Category: Environment
NYC waste company drops plan to import ‘sludge’ to Wayne County
The Flushing, N.Y., waste company that proposed to haul truckloads of sludge from New York City to a rural community about 25 miles west of Syracuse said it was withdrawing its application for a Butler town permit, according to a memo posted ... MORE
Two years removed from 9-day boil water emergency, Watkins Glen still hasn’t tackled long-overdue system upgrades
Members of the Phish rock band were just about to begin their on-stage sound checks on Aug. 16, 2018, when state and local officials abruptly pulled the plug on their weekend music festival at the Watkins Glen International racetrack. The four rock ... MORE
Parts of Ontario County dealing with major gypsy moth outbreak
The DEC says part of Ontario County is dealing with a serious gypsy moth outbreak. Meteorologist Kevin Williams tells Finger Lakes News Radio that entire trees are being defoliated. The area that appears to be most-effected is that around Bristol Mountain. Cornell ... MORE
DEC says increased number of bear sightings in the region shouldn’t be cause for concern
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says there has been an increase in bear sightings across the region. Recently, bear sightings have popped up on social media in parts of Wayne, Ontario, and Yates counties. The DEC says there have ... MORE
Finger Lakes Land Trust releases “Our Forever Work” video
The Finger Lakes Land Trust has bee supporting conservation in the Finger Lakes since 1989. They recently produced a stunning short video highlighting the natural beauty of the region which originally was debuted at the group’s Annual Meeting. Watch in the player ... MORE
HABs reported in Canandaigua, Honeoye lakes, per NYS Department of Health
Blooms of blue green algae have already been reported in parts of Canandaigua and Honeoye lakes. New York State Department of Health reported that this week, and advocates for local water quality say long, dry stretches of weather are prime makers of ... MORE
DAILY DEBRIEF: Can farms survive in New York? Will environmental progress be put on hold? (podcast)
What’s happening at farms across New York State? Early in the pandemic shutdown we saw a variety of headlines connected to the idea that farms were already struggling — and that new realities made doing business nearly impossible. As businesses open up ... MORE
Casella ramps up efforts to suppress foul odors at Ontario County Landfill
Can a mega-dump ever control it’s rotten-egg stench? That remains to be seen, but Casella Waste Systems Inc. finally appears to be responding to a combination of legal actions, public pressure and state enforcement. The company is energetically working to suppress the ... MORE
Plastic bag ban is ‘on hold’ indefinitely; DEC says 30 days notice will be given
Remember the controversial plastic bag ban that took hold earlier this year in New York? It was the measure that prevented grocery stores and other outlets from utilizing those single-use plastic bags for customers’ goods. Well, the time came and went for ... MORE
DAILY DEBRIEF: Hunting permit process changes amid the coronavirus pandemic (podcast)
How has the process for acquiring hunting permits changed amid the coronavirus pandemic? Today on the show, Norm Ridley, a Department of Environmental Conservation volunteer instructor in Region 8 speaks about how in-person training demonstrations have shifted to online programs statewide for ... MORE
Public Service Commission rules that Greenidge bitcoin mining operation isn’t subject to regulation; dismisses environmental concerns
The state Public Service Commission ruled today that Greenidge Generation LLC’s use of unmetered electricity to drive banks of computers that mine Bitcoin at its Dresden power plant is not subject to PSC regulation. The company had asked the commission to issue exactly ... MORE
PSC plans to quietly rule on Greenidge’s bitcoin mining operation
Greenidge Generation LLC has asked the state Public Service Commission for a ruling on the legal status of its controversial Bitcoin mining operation, and a decision — based on a skimpy public record— is scheduled for Thursday. Two Greenidge petitions on the ... MORE
SLPWA leadership urges PSC to avoid being ‘fooled’ by Greenidge request to sidestep regulation of bitcoin mining
Joining a growing outcry, Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association urged the state Public Service Commission today to reject Greenidge Generation LLC’s bid to fast-track rules for regulating its Bitcoin mining operation. “We believe there are several unresolved thermal discharge issues relating to the ... MORE
SMI files appeal over Local Law #3 ruling in Seneca Falls
Seneca Meadows has filed it’s appeal of Judge Daniel Doyle’s ruling upholding Local Law #3 of 2016. That’s the law that imposed shut down of the landfilling facility at the end of 2025. Seneca Meadows has six months to file its brief ... MORE
Witness tells DEC that two swans were run down by boater at Sodus Point
The Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed that they are looking into reports that a boat ran over two swans near Sodus Point over the weekend. A witness shared images to Facebook and that post was shared with a number of media ... MORE
