This ban remains in effect today. 1976 New York Administrative Law Judge finds that GE s PCB discharges violated New York State Water Quality Standards. The state imposes a ban on fishing in the upper Hudson because of the potential health risk posed by PCB contamination. The Federal Toxic Substance and Control Act bans the manufacture and sale of PCBs within the United States. 1977-1978 New York State begins studying how to reduce the river's PCB contamination and removes 14,000 cubic yards of highly contaminated material upstream from former site of Fort Edward dam.
Lawsuits prevent the state from moving forward with the project.
200 miles of the Hudson River is designated a federal Superfund Toxic waste site National Priorities List due to PCB contamination. The Reagan Administration tentatively decides to take no action on PCB-contaminated river sediments, but orders remnant deposits exposed to the air to be capped. The EPA notifies GE that it is the responsible and liable party under Superfund law. 1985 New York State continues monitoring PCB contamination in the river. Courts strike down state's approval of a landfill site in Fort Edward because it would violate local zoning ordinance.