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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report - November 17, 1997
CENTRAL HUDSON GAS & ELECTRIC CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
New York 1-3268 14-0555980
____________________________ ________________ _____________
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File (IRS Employer
of incorporation number) Identification) Number)
284 South Avenue, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601-4879
________________________________________ __________
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (914) 452-2000
CENTRAL HUDSON GAS & ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Item 5. Other Events.
Reference is made to Registrant's Annual Report, on
Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 ("Annual
Report"), and to the caption "Environmental Claims - Newburgh
Manufactured Gas Site" in Item 3 of Part I thereof for a
discussion of litigation filed against Registrant by the City of
Newburgh, New York, on May 26, 1995, in the United States
District Court, Southern District of New York.
Pursuant to the October 1995 Order on Consent entered
into between Registrant and the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation ("NYSDEC"), as referred to in said
Item 3, Registrant filed, on October 31, 1997, a Remedial
Investigation report with the NYSDEC for the investigation and
remediation program being conducted on Registrant's former coal
gasification plant site and the City of Newburgh's adjacent and
nearby property. On October 31, 1997, Registrant issued a press
release which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99 and incorporated
herein by reference.
Registrant is unable, at this time, to give a
reasonable estimate of the cost, if any, to it of the activities
which may ultimately be required under said Order and Consent or
of any costs to it of such litigation.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits. Following is the list of Exhibits
furnished in accordance with the provisions of Item 601 of
Regulation S-K, filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K:
Exhibit No.
(Regulation S-K
Item 601
Designation)
__________________
Exhibits
(99) Press release of Registrant issued on October 31,
1997, relating to the litigation commenced by the City
of Newburgh, New York, on May 26, 1995, against
Registrant, as reported under the caption
"Environmental Claims - Newburgh Manufactured Gas Site"
in Item 3 of Part I of Registrant's Annual Report, on
Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CENTRAL HUDSON GAS & ELECTRIC CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By:_______________________________________
DONNA DOYLE
Controller
Dated: November 17, 1997
EXHIBIT INDEX
Following is the index of Exhibits furnished in
accordance with the provisions of Item 601 of Regulation S-K,
filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K:
Exhibit No.
(Regulation S-K
Item 601
Designation)
_________________
(99) Press release of Registrant issued on October 31,
1997, relating to the litigation commenced by the City
of Newburgh, New York, on May 26, 1995, against
Registrant, as reported under the caption
"Environmental Claims - Newburgh Manufactured Gas Site"
in Item 3 of Part I of Registrant's Annual Report, on
Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.
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CENTRAL
HUDSON
GAS & ELECTRIC CORP. N E W S
- - ----------------------------------------------
CONTACT: Denise VanBuren 914-471-8323
October 31, 1997
For Immediate Release
NEWBURGH ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
The next stage in the on-going environmental investigation
at the City of Newburgh Sewage Treatment plant occurred today,
when a Remedial Investigation report was filed with the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation. The report filed
today is based upon months of research and results from a
voluntary Consent Order with the DEC through which Central Hudson
has committed to cleaning up any contamination for which it is
responsible at the site, which is adjacent to property where a
former Central Hudson gas manufacturing plant once operated.
The continuing investigation centers on an oily substance
found in a limited number of locations more than 15 feet beneath
the surface at the site of the City of Newburgh's sewage
Treatment Plant, a property once occupied by a ship-building
business, a railroad yard and a fill area, and located across
Marine Drive from Central Hudson's former manufactured gas plant.
Materials have also been detected in near-shore river sediment
adjacent to the City's property.
All field and laboratory work has now been completed,
together with quality assurance by an independent consultant of
the validity of those findings.
"As a result of this stage of the investigation, it does
appear that the oily materials found on the City's site are
similar to those present on Central Hudson's adjacent property,"
explained Jeffrey Clock, the utility's director of Environmental
Affairs.
"However, because of the many evolving historical uses of
the City's property -- which even included physical alterations
to its shoreline -- it is impossible to identify a single
explanation as to how these materials came to be located on
site," Clock said.
Following the thorough review of a one-half mile radius of
the property based upon soil, air and water samples, Clock said
there is no immediate environmental or public health threat as a
result of the underground materials.
"The next stage in the process will be to complete a risk
assessment and to evaluate remediation alternatives should the
DEC determine such actions are necessary as a result of today's
report," explained Clock. He said he anticipates that risk
assessment would likely be completed within a year.
Manufactured gas for lighting was produced on Central
Hudson's site between 1878 and the early 1950's in a plant built
by a predecessor company. Today, Central Hudson operates a
natural gas regulator station and a propane peaking plant on its
property.
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