OLEM/OSRTI

Washington, DC 20460

NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) 

***Proposed Site*** April 2016 

WAPPINGER CREEK Dutchess County, New York

Dutchess County 

 Site Location:

The Wappinger Creek site is located in a mixed residential and commercial/industrial area of the village of Wappingers 

Falls, town of Poughkeepsie, and town of Wappinger, New York. The Wappinger Creek site is comprised of contaminated 

sediments from multiple sources. The tidal portion of Wappinger Creek begins downstream of Wappingers Falls and 

extends for approximately two miles downstream to the confluence with the Hudson River. 

 Site History:

Sediment contamination within the tidal portion of Wappinger Creek was identified by the state of New York in 2001, 

adjacent to and downstream of an industrial park located at the base of Wappinger Falls. A wide variety of industrial 

activities have been conducted at the industrial park location for more than 180 years including textile dyeing, 

manufactured gas plant (MGP) operations, metal plating, plastic mold injection, felt hat manufacturing, ammunition 

production, chemical manufacturing and distribution, and several other industrial and commercial activities. Buildings 

within the industrial park associated with a metal plating facility had floor drains that discharged to Wappinger Creek. A 

former spillway and lagoon, which discharged to Wappinger Creek, received industrial wastes from the southern portion of 

the industrial park. Portions of the industrial park itself are reported to consist of variable fill materials, including coal

cinders from MGP activities.

 Site Contamination/Contaminants:

The primary contaminants of concern are mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), both of which are 

attributable to historical operations within the industrial park. Other contaminants detected at elevated concentrations in the 

industrial park and in creek sediments include chromium, mercury and lead. 

 Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment: 

The tidal creek is used for recreational boating and fishing for human consumption. The Wappinger Greenway, which 

includes the Wappinger Greenway Trail, runs along the bank of Wappinger Creek downstream from the industrial park to 

near the tidal creek’s confluence with the Hudson River. The Wappinger Greenway Trail links historical, cultural, natural, 

and economic resources of local and regional significance and provides access to portions of the creek contaminated with 

mercury. A narrow wetland area is located along the contaminated portion of Wappinger Creek. 

 Response Activities (to date):

There have been several investigations and cleanups within the industrial park. However, mercury and PAH contamination

remains adjacent to and downstream of the industrial park. 

 Need for NPL Listing:

The state of New York referred this site to the EPA. Other federal and state cleanup programs were evaluated, but are not 

viable at this time. The EPA received a letter of support for placing this site on the NPL from the state of New York. 

[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may 

change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. See 56 FR 5600, February 11, 1991, or 

subsequent FR notices.] 

For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these 

substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet 

at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.