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January 2000 Letter to Citizens Regarding Restoration Ideas for the Hudson River

RE: Restoring the River - Restoration Ideas

Dear Concerned Citizen:

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are developing restoration options for Hudson River natural resources injured by PCBs and other hazardous substance contamination. Toward that end, DEC, NOAA and FWS -- as natural resource Trustees for the public -- need to identify potential restoration projects. The Trustees are writing this letter to you to solicit your help in this important endeavor.

Restoration Proposals

The Trustees would like to hear your ideas for restoration projects in the Hudson Valley. We want you to tell us about habitats (e.g., wetlands, streams, etc.) or resources (e.g., species of fish, birds, or other wildlife) that could be restored or enhanced. We also want to know about specific sites that you think require restoration or protection. If you have suggestions, please fill out the enclosed Restoration Proposal Form or fill out and e-mail the same form located at the websites identified at the end of this letter.

Guidance

Your suggestions for restoration projects must be closely related to the lost or injured resources. For example, a threat to the health of migratory birds could be mitigated by the preservation of bird habitat at a specific site. Various improvements to the recreational fishing experience, such as enhanced water quality or improved access to the river, might help compensate for past or current diminished enjoyment by anglers. To help focus your suggestions, some examples of the kinds of injured resources that may require restoration are listed below. Please note that, as the Trustees gather more input and complete scientific studies, this list may change. Also listed below are examples of restoration activities that the Trustees have implemented at other sites.

Examples of Potential Injuries to Resources and Losses to Public from PCB contamination

- Injury to recreational opportunities such as fishing, hunting, swimming and boating
- Injury to fish, birds and other wildlife
- Injury to habitat
- Injury to drinking water

Examples of Restoration Projects

- Improve surface water (e.g. create stormwater retention basins)
- Develop stream or river buffers
- Acquire land for habitat protection
- Improve sediment quality and/or floodplain soils
- Restore/enhance beds of submerged aquatic vegetation
- Improve/restore wetlands
- Restore/enhance shoreline (e.g. remove dikes, riprap, bulkheads, etc.)
- Restore/enhance tributaries (e.g. remove barriers to fish migration)
- Improve adjacent uplands (e.g. acquire/manage lands adjacent to waters or wetlands)
- Develop trails, boat launch sites, canoe portages, signage, etc.
- Develop/improve access points for cartop boats such as parking lots or launch sites
- Develop wildlife viewing areas, bathing beaches, and environmental education programs

Geographic Scope

We anticipate that restoration projects will be located on or near the main stem of the Hudson River, downstream from known contaminant sources, and upstream from New York-New Jersey Harbor.However, the restoration of some migratory species may require that projects be accomplished far from the Hudson River basin. Also, some projects may be geographically appropriate, from an ecosystem perspective, for portions of the River upstream of contaminant sources and on tributaries.

Trustee Constraints

For a project to be considered, there must be a connection between natural resource injuries and losses to the public (due to PCB contamination) and proposed restoration efforts. The Trustees are initiating numerous studies to determine the nature and extent of injuries to natural resources and public uses of the river caused by PCB discharges. The conclusions of these studies will guide the Trustees in selecting restoration projects. Other possible considerations the Trustees will take into account when reviewing restoration proposals include, without limitation:

Legality -- Is the project barred by law and/or does it meet Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act regulations that Trustees must follow?

Efficacy -- How certain of success is the proposed restoration action?

Cost Effectiveness -- What is the cost of the proposed restoration effort? Can the benefits be quantified? Is there an opportunity to share costs with other organizations and/or agencies? Do the costs outweigh the benefits?

Ecological Leverage -- Will the restoration project promote other environmental benefits?

Existing Plans -- Does the restoration project address or build upon existing federal, state, or local management plans?

We cannot predict exactly when we will select restoration projects. Because issues such as the responsibility for the contamination and the scope of restoration could involve extensive litigation, any restoration could be many years away. The timeframe for projects will be determined largely by the willingness of the parties responsible for the contamination to accept their responsibility and to fund or carry out restoration projects. Accordingly, the Trustees need a restoration plan in the near term to prepare for negotiation or for litigation if negotiations fail. We would appreciate receiving your proposalsfor restoration activities by 29 March 2000

We Appreciate Your Input!

We encourage you to share your thoughts by completing the enclosed form and mailing it to Steve Sanford at DEC (address below). Feel free to offer more than one proposal and to reproduce the form and pass it on to other citizens or groups that may also have restoration suggestions. We look forward to hearing from you and would like your thoughts by 29 March 2000. If you have any questions or concerns, please call or e-mail any of the Trustee representatives listed below. Thank you for your time.

The Hudson River Natural Resource Trustees

Contact Information

Note: Hudson River information can be found on the Internet at the following addresses:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/

www.darp.noaa.gov/neregion/hudsonr.htm

Information RepositoriesFor those without Internet access, we have distributed all pertinent documents at repositories throughout the Hudson River basin.

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