Maloney Questions Coast Guard Official Over Hudson River Anchorage Sites

Washington — At a House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee hearing with the United States Coast Guard, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney expressed his concern over the U.S. Coast Guards proposed anchorage sites on the Hudson River and asked for a commitment for public hearings to be held in the Hudson Valley. In response to his questioning, Rep. Maloney got a commitment from the Coast Guard to hold public hearings. Last week, Rep. Maloney contacted the Coast Guard to demand an extension to the public comment period. On September 1, the Coast Guard announced that the comment period was extended from September 7 to December 7.

“This is a solution in search of a problem. There is no need for these additional anchorage sites,” said Rep. Maloney when addressing Rear Admiral Paul Thomas, United States Coast Guard. “This is a bad idea, this is not something we need – we don’t want it. And we want the process to take into account the intense public opposition to this from all corners, of all communities, in the Hudson Valley. I wanted to take the opportunity today to draw your attention to that and ask for your commitment that when the public hearings occur – that they will occur in an early and timely way and that they will be local and take into account as many of these local viewpoints as they possibly can. Because at this part in the process I can tell you that the people in the Hudson Valley feel as though their voices have not been heard on this proposal.” Rep. Maloney continued, “I would really like your commitment on including local voices in the public hearings that should occur locally and need to happen sooner rather than later.”

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The Coast Guard has proposed a rule which, if enacted, would permit the construction of ten new anchorage sites along the Hudson River for large commercial ships travelling from up-river to the port of New York. The anchorage sites would provide these ships a location to drop anchor before continuing on to the port.  Representative Maloney has repeatedly called for a comprehensive environmental impact study and additional hearings on the proposal, and sent his own letter to the Coast Guard on August 18. Earlier this week, Representative Maloney, along with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and fellow Representatives Lowey and Engel, sent a letter to the Coast Guard requesting a 90-day extension to provide the public time to learn about the proposal and to offer comments. Following this letter, the Coast Guard announced it was extending the public comment period.