Long-standing landfill air pollution dispute heads to federal appeals court
Should state and federal regulators consider the Ontario County Landfill to be one or two separate entities for purposes of air-pollution permits? That question was raised eight years ago — and it’s still winding its ... more
DEC cites Ontario County Landfill for permit violations
As reported first in the Finger Lakes Times last week, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has cited Casella Waste Systems for two violations of its permit at the Ontario County Landfill. Casella has operated ... more
More details revealed in Nature Conservancy’s $1.5 million Owasco Lake project
The Nature Conservancy plans to acquire or restore over $1.2 million worth of land in the Owasco Lake watershed to protect water quality, part of an approximately $1.5 million project that relies heavily on state ... more
With the death of fracking, can renewables fill New York’s energy gap?
It began with an irresistible promise backed by millions in cash. After paying Southern Tier farmers $110 million for mineral rights to their land, prospectors from XTO Energy drove large stakes into fallow fields and ... more
DEC says cold water is cause of fish kill in Barge Canal
The state Department of Environmental Conservation is blaming the unseasonably cold weather for a fish kill in the portion of the Barge Canal that runs through this Wayne County village. DEC biologists have documented a ... more
Lake Ontario shoreline homeowners left with big mess after die-off
Thousands of dead fish are washing up on the shores of Irondequoit Bay, particularly on the Webster side. It's not unusual this time of year, but some residents say it's the worst they've seen in ... more
Condos coming to Lake Tunnel Solar Village
Ground hasn’t been broken for the Lake Tunnel Solar Village project near downtown, but it’s already taking on a new look. The solar-powered housing development, which is planned by Geneva-based SmallGrid, will now feature four, ... more
Prescribed burn coming to Finger Lakes National Forest
Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) officials announced today that they, in partnership with local fire departments and land management agencies are planning to use prescribed fire to treat approximately 200 to 600 acres of the ... more
DEC’s Great Lakes Program wants to hear from people in Sterling, Wolcott Creek watersheds
The state Department of Environmental Conservation's Great Lakes Program is looking for ways to manage the ecosystem in Sterling and Wolcott Creek sub watersheds located in Wayne, Cayuga and a small portion of western Oswego ... more
Power of the sun: Community solar is a resource that Tompkins County has largely embraced
Here in Tompkins County, located in NYSEG’s load zone C, community solar has found a home. And another home. And another. Community solar projects, and solar for private production as well, has been popping up ... more
Committee to get Ontario County solid waste plan implementation update
The master plan for the future of the Ontario County Landfill should be made public by June. The county Board of Supervisors’ Planning and Environmental Quality Committee will get an update on implementation of the ... more
Algae-fighting buoys may be too costly for Owasco Lake
A $1.2 million proposal to scatter about 30 ultrasonic buoys at the northern end of Owasco Lake to combat harmful algae may be too costly to implement, at least for now, local officials said Thursday ... more
State lawmakers propose legislation to halt Romulus incinerator
The goal is to stop a waste-to-energy incinerator project from moving forward. Senator Pam Helming, Senator Tom O’Mara, Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano have introduced legislation that would block the Circular ... more
EPA taking action to address lead contamination at Ithaca Falls
The City of Ithaca announced the United States Environmental Protection Agency is taking action to address elevated levels of lead contamination detected in soil in the Ithaca Falls Gorge Trail area below the former Ithaca ... more
Seneca County Board of Health opposes Romulus trash incinerator
dd another incinerator foe to the growing list. The Seneca County Board of Health has joined a growing list of local groups opposing the $356 million incinerator, proposed for a 48-acre parcel on the former ... more
IJC responded to Gov. Cuomo’s fears about Lake Ontario flooding
The agency that monitors Lake Ontario's water level is responding to calls from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo asked the International Joint Commission (IJC) to release as much water as possible to prevent flooding ... more
Owasco Lake watershed’s management plan could be complete by July 2019
The Owasco Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan has hit a couple of milestones this year, paving the way to its first round of public feedback set for this fall. A 9E Plan outlines ways to ... more
Public hearing focuses on eminent domain & Ludovico Trail (full video)
The long-anticipated Public Hearing on Eminent Domain was finally held on Tuesday — setting the stage for a decision on the sewer line that would go down the Ludovico Sculpture Trail — if adopted by ... more
Marren to Casella officials: Be ‘honest’ with supervisors’ committee
Ontario County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Marren lectured Casella Waste Services officials Monday, telling them to be “forthright and honest” in dealing with the Planning & Environmental Quality Committee about the county landfill. Marren’s ... more
Could sound waves keep harmful algal blooms from Owasco Lake?
They've worked in a New Jersey reservoir and a lake larger than Owasco Lake in Malaysia — ultra sonic buoys that keep harmful algal blooms at bay. Could it work in Owasco? A Netherlands company ... more
Seneca Falls hydro plant owners invest in upgrades
The Cayuga-Seneca Canal divides this town, literally. There are the Ovid Street, Veterans and Bridge Street bridges (aka as the George Bailey bridge) for people and drivers to get from one side of town to ... more
