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Plan for Hudson River anchorage sites finds further opposition

A county legislature in New York state has voted unanimously to oppose a plan for 10 commercial vessel anchorages on the Hudson River.

The vote by lawmakers of Ulster County is the strongest objection yet to a plan supported by the US Coast Guard (USCG) and the maritime industry.

The council’s vote has no direct effect but does add to a growing chorus of concern.

For months now communities along the Hudson have been expressing to the USCG and local politicians a desire to have more say in proposals to create the anchorages.

City governments, county legislatures and the two US senators for New York – Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats – have written to the USCG on the issue.

While the deadline for a public hearing passed more than a month ago, the cut-off for written comments from the public was extended from September 7 to December 6.

Most objectors express concerns about potential harmful effects to waterfront developments, tourism and the environment. And they believe the anchorages could turn into unsightly, even hazardous unofficial waiting areas for barges heading to Albany.

Advocates of the plan say the 10 anchorage sites between Kingston and Yonkers would improve navigation safety and efficiency of vessel traffic flow on the river.

Donal Scully

With 28 years experience writing and editing for newspapers in the UK and Hong Kong, Donal is now based in California from where he covers the Americas for Splash as well as ensuring the site is loaded through the Western Hemisphere timezone.
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