BASF to support $41 million pollution dredging of Hudson River at Rensselaer

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is proposing a $41.3 million project to dredge PCBs and other pollution from the Hudson River at the former BASF industrial dye factory on Riverside Avenue.

DEC wants dredging in the river to remove volatile organics, and toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper, mercury, zinc and arsenic, that got into the river from several production sewer and storm water discharge pipes at the former factory, which was knocked down in 2010.

The DEC plan calls for dredging about 38,700 cubic yards from about 12 acres of tainted river bottom that extends along about 1,800 feet of riverfront at the Port of Rensselaer.

A public meeting on the proposal is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 24 at Rensselaer City Hall, 62 Washington St. DEC is taking written comments on the plan through March 11 to John Strang, DEC Division of Environmental Remediation, 1130 North Westcott Road, Schenectady, NY 12306, at (518) 357-2390, or at john strang@dec.ny.gov Copies of the plan are available at Rensselaer Public Library, 676 East St.