POUGHKEEPSIE – Central Hudson has collected sediment samples for coal tar contamination from the Hudson River, and a river bottom survey has been tentatively scheduled to see how those sediments have been distributed.
The Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council, otherwise known as the Hudson 7, presented this information when it met Thursday.
“Sediment cores collected (in 2025) identify where the sediments are,” said Rebecca Martin, the source water protection coordinator. “Central Hudson is taking serious steps towards developing a remediation plan.”
Mapping the river bottom will be conducted from a surface vessel with non-intrusive sonar.
John Lipscomb, retired from Riverkeeper and the group’s maritime advisor, said he has received a diagram from Central Hudson of where they found the coal tar and their best guess of its footprint on the river bottom. He also consulted with federal authorities to help with this issue.
“The idea is to see if (the Feds) can recommend anything that we might suggest to the DEC should coal tar start to reappear when the water gets warmer and the coal tar starts mobilize potentially,” said Lipscomb. “So, it would just be a way of being more prepared if and when we see coal tar.”
A containment plan for the coal tar and remediation by Central Hudson are goals by Hudson 7 along with a meeting with the DEC to help deal with this issue.
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