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EPA Finalizes Plan for Community Involvement in the Design and Cleanup of the Hudson River

Release Date: 09/02/2003
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(#03099) New York, N.Y. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the Community Involvement Plan (CIP) for the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site. A draft version of the plan was released to the public for review and comment on April 24, 2003. It proposed that a Community Advisory Group, or CAG, be formed to create a forum through which members of community and stakeholder groups along the entire site can discuss their viewpoints as design and cleanup work progresses. In response to public comments, EPA has modified the proposed CIP in a number of areas, foremost among them being the increasing of membership of the Community Advisory Group (CAG) from 17 to 25. The CIP identifies key interest groups along the Hudson River and the elected officials, agencies and community organizations representing those interests that would nominate members of the CAG. EPA expects to have a formal CAG in place within a few months. In the meantime, the Agency will continue to convene an interim advisory group made up of representatives of the key interest groups identified in the proposed CIP. With this release, EPA will immediately ask the individuals and organizations identified in the final CIP to nominate members of the CAG. "EPA has heard from the communities of the Hudson River valley on their ideas for enhancing EPA's outreach and involvement," said EPA Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny. "This plan responds to their concerns for more representation in the CAG and more innovative ways to inform the public about this project." EPA is committed to involving the public in planning activities relating to the implementation of the dredging project, especially those activities and decisions that have potential impacts on local communities. In developing this Community Involvement Plan, EPA made an extensive effort to gather public input and drew upon many information sources, including public comments received in the past and numerous and detailed community interviews and meetings. The Community Involvement Plan will serve as the foundation for future community involvement for the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site. It identifies 35 community involvement tools and activities that can be used to address community concerns. Together they serve as a toolkit for EPA's public participation program at the site and provide the public with myriad opportunities for involvement in the project. The CIP is available electronically and in print. Electronic versions can be found on the EPA project Web site at https://www.epa.gov/hudson and on CD-ROM, which can be obtained by calling the Hudson River Field Office. Print versions of the CIP are also available for review at the site information repositories located in Glens Falls, Ft. Edward (Hudson River Field Office), Saratoga Springs, Albany, Poughkeepsie, and New York City. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/hudson or visit, call or write to the Hudson River Field Office at: Hudson River Field Office Leo Rosales, Community Involvement Coordinator 421 Lower Main Street Hudson Falls, NY 12839 (518) 747-4389 (866) 615-6490 Toll-Free