The owner of a major Westchester oil terminal says the Eastchester Creek needs to be dredged.

The creek helps transport over 40 million gallons of the county's heating oil per year to a terminal in Mount Vernon, but the sediment buildup on the creek is making it almost impassable. Local, state and federal officials got a firsthand look on Friday at how the barges can get stuck in the sludge.

Spokesmen for the Sprague oil terminal say if the creek is not dredged soon, boats carrying the fuel may be unable to travel on the creek. The creek was last dredged more than 20 years ago.

The cleanup will cost about $1.4 million, and Sprague is pushing for the state to pick up the tab.

State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who chairs the energy committee, has vowed to do all she can to make sure that happens.