EPA Finalizes Interim Cleanup Plan to Address Mercury Contamination from Wappinger Creek Superfund Site in Dutchess County, New York
NEW YORK – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its interim cleanup plan for removing mercury-contaminated sediment and soil from the upper portion of the Wappinger Creek Superfund site in Dutchess County, New York.
“The EPA is committed to protecting the health of Dutchess County residents and restoring the environment along Wappinger Creek,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “This cleanup plan demonstrates our dedication to addressing historical contamination and ensuring a safer, healthier community for generations to come.”
The cleanup plan includes dredging and digging up contaminated sediment and soil from the creek bed and sides of the creek, transporting it to an EPA-approved off-site disposal facility, and then filling in the dug-up areas with clean material and restoring these areas. EPA’s interim cleanup plan will protect human health and address the greatest source of contamination resulting from historical industrial activities, while the agency continues its investigation at the site.
EPA will monitor conditions after the cleanup to confirm the effectiveness of the remedy and use the results to guide any future actions at the site. The agency held a public meeting on July 30, 2026, at the Grinnell Public Library to provide an overview of the cleanup proposal and answer community questions.
The EPA’s cleanup plan, including the EPA’s response to public comments, will be available at the Wappinger Creek Superfund site profile page.
Please see epa.gov/superfund for additional information.
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