OCTOBER 2, 2015--Recent analyses by scientists in NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration indicate that fish in the Lower Hudson River won’t achieve EPA’s protective goals until decades later than predicted in the 2002 Record of Decision (ROD).

This is because data collected after the 2002 ROD demonstrate that pre-remedial sediment concentrations in the Upper River were 2-3 times higher and decay rates were greatly overestimated relative to values generated by models used to support remedy selection. These result in 3-5 times higher estimates of post-remedy PCB sediment concentrations and Lower River fish that will remain unacceptably contaminated for decades longer. Upper river fish will also take much longer to achieve protective goals of the ROD.

The Hudson River Superfund Site is 200 miles long, has been highly contaminated for decades, and will remain contaminated for decades into the future without additional sediment removal. 141 New York State Assembly members, 27 New York Senators over 80 municipalities and at least one member of congress have echoed the federal trustees message in calling for further cleanup of the Hudson.

For further information, contact Tom.Brosnan@noaa.gov.

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