The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and General Electric (GE) estimate that between 1947 and 1975, from 500,000 to 1.1 million pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were discharged from the Fort Edward and Hudson Falls facilities into the upper Hudson River. An estimated 500,000 to 700,000 pounds of PCBs remain in the river sediments.

In 1991, a subterranean source of PCBs near Baker's Falls, New York, was identified by GE, EPA, and New York State. This previously unidentified source was traced to GE's Hudson Falls Plant (Baker's Falls).

Studies of the site conducted in 1993 found pockets of extremely contaminated groundwater that oozed an oily substance. These "seeps" contained PCB oil in varying concentrations, ranging from hundreds of parts per million to 90 percent pure PCBs near an old discharge pipe. The studies also identified tons of heavily contaminated sediment in the raceways of the plant's old mill building. In June 1994, GE found more seeps of highly concentrated PCB oil in the river bottom below and next to the mill raceway. The GE Hudson Falls site is a significant source of PCBs that continues to affect the Hudson River.

In 1984, EPA issued a record of decision (ROD) for a portion of the Hudson River Superfund site. The ROD called for (1) in-place capping, containment, and monitoring of remnant deposit sediments; (2) a treatability study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Waterford Treatment Plant in removing PCBs from Hudson River water; and (3) an interim no-action decision concerning river sediments. In December 1989, EPA announced that the no-action decision would be reassessed.

EPA issued a final ROD in February 2002, which addressed the risks to people and ecological receptors associated with PCBs in the established sediments of the upper Hudson River. In October 2005, EPA took a significant step toward cleaning up PCBs in the Hudson River by reaching an agreement with GE, requiring it to begin the dredging called for in EPA’s 2002 ROD. The agreement was published in the October 13, 2005, Federal Register, followed by a 30-day public comment period. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and EPA have granted a request to extend the public comment period by 30 days. The comment period will now close on December 14, 2005. The Notice of Lodging and Consent Decree are available in the Administrative Record.

EPA is the lead agency for cleanup of the Hudson River Superfund site and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is the support agency for this project. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are federal trustees of natural resources. Additional EPA background.