NYC-WTC_000152373

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

G^. Is Accused G.E.’s goal, according to state offi­ cials and environmental groups, is to change the order so that it sets per­ OfBid to Undo formance standards that are unusu­ ally high and difficult to meet and thereby scuttle the whole project. Dredging Order State officials say that E.P.A. offi­ cials in Washington have told the regional officials in New York to Continued From Page Fl rework the plan to accommodate new performance standards — a move that they say is causing a way,” she said. revolt within the New York office. G.E., which discharged millions of “Region 2 is livid and refuses to do pounds of P.C.B.’s — polychlorinated it, and there’s a huge fight going on,” biphenyls — into the upper Hudson said one state official. Speaking of River for more than 35 years before the final record of decision, known in the chemical was banned in 1977, has bureaucratic parlance as a ROD, long resisted a federally imposed this official added, “They will not cleanup plan. The river was declared allow a ROD to go out that will booby a Superfund site in 1983. The compa­ trap the decision.” ny says it has already spent $200 Representative Hinchey said, million on research and restoration “There is a struggle going on be­ projects over the last 20 years, and tween Region 2, where the people are maintains that the river is now trying to carry out this project in a cleansing itself and that dredging responsible and lawful way, and the would do more harm than good. headquarters in Washington, which Christie Whitman, the E.P.A. ad­ is trying to do something else.” ministrator, announced on Aug. I Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic that her agency would proceed with Hudson, one of toe groups meeting the plan conceived under the Clinton with Ms. McGinnis next week, said administration to order General environmentalists also wanted per­ Electric to carry out a half-billion- formance standards, but said they dollar cleanup. should be determined in public. General “Electric was never happy Mr.-Lehner-of-toe-attomey gener­ with the order, which was viewed as al’s office said, “We’re not talking a black mark on the legacy of John L. about some minor element — these Welch Jr., who retired Sept. 7 as are critical components of the ROD, chairman of G.E. The company has especially if they have toe effect that already spent tens of millions of dol­ G.E. seems to be advocating. Nor­ lars advertising and lobbying mally, it takes years of factual analy­ I against the plan, and was surprised sis to develop these; to do it quickly i when Mrs. Whitman said that the by talking to G.E. would be very, i federal government was sticking very troubling.” 1 with the Clinton plan. The company Ms. Mears, toe regional E.P.A. i and its allies vowed to fight the pro- spokeswoman, said that suggestions : posal nonetheless. of a rift within toe agency were not ' Environmentalists and others be- true. “Washington, D.C., and toe re­ ! lieve that G.E.’s new approach is to gional office are working together,” I have a major say in spelling out the she said. “The region doesn’t object ! details in the cleanup plan. The com- to performance standards.” I pany has met at least twice with . federal environmental officials since i Sept. 11. Mr. Ramsey met with Mrs. I Whitman’s chief of staff, EUeen Mc- i Ginnis, between Sept. 11 and Sept. 21. , On Thursday, Jessica Fury, Mrs. ; Whitman’s counsel, met with an- i other G.E. official, also in Washing- ! ton.

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