DEC says Seneca Lake petroleum spill cleanup is finished: Questions still unanswered about who owns property
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the cleanup of the petroleum-based liquid that spilled into the north end of Seneca Lake on March 4 has been completed. The DEC's Region 8 office in ... more
As cyanotoxins soar in Owasco Lake threatening tap water, Cayuga County ends support for monitoring
Even after cyanotoxins surged again last year in Owasco Lake, the Cayuga County Legislature voted this week to cut off funding for a longstanding program that monitors water quality in the lake that supplies drinking ... more
Geneva Foundry cleanup enters final stages
The cleanup of contaminated properties surrounding the former Geneva Foundry on Jackson Street has entered its seventh and final year, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. David Chiusano, project manager for the DEC's ... more
DEC confirms bird flu at Tompkins County game farm
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has confirmed an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus affecting the Reynolds Game Farm pheasant population. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary ... more
EPA soot proposal not enough, NY environmentalists say
A New York environmental group feels the Environmental Protection Agency's latest regulations on soot in the air do not go far enough. The new regulations would reduce fine particulate matter from 12 micrograms per cubic ... more
DEC investigating possible bird flu outbreak at Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca
The DEC is investigating a possible outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus, commonly known as Bird Flu, at Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca. The outbreak is said to be affecting the pheasant population ... more
Protests planned at major banks that remain heavily invested in fossil fuel industry: Why?
New York environmentalists are protesting banks heavily invested in the fossil fuel industry as part of a national day of action Tuesday. Led by the group Third Act, protests across the U.S. will consist of ... more
Former Dryden landfill could become solar array
A closed landfill in the Town of Dryden, New York, may soon serve as a renewable energy source for local homes and businesses. Tompkins County and NYSERDA, the state's energy development agency, have reached a ... more
DEC releases draft solid waste management plan: Recommendations focus on ‘circulator economy’ to promote reuse, prevent landfilling
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released a draft of the New York State Solid Waste Management Plan for a 60-day public comment period. The plan, titled "Building the Circular Economy ... more
NYS releases 2022 bear hunting data
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released the numbers for the 2022 bear hunting season. According to DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos, an estimated 1,318 black bears were harvested during the season. While ... more
EPA proposes lower PFAS contaminant levels, advocates urge New York to follow suit
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed on Monday to set measurable contaminant levels of four parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, two types of PFAS, with a health-based goal of zero, stating that ... more
PFOS found in most Seneca Lake fish at hundreds of times NYS limit
When the state tested 34 lake trout and yellow perch from Seneca Lake for the toxic ‘forever chemical’ PFOS in 2020, most were found to be contaminated at hundreds of times the state’s enforceable limit for identical ... more
Geneva considers new recycling, disposal options for post-landfill future
Geneva officials are considering a new recycling and disposal station to be built behind the Town Hall, spanning over 10 acres of land, in preparation for the expected closure of the Ontario County landfill in ... more
What are the benefits of electric vehicles?
The United States' transportation sector is undergoing a major shift towards sustainable energy and electric vehicles to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Incentives have been updated to encourage domestic production ... more
Miles-long fuel spill on Rt. 34 in Cayuga County contained: DEC says no streams or creeks impacted
State officials have reported that a miles-long fuel spill along Route 34 in Cayuga County has been contained to the roadway and did not affect any nearby streams or creeks. The spill was caused by ... more
Seneca Energy II comment period extended into April by DEC
The deadline for submitting written comments on the draft permit for the expansion of the Seneca Energy II landfill gas-to-energy plant on Route 414 has been extended from March 31 to April 17. The announcement ... more
Yates County to receive $237,000+ to protect Seneca Lake
The Yates County Soil and Water Conservation District has been granted funding to construct a salt storage facility in the town of Starkey. The facility will cover an exposed salt pile, providing a safeguard against ... more
Two local water projects part of major state funding
Governor Kathy Hochul announced this week that 86 water quality protection projects across New York State will receive $110 million in grants. Among the recipients are two local projects aimed at protecting water quality in ... more
Statewide ban on brush burning gets underway soon
As temperatures begin to rise and snow starts to melt, New York state officials are reminding the public that a statewide ban on burning brush will go into effect next week. The annual ban, which ... more
