SERINO CALLS FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON COAST GUARD PLAN TO INCREASE COMMERCIAL ANCORAGE

HYDE PARK, NY—Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I—Hyde Park) called on the U.S. Coast Guard to hold a series of public hearings on their recently announced proposal to increase commercial anchorage sites along the Hudson River. She released the following statement:

“As the lifeblood of so many of our communities, we have a responsibility to protect and support the Hudson River and its wildlife. Further, as representatives, we have a duty to ensure that no proposal would have a negative impact on the health, safety, or economy of our local communities.

On its face, the anchorage proposal as it stands would appear to turn a significant stretch of the Hudson into a veritable parking lot and could have a significant impact on ecological systems, as well as on communities throughout my Senate District and beyond who rely on tourism and development of their waterfronts to support their local economies.

I most certainly understand the Coast Guard’s drive to increase traffic efficiency along the Hudson, but the devil is in the details. With the June 30^th deadline set to call for public hearings far past, I am troubled that dates for such hearings have not yet been released. The Coast Guard has an express responsibility to air their proposal before the public so that we can have a better understanding of the ways in which our economy and environment could be impacted. I urge them to do so before the end of the public comment period.

Further, with that comment period open until September 7^th, I urge community members to make their voices heard.”

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