Daily Freeman: The U.S. Coast Guard’s plan to establish 10 new designated anchorages along the Hudson River should not be implemented until the public is given an opportunity to provide input, according to New York Democratic Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

The plan calls for the ports from Kingston to Yonkers to allow commercial vessels and barges to anchor along the Hudson River at designated anchorage sites. Currently there is only one designated area and vessels are making emergency stops at other locations.

The two lawmakers said that while the Coast Guard has cited the need to create those new anchorages for safety reasons, many residents and local public officials are concerned that formalization of areas for vessels and barges to anchor along the river could impact waterfront development projects as well as the environment.

Schumer and Gillibrand said that while the comment period for this first stage of the proposal process runs until September 7, the deadline for the Coast Guard to call for a public hearing was June 30.  Read more.