tow or push boats, at 10 Hudson River locations totaling more than 2,400 acres. The sites included Tomkins Cove in Rockland and the largest one in Yonkers, which is easily visible from Rockland.

The vessels represent a significant threat to public safety as many contain Bakken crude oil. More than 10,000 comments were submitted to the Coast Guard as part of the agency’s review of the proposal, which was suspended earlier this year.

But to ensure local control over what could happen to the historic waterway, an effort was undertaken to create new state rules allowing environmental conditions to be considered before issuing the permits necessary for the barges to use the river. The creation of tanker-avoidance zones will mean certain waterfronts will not see a parking lot of tankers off their shore.

Legislator Cornell (D-West Nyack) was joined by her colleagues, Legislators Jay Hood of Haverstraw and Alden H. Wolfe of Montebello, in submitting public comment and a letter to the Coast Guard opposing the proposed new anchorages.

Cornell, whose legislative district includes the Hudson waterfront villages of Nyack and Upper Nyack and who chairs the Rockland County Task Force on Water Resources Management, also conducted a discussion on the issue before the Legislature’s Environmental Committee, which she also chairs.

Cornell also praised the work of the many advocates whose efforts contributed to the rule changes, including Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson. Gov. Cuomo signed the measure early this morning.

Image Courtesy of The City of New City