Sweeney Statement on EPA Dredging Anouncement

SWEENEY STATEMENT ON EPA DREDGING ANOUNCEMENT

Representative John Sweeney (R-Clifton Park) today issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of a one-year delay in the Hudson River dredging project:

"Quite frankly, I am not surprised, from the beginning I have had concerns regarding the magnitude of this project. Once the decision to dredge was final, I have fought vigorously to ensure it was realistic in its approach and considered carefully the impacts to the Upper Hudson communities that will be severely affected by this effort. This process requires a concerted commitment on the part of both the EPA and GE to address these issues quickly and limit the length of this project so the residents can put this issue behind them.

"It is sad that it took others far longer to realize what the rest of us have already known, the length of time and scope of the effort involved in this project are tremendous and will have long standing impacts on Fort Edward and the surrounding areas. That is why I have been pushing for a host benefit package that should rightfully come from both GE and the EPA to minimize the impacts and cloud of uncertainty that hangs over these residents. I renew my request for these entities to work together to assist Fort Edward as they serve as the guinea pig for the largest dredging project in the history of our nation."

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny20_sweeney/PR072706EPA.html