The Borough of Northampton is miffed the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection flagged its sewer plant for two minor violations while partial demolition of the more than a century old historic Atlas Dam has turned the Hokendauqua Creek into a shallow discolored mess.

Officials are angered the state DEP sent a violation notice for suspended solids exceeding established limitation for one day in 2011 and fecal coliform in June.

"However, with the removal of the Atlas Dam, what remains of the Hokendauqua Creek so polluted that it looks like gray mud," Councilman Keith Piescinski said at the Oct. 16 meeting.

He added it is ironic the two minor incidents resulted in a notice of violation.

The Jacoby-Martin Watershed Association was chided for pushing for the dam's removal and receiving a $430,000 DEP grant for the dam project.

Councilman Ed Pany, who over the years championed the dam's survival, said he is too devastated to visit the creek or dam. Calling the dam's partial removal shameful, Pany said the brick pump house that provided electricity for the Atlas Cement Plant was also torn down. He said many borough residents had family members who worked in the cement industry or the Atlas plant

Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Sr. in blistering comments, said the demolition is "an act of vengeance," adding, "That place is disgusting."

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