Kingston Daily Freeman: Ulster County lawmakers unanimously went on record Tuesday in opposition to a proposal to establish anchoring sites on the Hudson River for large vessels. The Legislature adopted by 18-0 vote, with five legislators absent, a resolution opposing the new anchorages and calling on the U.S. Coast Guard to reconsider its plan.

The resolution, known as a memorializing resolution because it has no force other than to make the Legislature’s feelings known, was approved without discussion.

The Coast Guard proposed 10 anchoring sites — which include locations near Kingston, Rhinebeck, Port Ewen and Marlborough — in June, at the request of the Maritime Association of the Port of NY/NJ Tug and Barge Committee, the Hudson River Port Pilots Association and the American Waterways Operators.

The plan has drawn significant criticism from elected officials and environmental groups up and down the Hudson River, including Ulster County Executive Mike Hein, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring, and the supervisors of towns on both sides of the river. Opponents say that, with the additional anchorages, the river could become a parking lot for commercial vessels waiting their turn at the Port of Albany and that the number of vessels carrying Bakken crude oil along the river could increase significantly, creating a potential hazard.  Read more.