WAPPINGER – The US Environmental Protection Agency is proposing placing the Wappinger Creek on its Superfund National Priorities List of the country’s most hazardous waste sites. The portion of the creek being proposed includes parts of the Village of Wappingers Falls and the towns of Wappinger and Poughkeepsie.
The federal agency said sediment in a two-mile tidal portion of the creek, which is downstream from an industrial park, is contaminated with mercury, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other pollutants.
“Wappinger Creek is used for fishing and recreation by residents of Dutchess County,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck. “By placing this site on the Superfund list, the EPA can take action to restore this creek and protect people’s health and the environment.”
For over 180 years, an industrial park along the creek was used for textile dyeing, manufactured gas plant operations, metal plating, ammunition production, chemical manufacturing and other businesses.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation recommended including this site on the federal Superfund list and the federal agency determined placing on the list would be the best court of action to clean up the contamination. The Superfund designation makes the creek eligible for funds to conduct long-term cleanups.
At the same time, the EPA will search for the parties responsible for the contamination and hold them accountable for cleanup costs.
