Nearly a Decade of Hudson 7 Advocacy Brings Action at Central Hudson’s Poughkeepsie MGP Site

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has approved an interim petroleum sheen containment system for Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation’s former North Water Street Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) site at 2 Dutchess Avenue in Poughkeepsie, beneath the Walkway Over the Hudson bridge.

Central Hudson is responsible for a multi-year cleanup under NYSDEC and New York State Department of Health oversight to address extensive coal tar contamination left by the MGP, which operated along Poughkeepsie’s riverfront from 1911 through the 1950s. Central Hudson has completed the first phase of the cleanup, focused on the former plant’s on-shore location. The next phase will address remaining contamination in the Hudson River sediment.

The Hudson 7, working with the Poughkeepsie Water Treatment Facility, has raised concerns about coal tar contamination which continues to periodically bubble to the surface at the site. In the recent past, coal tar has entered the Poughkeepsie drinking water intake requiring a forced shut down. In addition to the current  temporary containment plan, NYSDEC and Central Hudson are developing engineering plans for the permanent remediation, with the goal of finally removing the remaining coal tar buried in the River bottom to protect the Hudson River’s aquatic habitat and our drinking water supply.

Coal tar (non-aqueous phase liquid, or "NAPL") was the byproduct of Manufactured Gas Plants which made gas from coal for delivery to local communities before we had pipes delivering natural gas regionally. It has been one of the most significant contaminants across the entire region, including at places like the infamous Gowanus Canal, for example.

As an interim measure, AECOM, a contractor hired by Central Hudson, will install two 18-inch oil containment booms, absorbent booms and an anchoring system to collect potential sheens from an area of concentrated coal tar, which periodically floats to the surface directly in front of the old MGP plant site - under the east end of the Walkway bridge. Persons walking across the bridge will be able to see these interim containment booms from above

Installation activities were tentatively scheduled to begin October 5. Due to this weekend’s weather and continued flooding, mobilization has been postponed to October 12, with installation expected to be completed that week. The schedule remains subject to river and weather conditions.

The containment system is expected to remain in place through late fall, with removal planned for the end of November or first week of December, before potential winter ice. Reinstallation is planned for May 2027.
NYSDEC will monitor  the installation. Following deployment, DEC will evaluate performance and provide Hudson 7 with written updates.

The interim system is not the permanent remedy. Central Hudson is expected to develop design plans for the permanent river remediation in 2027 for DEC review and approval. Following approval, Central Hudson will proceed with contractor procurement and scheduling of the in-water remedial work.

“This is an interim measure, and we will be watching closely to see how the system performs under actual river conditions,” said Village of Rhinebeck Mayor Gary Bassett, Chair of the Hudson 7. “We also remain focused on ensuring that the permanent remediation protects the Hudson River and the communities that depend on it for drinking water.”

This work has been made possible in part through nearly a decade of sustained advocacy by Hudson 7 and its member communities to protect the Hudson River and the drinking water it provides. Hudson 7 has consistently pressed for the contamination at the former MGP site to be addressed while keeping protection of the river and drinking water supplies at the center of the cleanup process. 

Learn more about Hudson 7’s major campaigns and key actions, visit: Hudson 7: Seven Campaigns and Key Actions

Hudson 7 will continue to track the installation, operation and performance of the containment system and provide updates as information becomes available.