EPA Releases Cleanup Plan For Mercury Contamination Along Tidal Wallkill Creek

DUTCHESS COUNTY, NY — The EPA has proposed an interim cleanup plan to address mercury-contaminated sediment and soil along the banks of Wappinger Creek in Dutchess County.

The Wappinger Creek Superfund site includes the lower two miles of the creek, from the base of Wappingers Falls to where the creek meets the Hudson River. The EPA's proposed plan focuses on the upper portion of the site to remove contaminated material that could move downstream.

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The proposal calls for removing sediment from the creek and soil along the banks that contain high levels of mercury. After the contaminated material is removed, EPA would backfill the excavated areas and restore the affected parts of the creek and stream bank, according to the details of the plan released today.

The proposed cleanup is an interim action designed to get cleanup action moving faster, according to the agency. The EPA cautioned that the interim plan is not the final cleanup decision for the entire site. The EPA will monitor conditions after the work is completed to confirm the interim cleanup is working as intended and to help guide a future final cleanup plan for the site, according to the feds.

"This interim approach gets us in the creek sooner getting some of the worst contamination out more quickly," EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci said. "By targeting contaminated sediment and soil along the creek banks in the upper portion of the site, EPA is working to reduce the movement of contamination downstream and protect the creek while we continue to evaluate the long-term cleanup needs for the entire site."

The EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed plan for 30 days, beginning July 23. The public may submit written comments to Emily Wong, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007 or by email.

The EPA will hold a public meeting on July 30 at 6 p.m. to provide an overview of the cleanup proposal and answer community questions. The meeting will be held at the Grinnell Public Library, 2642 E Main St, Wappingers Falls.