GE Strikes A Deal to Clean Up PCBs in the Hudson

Over the years, GE dumped an estimated 1.3 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson before the Federal government banned the substance in 1977. The chemicals came from GE's plants in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls. PCBs are classified as a probable cause of cancer.

The dredging is now scheduled to begin in 2007 and yesterday's settlement calls for GE to pay the government up to $78 million for costs of the clean-up. The EPA called the settlement “a historic agreement” and GE said in a statement to the Associated Press that the deal shows that it is committed to working with environmental regulators and the state.” But environmental groups have criticized the agreement pointing out that it only requires GE to pay for 10 percent of the clean-up.

* Robert Goldstein, Senior Attorney with Riverkeeper.
* Alan Steinberg, Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

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