Westchester officials are hoping to sink a proposal to create more spots for commercial barges to drop anchors in the Hudson River.
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and other local officials said they were concerned about plans submitted to the Department of Homeland Security to add anchorages for commercial barges at 10 spots along the river between Westchester and Ulster counties.
"Once again, it appears that the federal government wants to do what it wants, where it wants, when it wants and that’s just not okay," said Astorino. "This plan would create a giant parking lot for massive barges and other commercial vessels just yards from our shores, and there needs to be a process to fully vet this proposal in the most transparent manner possible."
The anchorages were proposed in June, according to the Journal Record. They would run between Yonkers and Kingston and would give commercial vessels more spots to wait for space at ports or better travel conditions.
The Journal Record reports that shipping industry representatives are necessary to make the river safe to navigate. They added that the anchorages will legitimize an already common practice for big boats in the river.
Elected officials, including Astorino and Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirstin Gillibrand, meanwhile, have called on the Coast Guard, which would regulate the anchorages, to hold public hearings before moving forward with the proposal.
Astorino and other local and state officials were urging to the public to submit their opinions on the barge at federalregister.gov before a public comment period on the proposed project ends on Sept. 7.
