BCW Spearheads Campaign to Stop Hudson River Anchorages

The Business Council of Westchester is spearheading a letter-writing campaign with business organizations aimed at getting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to scuttle a U.S. Coast Guard proposal to locate anchorages for oil barges along the Hudson River.

“We are encouraging other business organizations to join us in writing to the Department of Homeland Security to put a stop to this ill-advised plan to locate these oil-filled barges along the Hudson that would jeopardize both environmental and economic interests from New York Harbor to Kingston,’’ said John Ravitz, Executive Vice President and COO of the Business Council of Westchester.

So far, several business organizations including the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation, Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, the Rockland Business Association and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce have agreed to write letters opposing the plan.

The U.S. Coast Guard comment period ended on December 6, but Ravtiz said that the Department of Homeland Security had the authority to pull the plug on the plan.

In the letter, the BCW argues that “turning the Hudson into a crude oil superhighway” jeopardizes safety, the environment and a tourism industry responsible for nearly 85,000 jobs.

Read the Letter Here