EPA Proposes Interim Cleanup Plan for Wappinger Creek Superfund Site in Dutchess County, New York

NEW YORK - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing an interim cleanup plan to address mercury-contaminated sediment and soil along the banks of Wappinger Creek in Dutchess County, New York.

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. EPA's proposed plan focuses on the upper portion of the site to remove contaminated material that could move downstream. 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.

This proposed cleanup is an interim action designed to get cleanup action moving faster. It is not the final cleanup decision for the entire site. EPA would 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.

Since day one, the Trump Administration has had renewed focus on delivering on its core mission and has proven significant progress can be made at Superfund sites when resources are used correctly. At this Superfund site, by taking an interim remedial action to address the most significant contamination first, EPA is utilizing enhanced project management and deploying tools and authorities earlier.

"This interim approach gets us in the creek sooner getting some of the worst contamination out more quickly," said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. "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."

EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed plan for 30 days, beginning July 23, 2026. 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 to [email protected].

EPA will hold a public meeting on July 30 at 6:00 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, NY 12590.

The proposed plan and supporting documents will be available on the Wappinger Creek Superfund site profile page.

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