Editing Port Ewen, New York (section)

==Environmental Concerns==
Port Ewen and adjacent [[Ulster Park, New York|Ulster Park]] were once a work site of [[Dyno Nobel]] explosives, listed as a manufacturing/distribution location in the 2012 Sustainability Report issued by Dyno Nobel / [[Incitec Pivot Limited]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.incitecpivot.com.au/zone_files/PDF_Media_Release/ipl_sustainability_report_final.pdf |title=2012 Sustainability Report |year=2012 |publisher=Incitec Pivot Limited |page= 3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409143217/http://www.incitecpivot.com.au/zone_files/PDF_Media_Release/ipl_sustainability_report_final.pdf |archive-date=April 9, 2013 }}</ref> The location of the former [[Hercules Inc.]]/Dyno-Nobel site has been designated a state Superfund site: "The site is listed as a "Class 2" site in the State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites (list of State Superfund sites). A Class 2 site represents a significant threat to public health or the environment and action is required."<ref name="NYSDEC-2019">{{cite web |url=https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/site-cleanup/regional-remediation-project-information/region-3/hercules-inc-dyno-nobel-site/ |title=NYS DEC: Environmental Investigation And Cleanup - Hercules Inc./Dyno-Nobel Site |author=New York State Department of Environmental Conservation |publisher=[[New York State Department of Environmental Conservation]] |date=Summer 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref> The downstream spread of contaminants has impacted Port Ewen from the original site in Ulster Park. "The primary contaminants of concern at the site are inorganic (metals) in the soil site-wide and creek sediments and "energetic" (potentially explosive) materials in wetland sediment and in specific locations in the manufacturing area. Volatile organic compounds (e.g., chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene or TCE) are also present in the groundwater near the former shell plant. The presence of potentially explosive materials complicate implementation of a remedy at this site."<ref name="NYSDEC-2019"/>

The [[New York State Department of Environmental Conservation]] (NYS DEC) had identified in a May 2023 state report, "mercury, lead, copper, zinc, and dozens of other chemicals" in sediment investigations of Plantasie Creek, adjacent to the public elementary school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyfreeman.com/2024/06/22/esopus-town-officials-say-state-didnt-tell-them-of-metals-in-plantasie-creek-before-debris-removal-work-began/ |title=Esopus town officials say state didn't tell them of metals in Plantasie Creek before debris removal work began |author=Kemble |first=William J. |publisher=[[Daily Freeman]] |date=June 22, 2024 |access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://kingstonwire.com/news/2024/06/17/dec-elevated-levels-of-mercury-found-near-port-ewen-elementary-school/138ydd |title=DEC: Elevated Levels of Mercury Found Near Port Ewen Grade School |author=Ellman |first=Steve |publisher=Kingston Wire |date=June 17, 2024 |access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref> According to the NY DEC, "Former manufacturing operations for primers and igniters for explosives took place in the developed portion of the site, which occupies approximately 100 acres. However, present-day operations include producing electric detonators within a smaller portion of the site.
Disposal activities occurred within the plant area and in wetland areas in the eastern portion of the property. Most of the surrounding areas are naturally vegetated with cover types ranging from old fields to forested areas."<ref name="NYSDEC-2024">{{cite web |url=https://rw2yhkq5.r.us-west-2.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fextapps.dec.ny.gov%2Fdata%2Fder%2Ffactsheet%2F356001update0624.pdf/1/010101901803b555-102e0e1e-110a-4ec3-95fc-d9119a768e21-000000/_glPyl1G7SR4VNnn9eOqiC0u2VA=379 |title=COMMUNITY UPDATE: Hercules Inc/Dyno-Nobel Site Update New York State Superfund Program (Site 356001) |author=New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) |publisher=New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) |date=June 2024 |access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref>  A [[New York State Department of Environmental Conservation]] Superfund Community Report for June 2024 indicated that "On May 21, 2024, DEC issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the town of Esopus for the unpermitted work. The town immediately worked closely with DEC to implement corrective measures, including covering areas of soil disturbance and installing temporary fencing near the elementary school to reduce the risk of public exposure." 
<ref name="NYSDEC-2024"/>

Levels of lead exceeding 15 ppb have been found in some water supplies of Robert R. Graves Elementary, Port Ewen's public elementary school, according to an August 2021 analysis completed by EnviroTest Laboratories, LLC, with the highest recorded level of 90 ppb.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240627150513/https://www.kingstoncityschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=506&dataid=22352&FileName=Graves%20ES%206.5.21%20J199981-1%20EnviroTest%20Level%201%20Portrait%20Smp%20Sort%20Final%20Report.pdf |archive-date=2024-06-27 |url=https://www.kingstoncityschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=506&dataid=22352&FileName=Graves%20ES%206.5.21%20J199981-1%20EnviroTest%20Level%201%20Portrait%20Smp%20Sort%20Final%20Report.pdf|title=ANALYTICAL REPORT, Job Number: 420-199981-1 SDG Number: Graves Elementary School |author=EnviroTest Laboratories, LLC |publisher=Kingston City Schools |date=August 9, 2021 |access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref> Lead levels in water supplies exceeding 15 ppb have also been found in nearby Anna Devine Elementary School, located in Ulster Park, according to an analysis completed on behalf of Ulster BOCES. The highest level of lead recorded in the Anna Devine report was 230 ppb.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1620822225/ulsterbocesorg/x8we5siz7cn5gm9o1mut/AnnaDevineLeadReportforWebsite3_16_21Combo.pdf |title=Environmental Hygiene Report, Project Number: 003-2021, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning at Anna Devine |author=Fischer |first=Christy |publisher=Ulster Board of Cooperative Educational Services BOCES |date=May 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240627151729/https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1620822225/ulsterbocesorg/x8we5siz7cn5gm9o1mut/AnnaDevineLeadReportforWebsite3_16_21Combo.pdf |access-date=June 27, 2024|archive-date=June 27, 2024 }}</ref>