WAMC: Four New York state lawmakers from the Hudson Valley are sponsoring a hearing Wednesday for the public to weigh in on a controversial U.S. Coast Guard proposal to establish up to 10 anchorage sites in the Hudson River.

The U.S. Coast Guard proposal is for the creation of up to 10 anchorage sites in the Hudson River to park as many as 43 commercial vessels between Yonkers and Kingston.  The hearing is being sponsored by state Senators David Carlucci, an Independent Democrat, and Republicans Bill Larkin, Terrence Murphy and Sue Serino. Environmental group Scenic Hudson of Poughkeepsie plans to deliver testimony at the hearing as well as submit public comments separately.

Hayley Carlock is director of environmental advocacy for Scenic Hudson. “The Coast Guard needs to hear from people in the Hudson Valley that we don’t want these anchorages, that they jeopardize our river, the scenic beauty of the Hudson Valley and the safety, frankly, of our communities with these volatile products that would be transported in very large volumes by these barges,” Carlock says.  She says it is imperative that the public weigh in against the proposal.  Read more.