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Essex, NY

Moderate Risk (38/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Essex in New York · Population: 37,077

TRI sites such as Sylvamo Ticonderoga Mill; Federal Correctional Institution Ray Brook; Mount Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex; SDWIS systems such as LAKE PLACID V; TICONDEROGA WD; MORIAH WD anchor Essex, NY's EPA extract. Derived burden score 38/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Essex include TICONDEROGA WD; MORIAH WD; CLINTON CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, while Sylvamo Ticonderoga Mill leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 41 / peak 80 in 2024.

Burden score 38/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Essex -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Essex, NY: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

-22.0%

3 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

-22.0%

347.9 thousand lb → 271.3 thousand lb, every facility that filed

  • Essex, NY's total reported releases fell from 347.9 thousand lb in 2022 to 271.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Essex, NY's land releases fell from 75.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 47.5 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Essex, NY's air releases fell from 202.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 160.6 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Essex, NY's water releases fell from 69.8 thousand lb in 2022 to 63.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
37,077
TRI Facilities
4
Water Systems
30
Superfund Sites
0
Total Releases
1.7M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 310 (85%) 56 0 80
2023 296 (81%) 59 8 161
2022 342 (94%) 21 2 115
2021 310 (85%) 54 1 101
2020 344 (94%) 21 0 80
2024 Good Air Quality: 85% of days
Median AQI: 41

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in New York, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (30)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
LAKE PLACID V 5,000 0
TICONDEROGA WD 3,700 1
MORIAH WD 3,100 7
CLINTON CORRECTIONAL FACILITY 3,001 2
SCHROON LAKE WD 2,750 2
ADIRONDACK CORRECTIONAL FACILITY 2,400 1
CHESTERFIELD WD 2,300 9
PORT HENRY WD 1,831 1
WILLSBORO WD 1,571 9
CROWN POINT WD 980 0
WILMINGTON WD 980 2
WESTPORT WD 927 1
FOREVER WILD WATER CO-SIGNOR 900 0
ELIZABETHTOWN WD 800 3
MINERVA WD 800 0
KEENE VALLEY WD 660 0
LEWIS WD 428 9
RAY BROOK WD 400 0
ESSEX WD 350 27
KEENE WD 300 6
WINEBROOK HILLS WD 250 17
DRAPERS ACRES 240 2
PORT KENT WD 158 2
MOUNTAIN LAKE ACADEMY 136 1
NORTH COUNTRY SCHOOL INC 130 0
FOREVER WILD WATER CO-KITZBUHL 100 0
WADHAMS WD 87 1
NEW RUSSIA WD 60 0
AUSABLE HEIGHTS WATER SYSTEM 46 3
MAGIC PINES MHP 40 2

TRI Facilities (4)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Sylvamo Ticonderoga Mill 1.6M lbs
2 Federal Correctional Institution Ray Brook 7.4K lbs
3 Mount Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex 25 lbs
4 Olympic Center 10 lbs

Cities in Essex (17)

Lake Placid
2 facilities · 5 water
Ray Brook
1 facilities · 1 water
Ticonderoga
1 facilities · 1 water
Keeseville
0 facilities · 3 water
Elizabethtown
0 facilities · 2 water
Jay
0 facilities · 2 water
Keene
0 facilities · 2 water
Lewis
0 facilities · 2 water
Port Henry
0 facilities · 2 water
Westport
0 facilities · 2 water
Crown Point
0 facilities · 1 water
Essex
0 facilities · 1 water
Minerva
0 facilities · 1 water
Newcomb
0 facilities · 1 water
Schroon Lake
0 facilities · 1 water
Willsboro
0 facilities · 1 water
Wilmington
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Essex, New York? ▼
Essex, NY has an environmental risk score of 38/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 4 TRI facilities, 0 Superfund sites, and 30 water systems on record. 21 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Essex? ▼
No Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) sites are currently registered in Essex, NY in the EPA database.
How many toxic release facilities are in Essex? ▼
Essex, NY has 4 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 1.7M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Essex? ▼
In 2024, Essex, NY recorded a median AQI of 41 and a peak AQI of 80. 85% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Essex? ▼
Essex, NY has 30 EPA-regulated water systems. 21 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Essex? ▼
Environmental compliance in Essex, New York is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the New York state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related Guides

Understanding EPA Data
How EPA collects and publishes environmental data
Environmental Justice
Who lives near polluters and environmental hazards
How to Check Environmental Quality
Step-by-step guide to checking your local environment

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro