Deadline Extended for Public Comment on Proposed Hudson River Commercial Barge Anchorage Sites

After local, state and federal pleas, the U.S. Coast has extended the deadline for public comment on the proposed commercial barge anchorages in the Hudson River.

The controversial issue concerns the Coast Guard’s plan to put 10 new commercial anchorage sites, each capable of anchoring multiple barges, from Yonkers to Kingston.

The anchorage sites are Kingston Flats South, Port Ewen, Big Rock Point, Milton, Roseton, Marlboro, Newburgh, Tompkins Cove, Montrose Point and Yonkers extention.

The Port Ewen, Big Rock Point, Kingston and Newburgh sites are the top four priorities, in that order.

On August 29, five members of Congress, representing New York and the Hudson Valley, sent a letter to the commandant of the Coast Guard requesting an extension to the deadline which was set for September 6, 2016.

On September 1, the Coast Guard announced that the new deadline was December 6, 2016. To date, more than 2,600 comments have been submitted.

Comments can be left on this website.

Environmental organization Clearwater applauded the decision to extend the period of public comment.

“It’s a wise decision of the part of the U.S. Coast Guard to allow a longer period for public comment on a proposal that can have such a potentially devastating impact on the Hudson River’s ecology, economy, view shed and tourism,” said Manna Jo Greene, Clearwater’s environmental director.

“Using the Hudson as a staging area for large volumes of fossil fuels is unacceptable and dangerous,” she said.

The organization’s position is that there should be no additional anchorages on the river, which has been designated as a National Heritage Area.

“This is an ill-conceived proposal that hearkens back to the days when rivers like the Hudson were seen only as industrial canals,” said Clearwater’s Interim Executive Director Dave Conover.

“Creating more anchorages diminishes the river and the communities along its shores,” he said.

Westchester County officials recently launched a social media campaign and online petition against the anchorages proposal.

Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro said his county is concerned about the proposal.

"The Hudson River is an essential part of the region’s heritage and is certainly part of what makes this county 'Distinctly Dutchess,' " he said. "While the proposed anchorages are not physically within the Dutchess County borders, potential environmental and community impacts could extend beyond the immediate area of Yonkers to Kingston."

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein is not thrilled with the prospect of having multiple anchorage sites near his county's communities.

"The Port of New York attempting to solve its parking problems on the backs of the Hudson Valley communities is nothing short of disgraceful," he said. "We have major water intake areas in Esopus and critical infrastructure up and down our coast."

Photo caption: Mid-Hudson Bridge. Photo credit: Michael Woyton.