Our Monitoring Program
GE has designed the Hudson River dredging project to comply with eight engineering and quality-of-life performance standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency to minimize impacts on the community and the environment. These include air quality, noise, lighting, odor and, during dredging, river navigation, the resuspension of PCBs in the water during dredging, the level of PCBs left on the river bottom after dredging (residuals), and the rate at which dredging is conducted.
During construction activities, GE is conducting a monitoring program as part of a
Community Health and Safety Plan, which was developed by GE in cooperation with EPA, local elected officials and emergency response organizations. The plan addresses potential community health and safety issues for the public in the vicinity of the Phase 1 work. The information for May 2008, as well as information for prior months since the start of construction, is provided below.
This program also included an air quality assessment of all construction equipment when mobilized to the site. The opacity of the exhaust for each piece of equipment was checked by a certified opacity specialist prior to releasing that equipment to begin work on the site. The opacity continues to be monitored throughout the day by visual observation.
To control dust, GE's contractors use water trucks to keep soils moist. In addition, exposed soils where no work is under way are being stabilized with topsoil, vegetation and grass seed and mulch.
Although no construction is planned at night, GE will monitor lighting conditions should it become necessary to perform work after dark. Light measurements will be collected three times between 10 p.m. and dawn around the perimeter of the facility.
Odor will be monitored if an odor problem is reported by project workers or the public. The frequency of odor sampling will depend on the circumstances of the incident.
Monthly Monitoring Data During Construction
of Processing and Transportation Facility
