BEAT’s Position on the 2020 Housatonic River PCB Remediation Settlement Agreement

In February of 2020, a Settlement Agreement was reached among stakeholders including BEAT, the EPA, and the General Electric Company and others involved with the appeal of the 2016 permit. Our decision to sign this agreement was not taken lightly. For the last 17 years, BEAT has been at the forefront of environmental advocacy and action in Berkshire County. Together, with our partners, we have hauled thousands of pounds of trash from the Housatonic River, protected countless vernal pools, shepherded thousands of amphibians across the road, and spoken out for those who do not have a voice. We firmly believe that this Settlement Agreement was the best option for the environment. Please read on for our full thoughts.