Cortlandt Opposes Coast Guard Plan to Anchor Barges in Hudson
The Town of Cortlandt is opposing a plan by the United States Coast Guard to have commercial barges anchor off the shores of the Hudson River.
The Town Board unanimously voted July 19 to object to two of the 10 sites being considered by the Coast Guard: approximately 127 acres in the Montrose region that would accommodate as many as three vessels and approximately 98 acres between Tomkins Cove in Rockland County and Verplanck that would also handle up to three vessels.
Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi said the town has also requested the Coast Guard hold one of its public meetings on the project in Cortlandt.
“The anchors would be a detriment to the visual aesthetics of the Hudson River that our residents enjoy on a yearly basis,” Puglisi said. “The Town of Cortlandt government has spent millions of dollars to purchase property along this shoreline to add to the assets of the town. They include a recent purchase of 100 acres from Con Edison, Inc., a life estate with a property owner and a former marina. All of this land is now part of our landscape.”
“Also, we have the Indian Point nuclear plants, the ongoing construction of the Spectra expanded gas line project going throughout our community from across the river and we now do not need anchors off our shores in the Hudson River,” Puglisi added.
Councilman and Deputy Supervisor Frank Farrell, who has owned Liberty Press near the river in Verplanck for 40 years, said the plan for the barges were another attempt to unload a potentially adverse impact on the community.
He also questioned what cargo would be on the barges and if local emergency responders would be equipped to deal with a major problem that could occur.
There is currently only one anchorage ground for vessels along a 100-mile stretch in the Hudson River from New York City to Albany. The Coast Guard, which has noted the plan is only in an exploratory phase, has publicly stated the proposal was initiated by the Maritime Association of the Port of NY/NJ Tug and Barge Committee, the Hudson River Port Pilot’s Association, and the American Waterways Operators.
Puglisi is encouraging residents to contact the Coast Guard and oppose the plan by visiting www.federalregister.gov.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
