Lohud.com: The Coast Guard is backing off a contentious proposal to put 10 commercial shipping anchorages on the Hudson River stretching from Yonkers north to Kingston.

The agency said it would “suspend future rulemaking decisions” on the proposal, floated by the commercial shipping industry and opposed vehemently by environmental groups and elected officials from all levels of government.

After more than 10,000 comments left online regarding the proposal — nearly all of them negative — Coast Guard Rear Admiral Steven Poulin said a “Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment” would be conducted to identify risks on the Hudson and mitigation measures.

“The (assessment) is not a substitute for the rulemaking process. The results of the PAWSA will help us determine what the next steps might be, after a more comprehensive assessment of risks,” wrote Poulin, the Coast Guard First District Commander. “Any subsequent rulemaking regarding maritime commerce on the Hudson River will continue to be conducted through a transparent process of public notice and comment.”

U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who proposed legislation to curb the anchorages, counted the suspension as a victory.

“I am glad the Coast Guard has come around to our way of thinking,” said Maloney in a statement in which he hailed the move as a “major victory.”  Read more.