CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN AND ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM ACROSS HUDSON VALLEY ANNOUNCE SHORT-TERM VICTORY ON BARGE BAN, DEMAND COAST GUARD PERMANENTLY BAN BARGES ON HUDSON RIVER

Congressman Pat Ryan and Elected Officials from Across Hudson Valley Announce Short-Term Victory on Barge Ban, Demand Coast Guard Permanently Ban Barges on Hudson River 

In response to overwhelming community outrage, the Coast Guard issued a new Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) last Thursday announcing temporary pause on barge anchoring; Coast Guard doubles down on plan to allow unlimited anchoring

Ryan joined by County Executives, State Senators and Assemblymembers from across the Hudson Valley, as well as Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, and the Hudson 7 in calling for permanent ban

WASHINGTON DC –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan and elected officials from across the Hudson Valley announced that the Coast Guard, in response to widespread community outrage, has issued a new MSIB temporarily pausing their plan to allow dangerous barges to line the Hudson River. In a letter to Captain Zeita Merchant, the group called on the Coast Guard to follow settled law and permanently uphold the anchoring ban. Ryan was joined on the letter by County Executives, State Senators, and Assemblymembers from across the Hudson Valley, as well as Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, and the Hudson 7. Constituents who wish to join the fight can share their opinion with the Coast Guard here. 

“We won this initial victory because our community stood up and fought together. But unfortunately, we know this success is temporary. Now is the time for all of us to double down on our commitment to stop big corporations from turning our Hudson River into a parking lot for dangerous barges,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “I’m proud to be joined in this effort by County Executives, State Senators, and Assemblymembers from across the region who know what’s at stake. It’s up to all of us to protect our kids, our drinking water, and our entire ecosystem.”

“Today’s news shows that we have the power to protect our communities if we stand up with one voice to protect our Hudson River. I want to thank Congressman Pat Ryan for using his position and platform at the federal level and all of the environmental organizations and local elected officials who have joined in this fight,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “The Coast Guard has done the right thing by pausing their planned policy to park dangerous barges in the Hudson River, but we must continue to support Congressman Ryan and our other federal representatives to ensure this disastrous policy is never enacted.”

“If these barges need a place to park, there are already places to do so.  They shouldn’t go upriver where it does not make any sense at all,” said Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus. “The County, along with residents who utilize the Hudson River, have long voiced their concerns about the Coast Guard’s proposal. The Hudson River is one of the most beautiful parts of this area and we must preserve it to ensure that residents can safely enjoy it for generations to come.” 

“It’s because of our collective advocacy that the U.S. Coast Guard has decided not to use our treasured Hudson River as a parking lot for large vessels. Let’s hope this ridiculous idea is squashed for good this time,” said State Senator Pete Harckham. “ I thank Congressman Ryan and my colleagues in the State Legislature for their work on this issue. The Hudson River’s economic and environmental value to this region—its residents and business owners—cannot be put at risk.”

“We are the stewards of the Hudson River, one of the most fragile, important natural resources in America, and we have fought together for decades to restore its delicate ecosystem and ensure it remains a clean source of drinking water for our communities. The proposed anchoring of oil and other toxic barges along the river is a looming environmental disaster in the making, one that poses a grave threat to the health, safety, and well-being of Hudson Valley residents,” said State Senator Michelle Hinchey. “As the Climate Crisis intensifies, bringing forth impacts like the drying of the Colorado River, the imperative to safeguard the Hudson and all our existing waterways is even more paramount. We have to remain vigilant in upholding the Congressional decisions that have been made to save the Hudson River from over-industrialization, and we will work tirelessly to protect it now and forever.”

"As I have said from the beginning, the current anchorage grounds along the Hudson are more than sufficient for future marine-traffic volume. By dramatically expanding the number of areas barges and other large commercial vessels can anchor, the Coast Guard is acting outside the law and turning our river towns into its parking lot. I applaud Congressman Ryan for his continued legislative efforts to reverse the Coast Guard's rushed and unilateral policy,” said State Senator Rob Rolison. “The Hudson River is a critical common resource and I will continue to advocate for essential local input into any changes taken at the federal level.”

“The environmental and economic health of our communities is inextricably linked to the Hudson River,” said State Senator James Skoufis. “As responsible stewards of our natural resources, we must - again - defend our region's gem from unwarranted and unnecessary anchorages."

“Advocates, communities, and government agencies all have significant concerns over the risks that anchored vessels pose to endangered sturgeon, community waterfront plans, and drinking water sources. Riverkeeper has made clear to the Coast Guard that we expect strict limits to be maintained on where and for how long these large vessels are allowed to anchor in the Hudson. We will ensure that the public’s concerns are fully considered in any future proposal for new anchoring regulations,” said Drew Gamils, Riverkeeper Staff Attorney. “Riverkeeper is grateful to Congressman Pat Ryan and other elected officials who helped raise the alarm over the Coast Guard’s unlawful actions regarding the Port of New York, and we look forward to a full and transparent process with the Coast Guard moving forward.”

“The Hudson 7 wishes to thank Congressman Pat Ryan, Riverkeeper and all of our partners who raised concerns that resulted in a suspension of the recent bulletin by the Coast Guard which would have allowed anchoring virtually anywhere north of the Cuomo Bridge,” said Gary Bassett, Mayor of the Village of Rhinebeck and Chair of the Hudson 7. “We will continue to be diligent and collaborative to permanently protect the Hudson River for more than 100,000 people who rely on it as their primary drinking water source.”  

"Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Pat Ryan and his colleague Congressman Marc Molinaro, as well as our close coordination with Riverkeeper and other key stakeholders, the U.S. Coast Guard has heard loud and clear that its plan to open the Hudson River to unrestricted anchoring is unacceptable," said Ned Sullivan, President of Scenic Hudson. "But our work here is far from done. We must continue to hold the Coast Guard accountable to ensure any future proposals do not put at risk the water, wildlife, or people of the Hudson Valley."

Today’s letter to the Coast Guard is attached in full below. It was signed by the following elected officials:

• Dutchess County Executive William O’Neil
• Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus
• Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger
• State Senator Rob Rolison (39th District)
• State Senator Pete Harckham (40th District)
• State Senator Michelle Hinchey (41st District)
• State Senator James Skoufis (42nd District)
• Assemblymember Dana Levenberg (95th District)
• Assemblymember Chris Eachus (99th District)
• Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha (103rd District)
• Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (104th District)
• Assemblymember Anil Beephan (105th District)
• Assemblymember Didi Barrett (106th District)

On August 4th, Congressman Ryan wrote a letter to Captain Zeita Merchant, the Sector New York Commander for the Coast Guard, requesting clarification on an administrative change that would allow barges to anchor virtually anywhere north of the Governor M. Cuomo Bridge.

After a more than two month delay, Michael Emerson, the Director of Marine Transportation Systems, provided a woefully insufficient response that left the door open for dangerous oil barges to line the Hudson. 

On October 25th, Ryan was joined by Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson and the Hudson 7 in demanding the Coast Guard uphold the anchoring ban. On November 1st, Ryan gave a speech on the House Floor, calling on Hudson Valley families to join the fight and sharing a form for those interested to register their opinion. The new MSIB, issued on November 9^th in response to overwhelming community outrage, temporarily pauses the Coast Guard’s plan to allow dangerous barges to line the Hudson River but doubles down on their plan to allow unlimited anchoring in the future.

A copy of Ryan’s letter to United States Coast Guard Captain Zeita Merchant appears below:

Dear Captain Merchant,

We write as a group of elected officials, who represent the communities along the Hudson River and are deeply concerned with the United States Coast Guard’s (USGS) stated intent to change the regulations that govern commercial vessel anchoring in the Hudson River.

In 2020, Congress passed the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act, which included a suspension on the establishment of new anchorage grounds between Yonkers and Kingston. Recently, the Coast Guard published MSIB 2023-001, which redfinied the geographic scope of “Port of New York” and allowed commercial vessels to anchor along our stretch of the Hudson River, undermining Congressional intent. These barges carry oil, asphalt, and other toxins that directly threaten the clean drinking water on which our communities rely.

In response to our coordinated and swift backlash, the USCG published a reversal to MSIB 2023-001 on November 8, 2023. However, we continue to be deeply alarmed that the Coast Guard intends to relitigate an issue that was settled by law in early 2021 and circumvent Congressional intent. The ban on any new additional barge anchorages in the Hudson was made in response to loud public outcry, over 10,000 comments from the people who live along our waterway, and unified support from dozens of public officials. We will continue to support and fight for a Hudson River that is free from commercial barges that threaten the health of our families and ecosystem.

The Hudson River Estuary is prized for its outstanding natural resources, ability to facilitate commerce, and its meaningful contributions to quality of life and the economy of New York State. Millions of people visit the region each year to enjoy hiking, fishing, boating, and wildlife watching, supporting a multi-billion dollar regional recreation and tourism industry. In addition, over 100,000 people rely on the Hudson River as their primary drinking water source. As public officials and stewards of the River, we will continue to preserve this critical natural resource and protect it for generations to come.

Thank you very much for your time and attention to this matter and all of the work you do to ensure that the Hudson River remains safe, navigable, and healthy.

Sincerely,

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