The public comment period on the proposal to put Newtown Creek on EPA Superfund list has been extended until December 23.

Due to the extent of the contamination at the site, New York State officials requested that the EPA consider adding Newtown Creek to the list of federal Superfund sites. The area along the 3.8 mile creek has been used for industrial activity since the early history of New York City - including oil refineries, petrochemical plants, fertilizer and glue factories, sawmills, lumber yards and coal yards. The city also began discharging raw sewage directly into the water in 1856. During World War II, the creek was one of the busiest ports in the country, with countless spills of contaminants. 

For instructions on how to submit comments go to http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/pubcom.htm or contact Ildefonso Acosta, Region 2 EPA at (212) 637-4344 acosta.ildefonso@epa.gov.  

To find out more about the NPL Site Listing Process: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/npl_hrs.htm.

For a Google Earth aerial view of the Newtown Creek site: http://www.epa.gov/region2/kml/newtown_creek.kml.