WOODRIDGE – On October 5, residents along Sandburg Creek in the Village of Woodridge awoke to a foul stench and discolored, murky waters. Photos sent in by concerned locals show what appears to be a gray, sludge-like substance flowing downstream, with the smell reportedly traveling as far as Ellenville.

Officials from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) responded to complaints and confirmed the discoloration and odor in Sandburg Creek near Silver Lake. Upon further inspection the following day, DEC staff traced the source of the contamination to an unpermitted discharge from the Newburg Egg Processing Corp. facility.

According to the DEC, staff observed “a gray, odorous, turbid discharge” entering a wetland upstream of Silver Lake. On October 8, the DEC issued a formal Notice of Violation to the company for releasing pollutants without authorization, in violation of New York State water quality standards.

This is not the first time Newburg Egg has been in hot water over Sandburg Creek.

In 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined Newburg Egg $100,000 for discharging excessive levels of nitrogen and ammonia from its facility into the municipal wastewater system. The contamination was traced to the Woodridge Wastewater Treatment Plant, which had been overwhelmed by untreated waste from the facility, causing long-term pollution in Sandburg Creek between 2018 and 2021.

As part of the EPA settlement, Newburg Egg agreed to install new equipment to better manage its waste stream, including a polymer mix and feed system aimed at removing key pollutants. The company also expanded its holding capacity and upgraded its pretreatment system to reduce the impact on the village’s wastewater plant.

At the time, EPA Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia said, “Newburg Egg and other companies must comply with all aspects of the Clean Water Act… EPA will hold companies accountable when they violate critical laws that protect public health and the environment.”

In a recent interview conducted by Radio Catskill’s Genevieve Hartnett, EPA Public Information Officer Carlos Vega said the agency was first made aware of potential compliance issues at the Newburg Egg facility in Spring of 2021.

“Clean water for every American is one of EPA’s core missions,” Vega said. “Protecting all water bodies is critical. Sandburg Creek, like any water body, is a part of the local ecosystem. When pollution enters the picture, it can impact the whole ecosystem.”

When asked whether Newburg Egg complied with the requirements set by the EPA in 2023, Vega confirmed they did.

“In addition to the penalty, Newburg Egg upgraded its pretreatment of its process wastewater to reduce the impacts to the Woodridge Village Wastewater Treatment Plant,” he said.

On whether looser federal water quality regulations might have contributed to the current issue, Vega clarified, “The specific regulations that EPA enforced in this case have not been changed.”

Although the EPA does not directly conduct fish population surveys, Vega acknowledged the importance of such data, directing inquiries to the New York State DEC, which performs those evaluations. According to a 2022 Lower Sandburg Creek Fisheries Survey, there was once notable aquatic species diversity upstream and downstream — a balance now threatened by recurring pollution.

Vega added that when the EPA took enforcement action in 2023, the agency worked collaboratively with DEC, the Village of Woodridge, and Newburg Egg to address the issue.

The DEC said its investigation remains active, and that further enforcement actions are possible depending on the results. As of now, the agency has not disclosed what specific contaminants were released or in what quantity.

Newburg Egg has not responded to requests for comment.