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Old Palmyra landfill said to be potential state Superfund site

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Old Palmyra landfill said to be potential state Superfund site
The Palmyra Landfill operated on a 6.8-acre site on Garnsey Road from the 1950s until it closed in the late 1970s. Due to the detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in groundwater and leachate samples, the site has been designated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation as a potential state superfund site. Having that designation requires... more

SUNDAY CONVERSATION: Peter Mantius discusses groundwater testing, Hakes Landfill, Greenidge, and Cayuga Regional Digester

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SUNDAY CONVERSATION: Peter Mantius discusses groundwater testing, Hakes Landfill, Greenidge, and Cayuga Regional Digester
Throughout the winter, Peter Mantius spent his days reporting on some of the most-important environmental issues facing the Finger Lakes region. Doing so with more than 20 years of experience – Mantius broke the story about the DEC’s investigation into the Cayuga Regional Digester, and had an exclusive with the former facility manager who quit in January after he says... more

Hazardous waste probed at old Palmyra Landfill

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Hazardous waste probed at old Palmyra Landfill
The old Palmyra Landfill, a 6.8-acre site along Garnsey Road west of Route 31 in Palmyra, closed in the late 1970s. Water testing in late 2017 and last summer detected chemical pollutants — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) — in groundwater and leachate samples, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The DEC is now coordinating with... more

Army Corps of Engineers to start $100K temporary fix for Fair Haven break wall this summer

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Army Corps of Engineers to start $100K temporary fix for Fair Haven break wall this summer
A $100,000 construction project will temporarily fix the broken break wall in Fair Haven. It’s a step forward for the tourism-dependent village that is fighting its way back to normalcy after disastrous flooding in 2017. The break wall in Fair Haven remains in shambles following the high water levels of Lake Ontario. On Thursday, the village learned of a $100,000... more

Farmington holds meeting on solar farm that would bring thousands of panels to town

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Farmington holds meeting on solar farm that would bring thousands of panels to town
It could be one of the largest solar farms in the region: 40 acres in Farmington are proposed to become home to thousands of solar panels. Nearly 100 people gathered at the highway garage off Hook Road in Farmington, most of them all voicing opposition to the solar panel project by Delaware River Solar, which is seeking a permit to... more

Hakes Landfill, Town of Campbell, DEC sued over evidence of radiation

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Hakes Landfill, Town of Campbell, DEC sued over evidence of radiation
The Sierra Club and others filed suit this week against Hakes C&D Landfill Inc. and Town of Campbell in a bid to block the privately-owned Steuben County landfill’s proposed expansion. Petitioners argue that both the town and the state Department of Environmental Conservation failed to take “hard look” at evidence of radium and radon in the landfill, as required under the State... more

Meeting hosted to discuss solar power in Geneva

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Joule Community Power and Town Supervisor Mark Venuti hosted a meeting to discuss the potential inclusion of a solar farm for Geneva residents and other NESEG patrons which would lead to both individual-bill savings and the development of community sustainability projects on Wednesday, April 10. The meeting was held in the recently-renovated Cabaret room at the Smith Opera House. In... more

Vote possible on proposed solar farm in Farmington

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Vote possible on proposed solar farm in Farmington
A controversial solar project in Farmington could move forward. The planning board is set to discuss the special use permit for the proposed 7-megawatt solar farm at its meeting Wednesday night. Delaware River Solar wants to install thousands of solar panels on Smiths Farms on the corner of Yellow Mills Road and Fox Road. The project is now calling for... more

State officials ordered groundwater tests for toxic PFAS at 140 sites; locations and results held from public

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State officials ordered groundwater tests for toxic PFEAS at 140 sites; locations and results held from public
State-ordered groundwater tests for a class of cancer-causing chemicals known as PFAS have been conducted at 140 sites across the state, but the tests results — and even the locations of the testing — are being held under wraps. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are commonly found in foams used to fight petroleum fires and in a wide range of... more

Creativity will be needed when it comes to water protection in Cayuga County

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Creativity will be needed when it comes to water protection in Cayuga County
After meeting with regional leadership from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, it’s clear the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council will have to get creative in finding funding for priority projects, according to its executive director. Members of the council, as well as representatives from the city of Auburn, Cayuga County, the county Health Department, and the town of Owasco... more

How is the plastic bag ban taking shape across NYS?

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How is the plastic bag ban taking shape across NYS?
Environmentalists marked one in the win column this state budget cycle. A plastic bag ban signed into law and they aren’t slowing down on pushing an earth-friendly legislative agenda. The state budget moved to ban single-use plastic bags, but for some environmental groups, that should just be the beginning in tackling plastic waste. A ban on single-use plastic bags does... more

Facilitator proposed for Ontario post-landfill closure plan

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Facilitator proposed for Ontario post-landfill closure plan
Ten years may seem like plenty of time to plan for the closure of the Ontario County Landfill, but few would disagree that time flies — and Carla Jordan and others are advocating for a “sense of urgency” to start the planning process now. Jordan is the county’s new Director of the new Department of Sustainability & Solid Waste Management.... more

Anti-incinerator bill has yet to reach governor’s desk

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Anti-incinerator bill has yet to reach governor’s desk
State Sen. Pam Helming said she has been assured that Gov. Andrew Cuomo will sign the Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act. He hasn’t yet, however. The bill would prohibit a trash-burning incinerator from being built on land at the former Seneca Army Depot in Romulus. “I recently met with the Governor’s Office regarding several issues and have been assured that... more

Village Board supports clean air, water amendment to state Constitution

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Village Board supports clean air, water amendment to state Constitution
The governing body of this Seneca County village believes state residents have a right to clean water, clean air and a healthful environment as much as they do free speech and assembly, and to host and play Bingo. The Village Board recently voted to support a proposed amendment to the state Constitution by adding this single sentence to the Bill... more

One ruling favors Romulus, the other incinerator sponsor

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One ruling favors Romulus, the other incinerator sponsor
Call it a split decision. In long-awaited rulings, State Supreme Court Judge Daniel Doyle decided both for and against the town of Romulus and Circular enerG, sponsor of a proposed trash-burning, electricity-generating incinerator on former Seneca Army Depot land. He ruled for the town in its move to dismiss a Circular enerG lawsuit on the grounds that the court lacks... more

Cayuga County Soil and Water stands behind digester operator after DEC citation

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Cayuga County Soil and Water stands behind digester operator after DEC citation
During the first Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District board meeting since the state Department of Environmental Conservation cited the Cayuga Regional Digester in March, the digester plant manager gave an update of the operation. “The facility is running well,” said Plant Manager John Stapleton Wednesday. “We’ve responded to (DEC’s) letter … and we’ll wait to hear back from... more

Beetles and silver flies rescuing hemlocks in Finger Lakes

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Beetles and silver flies rescuing hemlocks in Finger Lakes
Some 20 volunteers headed into the woods of High Tor last fall at the south end of Canandaigua Lake with a curious set of tools. Their mission, with “beat sheets” and ski poles: Scoping for evidence of a special beetle sent to combat the spread of an invasive insect killing hemlock trees. Lindsay McMillan, associate director with the Canandaigua Lake... more

Life beyond landfill: Ontario County looks beyond 2028

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Life beyond landfill: Ontario County looks beyond 2028
The operation and management lease of the Ontario County Landfill by Casella Waste Services is scheduled to end in 2028. But county officials want to start making plans for that day now. The Board of Supervisors Planning & Environmental Quality Committee voted 4-1 Monday to approve a motion calling for presentation of a draft strategic plan no later than Sept.... more
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