All Clear North of Hastings

NEWS RELEASE

Cheryl Archbald, MD, MPH, Acting Commissioner, Department of Health
Ned McCormack, Communications Director
Contact: Caren Halbfinger (914) 813-5013 / after hours: 813-5000

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2011

REVISED HUDSON RIVER USE ADVISORY: HUDSON RIVER FROM HASTINGS NORTH IS CLEARED FOR RECREATION; AVOID HUDSON RIVER CONTACT SOUTH OF HASTINGS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

The Westchester County Department of Health advises people who use the Hudson River waters south of Hastings for recreational purposes, namely swimmers, windsurfers and kayakers, to continue to avoid direct contact with the Hudson River until further notice. There are no restrictions to boating. Those who fish should practice catch and release from all points south of Hastings.

The Westchester County Department of Health has lifted the advisory for areas of the Hudson River from Hastings north, including Philipse Manor Beach., based on the results of Hudson River sampling performed by the Westchester County Department of Health to date. This advisory originally followed a fire that took the New York City North River Waste Water Treatment Plant out of service. The treatment plant is located at W. 135^th Street and 12^th Avenue in New York City.

The Health Department will continue to monitor the situation and update any advisories as necessary.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection will be providing updates on the situation as needed at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/home/home.shtml.