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Bipartisan Bill to Permanently Ban Hudson River Barge Anchorages Is Introduced in U.S. House
The Daily Catch: Federal law may permanently ban barges from anchoring on most of the Hudson River, if bipartisan legislation introduced Thursday by Reps. Pat Ryan (D-18) and Marc Molinaro (R-19) can garner enough support.
“This legislation will stop big ...
Coast Guard, amid criticism, suspends new Hudson River anchorage rule, for now
The U.S. Coast Guard has, at least for now, shelved a plan that critics say would open the door to barges anchoring just about anywhere in the Hudson River from south of the Tappan Zee to the busy ...
Hudson River barge-parking plan put on hold, Ryan says
Daily Freeman: The U.S. Coast Guard has once again put on hold its controversial plan to allow barges to drop anchor up and down the Hudson River between New York City and Albany.
The decision to temporarily halt an administrative ...
Barges Carrying Oil and Asphalt Now Have Free Rein on the Hudson North of Westchester, Worrying Local Officials
The Daily Catch: Barges can again anchor without restriction along the Hudson River in Dutchess and Ulster counties for the first time since 2021 after a change by the U.S. Coast Guard.
But politicians and environmentalists are already fighting the ...
Hudson River Anchorages
Coast Guard changes rules on anchoring in the Hudson River, allowing commercial vessels to anchor virtually anywhere north of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge;
Riverkeeper and the public will need to speak up, once again, to protect endangered species ...
Hudson River anchorages: It’s time to stand up for the river again
Riverkeeper: In 2016, communities throughout the Hudson Valley united in opposition to a maritime industry request to vastly expand the designated areas in the Hudson River where commercial vessels are allowed to anchor.
Riverkeeper and the public made clear that we want strict limits ...
How a Coast Guard move could allow barges to anchor in the Hudson River after all
Poughkeepsie Journal: Years after Hudson River advocates stopped the expansion of commercial shipping anchorages from the Tappan Zee to Kingston, a recent decision by the U.S. Coast Guard puts that supposed ban in jeopardy.
The Coast Guard basically is reinterpreting ...
Hudson River may become anchoring spot for large ships
Albany Times Union: Will the Hudson River soon become a parking lot for barges and large ships waiting to enter the ports at Albany and Coeymans where offshore wind components are set to be built?
That’s the fear of environmentalists, ...
Ryan raps Coast Guard plan to turn Hudson River into ‘parking lot for dangerous oil barges’
Kingston Freeman: Barges carrying oil, asphalt, and other hazardous materials could soon be allowed to indefinitely park virtually anywhere along the Hudson River in Upstate, according to U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan.
Ryan, D-Gardiner, who represents the 18th Congressional District, said ...
What it’s all about
The proposal comes at the request of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York/New Jersey, which represents various interests in the shipping and petroleum industries. The Association says that more anchorage grounds will improve navigation safety along portions of the Hudson River where there are currently few or no anchorages.
In its letter to the Coast Guard, the Association points out that barge traffic “has increased dramatically” over the past few years — due largely to the influx of fracking oil arriving by rail at the Port of Albany — and this traffic will increase “significantly over the next few years” due to the recent lifting of the ban on exporting crude oil.
Opponents of the proposal argue that the anchorages, which provide 42 long-term mooring berths (and one short-term), will turn into parking lots for barges, facilitate more commercial traffic, and “reindustrialize” the Hudson.
The barges pollute the river with their noisy generators and “stadium” lighting, and their anchors drag on the river bottom, which damages the habitats of endangered fish species. An increase in commercial traffic also puts recreational boaters in danger. Most worrisome of all is that more oil barges on the Hudson will increase the risks of a catastrophic spill.
The Coast Guard is seeking public comments and information about the operational need for new anchorage grounds, what form possible regulations should take, and the potential impacts on riverside communities. Everyone is encouraged to file comments with the Coast Guard, which has extended the deadline from Sept. 7 to Dec. 6, 2016.
Coast Guard Postings Regarding Suspension of the Rulemaking Process on the Anchorage Proposal and Initiation of the Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment process
On June 29, 2017, the U.S. Coast Guard posted three documents on Regulations.gov regarding its decision about the anchorage proposal.
- Press Release: “Coast Guard announces Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment on Hudson River”
- Editorial by Steven D. Poulin, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander First Coast Guard District
- Memo summarizing public comments
On September 8, 2017, the Coast Guard issued a press release announcing the details of the Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment on Hudson River.
- On November 7-8, a workshop will be held in the Mid-Hudson region.
- On November 15-16, a workshop will be held in Albany, New York.
- Coast Guard experts will host two informational PAWSA webinars on Oct. 18, at 10 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Information about the Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment (PAWSA) Workshops can be found here:
Comments to the Coast Guard
Legislation restricting the anchorage
Hudson Valley elected officials have been working on legislation that addresses the threat posed by the Coast Guard’s proposal to establish ten new anchorage grounds on the Hudson River. Several environmental groups have issued memoranda of support for this legislation, and some local governments have also passed resolutions supporting the bills. Here are some links:
- H. R.1504, The Hudson River Protection Act
- A.6825A and S.5197B
- Scenic Hudson memo of support
- NYLCV memo of support
- NRDC memo of support
- Environmental Advocates letter of support
- Catskill Mountainkeeper letter of support
- Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter memo of support
- Peekskill Resolution on Anchorage Avoidance Legislation
- Town of Marlborough Resolution on Anchorage Avoidance Legislation
- Village of South Nyack Resolution
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