FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2014
Contact: Julia Church, Clearwater, 845 265 8080, ext. 7112; Julia@clearwater.org
Kate Slusark Kiely, Natural Resources Defense Council, 212 727 4592; kkiely@nrdc.org
Tina Posterli, Riverkeeper, 516 526 9371; tposterli@riverkeeper.org
Jay Burgess, Scenic Hudson, 845 473 4440, Ext. 222; jburgess@scenichudson.org
Groups Commend State Comptroller’s Rejection of
GE Natural Resource Damage Liability Report
Urge shareholder resolution to hold company financially responsible for cleanup of toxic legacy
(CAPITAL REGION/HUDSON VALLEY)— New York State Comptroller DiNapoli recently expressed disappointment with a report General Electric gave the state in December about its liability under the Natural Resources Damages Assessment (NRDA), a liability that is in addition to its Superfund services from its pollution of the Hudson River. The following is a statement from Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Hudson Riverkeeper, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Scenic Hudson:
“We applaud the Comptroller for publicly disagreeing with GE’s report in which the company asserted that it should have little to no financial liability for compensating the public for losses suffered as a result of toxic PCBs GE dumped into the Hudson River for three decades. The GE report stated that its current federally ordered cleanup would largely eliminate any further liability, despite conflicting reports from the NRDA Trustees.
Our groups immediately condemned the report as self-serving and out of touch with reality, and we are encouraged by State Comptroller DiNapoli’s statement. Comptroller DiNapoli stepped up to the plate last March when he called for a GE shareholder resolution to expand the cleanup. We’re asking that he do so again and urge him to immediately file a GE shareholder resolution that would trigger an independent and realistic report of potential financial obligations GE may face under the Natural Resources Damages Assessment as a result of its long-time damage to the Hudson River.
The Comptroller can call for such a resolution because New York State owns significant shares of GE stock as part of its employee pension programs. The resolution should gain support from other shareholders who are interested in understanding the true nature of future financial obligations facing the company.
We encourage the state to make GE accept responsibility for the damages caused by its pollution of one of our most precious natural resources.”
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About Clearwater
For over 40 years, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has been at the forefront of the environmental movement as champion of the Hudson River, working to help pass landmark legislation like the Clean Water Act, providing innovative educational programs, environmental advocacy, and musical celebrations, including the renowned annual Clearwater Festival, to inspire, educate, and activate millions of people. Founded by music legend and environmental activist Pete Seeger, the organization began with the launch of the sloop Clearwater in 1969 —a majestic replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries. The organization’s strong connection to youth, environmental education, and its agenda to create the next generation of environmental leaders, are all part of building and strengthening a green economy and a more inclusive and diverse environmental movement. Utilizing the greatest natural resource in the region, the Hudson River, Clearwater has become the grassroots model for producing positive changes to protect our planet. Today, Clearwater continues Pete Seeger’s legacy as America’s environmental flagship organization. www.clearwater.org
About Natural Resources Defense Council
NRDC is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world’s natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Livingston, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.
About Riverkeeper
Riverkeeper is a member-supported, watchdog organization dedicated to defending the Hudson River and its tributaries and protecting the drinking water supply of nine million New York City and Hudson Valley residents. www.riverkeeper.org
About Scenic Hudson
Scenic Hudson works to protect and restore the Hudson River and its majestic landscape as an irreplaceable national treasure and a vital resource for residents and visitors. A crusader for the valley since 1963, we are credited with saving fabled Storm King Mountain from a destructive industrial project and launching the modern grass-roots environmental movement. Today with more than 25,000 ardent supporters, we are the largest environmental group focused on the Hudson River Valley. Our team of experts combines land acquisition, support for agriculture, citizen-based advocacy and sophisticated planning tools to create environmentally healthy communities, champion smart economic growth, open up riverfronts to the public and preserve the valley’s inspiring beauty and natural resources. To date Scenic Hudson has created or enhanced more than 50 parks, preserves and historic sites up and down the Hudson River and conserved more than 30,000 acres. www.scenichudson.org
