/93: DEC tests an “oily liquid” found seeping into the Allen Mills Structure. It proves to be 72% pure PCBs.10/93: DEC and GE agree to begin cleanup on the Hudson Falls and Ft. Edward sites.1996: Scientists discover that PCBs evaporate from the Hudson River water and tide-exposed sediment. Blood tests of Hudson Valley residents reveal elevated levels of PCBs in non-fish eaters.4/97: US Fish and Wildlife Services releases study showing tree swallows breeding near Hudson Falls have high concentrations of PCBs in their body and eggs. Levels up to 55 ppm were documented, qualifying them as hazardous waste.9/97: Body of a 16 week old bald eagle is found along the Hudson River with 71 ppm of PCBs in it’s body fat.It is obvious that PCB levels in the Hudson River are dangerous, and that something needs to be done. The question is, to dredge, or not dredge? There are strong supporters for each argument, with websites publishing their views. The following briefly summarizes both sides.NOT TO DREDGE:General Electric has launched an extensive advertising campaign, utilizing television and radio commercials, billboards, newspaper ads and the internet to convey it’s message that dredging will not work. Hudsonvoice.com, the company’s web site regarding the issue, states, “although dredging can remove significant volumes of sediment and associated contaminant mass, dredging inevitably leaves behind residual materials at the sediment surface”. It further explains that this is due to inaccessible areas in the river and the agitation of the dredges in the water releasing contaminants that were previously buried. Hudsonvoice.com gives Manistique Harbor, Fox River, and St. Lawrence River as three of examples of dredging attempts that not only failed to lower PCB concentrations, but actually raised levels of the carcinogen. Areas of these waterways that were not dredged experienced a decrease in PCB ...
