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County Legislators, Environmental Advocates Ask Governor, Federal Officials To Act in Wake of Holtec Court Decision

Environmental Committee Chair Davidson, Majority Leader Wolfe, and Environmental Activists Demand Gov. Hochul Appeal Federal Ruling

Rockland County Environmental Committee Chair Beth Davidson, Vice-Chair Alden Wolfe and Legislator Paul Cleary joined environmental activists from around the Hudson Valley at Rockland County’s scenic Haverstraw Bay Park to blast a federal court decision that overturns the Save the Hudson Act, which bans the discharge of radiological water into the Hudson River.

“The Hudson River is not a radioactive dumping ground. It sustains our wildlife, fuels our economy, and defines who we are as a community,” said Davidson (District 10). “Holtec’s plan to release radioactive water into the river is reckless, dangerous, and an insult to every Hudson Valley family. This ruling is a green light for corporate polluters to poison our future, and we will not stand for it. As Rockland’s Environmental Chair, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with community leaders and environmental advocates to fight back with everything we’ve got and stop this assault on our health, our river, and our way of life.”

Legislative Majority Leader and Environmental Committee Vice Chair Alden Wolfe (District 6) said, “For 20 years, I’ve fought to protect the Hudson from corporate polluters, crude oil barges, and a nonsensical desalination plant. I fought against the approval of Holtec International to dismantle Indian Point in the first place - and I’ll continue the fight against Holtec’s short-sighted plan to dump radioactive water into the Hudson, endangering a vital watershed and public health throughout the Hudson Valley. Legislator Davidson and I call on Governor Hochul to appeal this wrongheaded decision and ask our federal representatives to use every tool at their disposal to shut down Holtec’s dumping plan once and for all.”

In 2023, the Rockland County Legislature overwhelmingly approved a resolution sponsored by then-County Legislator Harriet Cornell calling on the NY State Legislature and Gov. Hochul to ban any radioactive discharge into the river, along with strict fines in the event of violations. With the support of environmental groups led by Riverkeeper, state Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Dana Levenberg passed the Save the Hudson Act, a law making it illegal to discharge radioactive materials into the Hudson. Gov. Hochul signed the bill.

Last week, the U.S. District Court ruled in favor of Holtec, saying New York State’s law was preempted by federal regulations governing the operation of nuclear power plants.

In a statement, Legislator Dana Stilley (District 17), said: “As the County Legislator for Rockland’s rivertowns, home to both critical habitat and vibrant waterfront businesses, I too stand with our tenacious environmental advocates against this egregious court decision to allow Holtec to dump radioactive water in our precious Hudson River. As a member of the Legislature’s Health and Wellness Committee, I remain concerned about exposure for my constituents to those radioactive contaminants linked with cancer, miscarriages, genetic defects and other adverse health effects. Once more for those in the back: There is no safe dose of radiation.”

“While the court may have ruled in favor of dumping radioactive waste into the Hudson River, the ban signed by Gov. Hochul is still a no-brainer in the court of public opinion,” said Marilyn Elie from the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition. “Thousands of people have spoken out about this saying very clearly that they did not approve of the plan to dump tritium into the Hudson River. This makes no difference to Holtec who only cares about the bottom line.”

Davidson, Wolfe, and Cleary were joined at Haverstraw Bay Park by Haverstraw Supervisor Howard T. Phillips Jr., Village of Haverstraw Trustee Richard Sena, Marilyn Elie of the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, and longtime safe water advocates Jacqui Drechsler and Owl of the Ramapough Lenape Nation.

Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson demands the state appeal a court ruling that opens the way for radioactive wastewater to be dumped into the Hudson River. She was joined by County Legislators Alden Wolfe and Legislator Paul Cleary, Haverstraw Supervisor Howard T. Phillips Jr., Village of Haverstraw Trustee Richard Sena, Marilyn Elie of the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, longtime safe water advocates Jacqui Drechsler and Owl of the Ramapough Lenape Nation, and others at Haverstraw Bay Park. They blasted a federal court decision that overturns the Save the Hudson Act. “The Hudson River is not a radioactive dumping ground. It sustains our wildlife, fuels our economy, and defines who we are as a community,” said Davidson (District 10- Nyack/Clarkstown). 

"Legislator Davidson and I call on Governor Hochul to appeal this wrongheaded decision and ask our federal representatives to use every tool at their disposal to shut down Holtec’s dumping plan once and for all," Rockland County Legislator Alden Wolfe said.

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