General Electric to begin 6th and final season of upper-Hudson River PCB dredging

Crews are preparing to begin a sixth and final season of PCB dredging along the upper-Hudson River.

Regional Environmental Protection Agency administrator Judith Enck says this is an important year in the history of the river. Work on the estimated $2 billion cleanup was expected to start Thursday afternoon. The season typically runs into the fall.

GE discharged polychlorinated biphenyls into the river decades ago when they were used as coolants in electrical equipment.

Flood plain work, habitat reconstruction along the river and long-term monitoring will continue after dredging is finished.

Also, federal Natural Resources Trustees will make an assessment of the harm done to the river's resources, either through a settlement with Fairfield, Connecticut-based GE over its liability or through litigation.