WAMC Radio: The U.S. Coast Guard is considering establishing anchorage grounds in the Hudson River from Westchester to Ulster County. But local elected officials and environmentalists criticize the proposal — and what they say is a lack of transparency and public involvement.

From Yonkers to Kingston, the Coast Guard proposes 10 anchorage sites for commercial vessels along the Hudson River. Local elected officials gathered near a boat launch Tuesday at the Hudson River Marine in Verplanck in Westchester County to bring awareness to the proposal they believe the public knows little about. New York state Senator Terrence Murphy says his concern focuses on four issues.

“The number-one concern is the environmental impact that it could possibly have on the Hudson River. This is such a pristine river that we all kind of grew up on, and homeland security,” Murphy says. “This just doesn’t make common sense to put six barges that could possibly be full of oil with the terrorism that’s going on in the world, right next to Indian Point, right next to… This just, I don’t know where they conceived this idea from and why they would have these 10 anchorage spots on the Hudson River.”  Listen here.