Category: Environment

Dredging underway at Little Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced dredging has begun at Little Sodus Bay, a navigation channel in Cayuga County, used by boaters to access Lake Ontario from Little Sodus Bay. The accumulation of silt, sand, and other debris can cause areas like Little Sodus ... MORE

Farmington solar project inches forward, gets closer to final approvals
A proposed solar project in the town of Farmington is moving forward. The planning board approved the development with some conditions during a December 16th meeting. The next steps include forming a decommissioning plan, which must be completed by the Town Board ... MORE

Solar developer tries to squash opposition in Waterloo
Solar remains one of the more controversial developments in rural parts of Upstate New York. The Packwood-Serven-Pre-Emption Neighborhood Association has applied for inverter funds from the Public Service Commission, which would be used in an effort to oppose the development by Trelina ... MORE

Environmental groups mount campaign against use of brine as deicer in New York
A coalition of environmental groups is mounting a campaign for a statewide ban on the spreading of brine from oil and gas wells on roads for deicing or dust control. At least 33 cities, towns and private entities in upstate New York ... MORE

DAILY DEBRIEF: Calls grow louder for Cargill to stop mining under Cayuga Lake (podcast)
It’s all about the salt. Last week Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill that calls for a “salt reduction task force” to analyze the state’s aggressive practices of salting roads. The study comes in response to new data that links ... MORE

Town of Torrey, Greenidge Generation sued over potential effects on Seneca Lake
Three environmental groups and 30 individuals are seeking a court injunction to block construction or operation of a Bitcoin data mining facility at the Greenidge Generation power plant. The Sierra Club, Committee to Preserve the Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake Guardian and others ... MORE

Company proposes clay mine expansion in Ontario County
Marcy Excavation Services LLC wants to add 4.5-acres to its Manchester-based clay mine. It has submitted an application to the DEC for an expansion of its mine, which is located on County Road 13 in Manchester. A State Environmental Quality Review determined ... MORE

LATEST: Official calls SMI’s effort to expand landfill ‘deceptive’
The Seneca Falls Town Board is expected to learn more about a landfill expansion permit application, which was filed over the summer by Seneca Meadows Inc. They applied to the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation to expand its landfill operation in Seneca ... MORE

UPDATE: One miner dead after Cargill incident in Louisiana, prompting calls for end to salt mining under Cayuga Lake
One miner has been found dead and another remained missing early Wednesday following a roof collapse Monday at a Cargill-operated salt mine in Louisiana, renewing concerns in New York about safety at Cargill’s huge salt mine beneath Cayuga Lake. “We wish Cargill ... MORE

What impact does salting roads have on the environment? NYS begins formal review of practices
New York State, the nation’s most gung-ho user of rock salt to de-ice winter highways, plans a formal review of its practices in response to new data that links road salting to troubling rises in sodium and chloride in Adirondack Park water ... MORE

IJC will deviate from Plan 2014 this winter after devastating flooding along Lake Ontario
The International Joint Commission will do something lakeside residents have been asking about for years. The IJC says it will deviate from Plan 2014, which will allow for increased outflows from Lake Ontario via the St. Lawrence River. “The risk of high ... MORE

Gov. Cuomo vetoes stream protection bill, siding with Republican legislators over 41 environmental groups
Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed Friday a bill to protect 41,000 miles of New York State streams regularly used for fishing and boating — legislation that major environmental groups consider an essential response to the Trump Administration’s rollback of federal stream and wetland ... MORE

Cuomo signs bill banning incineration of toxic firefighting foam, but doesn’t include Finger Lakes hotspot
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Monday that permanently bans the burning of toxic firefighting foam at the Norlite LLC hazardous waste incinerator about 10 miles north of Albany. The foam has been used and stored at dozens of airports, fire stations and ... MORE

DEC releases draft ‘Deer Management Plan’ for public review and comment
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced the release of a draft Deer Management Plan for New York State for public review and comment on Friday. The plan builds upon the progress made by DEC’s first deer ... MORE

Yates County gets Clean Energy Community distinction from New York State
Yates County announced it has been designated a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, recognizing its leadership in reducing energy use, cutting costs and driving clean energy locally. Announced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in ... MORE