The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released their latest community update on the Hudson River polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) cleanup scheme, named ‘Hudson River Floodplain Sampling: 2016 Sampling Summary’.
The paper said that in fall 2016, work continued on the comprehensive investigation of the Upper Hudson River floodplain. Soil sampling for PCBs was conducted between October and December 2016.
Approximately 630 samples were collected from over 270 properties located within the study area, which is the 43-mile stretch of the Hudson River floodplain between Hudson Falls and Troy, NY.
The location and quantity of these samples were determined after an evaluation of the approximately 7,100 soil samples previously collected from within the floodplain, EPA said.
Consistent with previous sampling seasons, the results from the fall 2016 sampling event are being distributed to the property owners this spring and will be used to inform the ongoing comprehensive study of the floodplain and the associated reports.
The EPA and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) have reviewed the fall 2016 sampling results to determine if there are any areas which pose an immediate threat to human health. The EPA and GE are communicating directly with any property owners who may have areas that need to be addressed in the short term because of PCB contamination, EPA said.
In 2017, additional soil sampling will be conducted to further refine the understanding of where PCBs are located within the floodplain. It is anticipated that sampling will be conducted this summer and will include the collection of approximately 400 samples.
Additional sampling may be required in the future. GE’s contractors will be contacting new property owners as well as some previously sampled property owners to request permission to sample their properties. The request for additional sampling does not necessarily indicate that there is a potential problem on a property, EPA said.
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