As the New York State Legislative Session came to a close last week, the New York State Senate unanimously passed a bill introduced by State Senator Peter Harckham which prohibits the dumping of radioactive waste from decommissioning nuclear plants into the Hudson River. A similar measure, sponsored by Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg, failed to pass the assembly, leaving environmental activists to call for a special session, as Holtec International plans to dump one million gallons of toxic radioactive wastewater from the decommissioning Indian Point nuclear plant into the Hudson River this summer.

The Indian Point nuclear power plant located in Buchanan officially closed its doors in 2021 and was acquired by Holtec. Under state and federal permits going back to 1962, the plant does have the ability to discharge treated materials back into the river.

Holtec, in April, agreed to postpone the planned discharge scheduled for later in the spring, but communities to the north of Indian Point are united in their opposition to any future dumping and its potential threat to the ecosystem of the Hudson. The Hudson serves as a drinking water source and recreational space for many municipalities along its shores as well as a natural habitat for varying species of plants and animals.

Many of us who have lived along its shores have spent a lifetime witnessing the battle to clean up the waters of the Hudson. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Hudson River served as a dumping ground for industrial waste, sewage and other pollutants.

Unregulated dumping and the discharge of toxic substances from factories took a toll on the river’s water quality and aquatic life. The 1960s witnessed a growing environmental awareness and activism in the United States. The alarming state of the Hudson River caught the attention of concerned citizens and environmental organizations. One of the most influential figures in this movement was the visionary environmentalist and author Rachel Carson, whose book “Silent Spring” raised public awareness about the detrimental effects of pollution. Carson’s work, along with the efforts of organizations like the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association, brought the issue to the forefront and catalyzed action.

The Hudson River was designated a Superfund site by the EPA due to the presence of extensive contamination from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) dumped by General Electric (GE). The dredging and removal of contaminated sediments were undertaken as part of the Hudson River Superfund project. Although the process was extensive and faced challenges, it significantly reduced the concentration of PCBs in the river.

Various organizations, such as Riverkeeper and Clearwater, have worked tirelessly to involve the public in cleanup activities, organize river cleanups and educate communities about the importance of preserving the Hudson River. Those efforts have resulted in the outcry that still exists, whenever the waters of the Hudson are threatened.

Passage of the Save the Hudson bill (A7208), and a signature by Gov. Kathy Hochul are needed now before we reverse the progress of the late 20th Century in cleaning up the river.