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Algae blooms putting the state's drinking water at risk
Environmentalists say the state has not done enough to prevent the algae blooms now found in several upstate lakes, and they say that is putting drinking water at risk. Toxics Targeting Inc. has created a database of the instances of blue-green algae, including in Skaneateles and Owasco Lakes. The blooms create neurotoxins that can be hazardous to people, and so additional testing and restrictions are put in place once they are found. But my next guests say New Yorkers should still be on alert. Walter Hang, the president of Toxics Targeting, and Auburn City Councilor Terry Cuddy, explain.
Harmful algae in Albany reservoir, Firm says it is statewide problem
WESTERLO -- Environmental database company Toxics Targeting is blaming a statewide problem with toxic algae on the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Harmful algal blooms are affecting an increasing number of water sources in New York.
That includes the Basic Creek Reservoir in Westerlo. It is an alternative source of the Albany's drinking water.
The algae lets off toxins that can cause Vomiting, Diarrhea, and Blistering
"These are neurotoxins, they're very toxic even at extraordinarily low levels," said Walter Hang, Toxics Targeting.
The good news for Albany, is the city is only drawing water from its main source, the Alcove Reservoir. Albany Water Commissioner Joe Coffey says Albany's water is safe to drink. Coffey says the city only draws from Basic Creek Reservoir when water levels are lower, but it has been a very wet year.
Not all cities can say the same. Syracuse, Rochester, and Auburn are dealing with problems in their water sources because of harmful algae. Toxics Targeting is blaming the DEC for a statewide problem.
"A total lack of enforcement and now we are seeing drinking water contamination on a level that's unprecedented in our state's history," said Hang.
Harmful algal blooms form in warm weather from too much phosphorus or other nutrients. That can be from fertilizer runoff or other dumping.
DEC says Algal blooms are hard to treat. If a situation gets too bad, carbon filtering is the preferred method.
The plan now for Basic Creek Reservoir is to let the algae die off with cold weather.
"Weather patterns are promoting these blooms right now, and we don't expect it to dissipate until I gets cooler or some weather patterns change," said Dr. Jacqueline Lendrum, DEC Division of Water,
We asked the DEC if this burst of blooms is from a lack of enforcing clean water laws.
"We are always enforcing our laws, we have environmental conservation officers, we have water engineers out and we're looking at the threats and problems in these water bodies," said Sean Mahar, DEC Press Office.
Coffey says there have been blooms before in Basic Creek Reservoir. He says it's much smaller than Alcove and much more nutrient rich.
Coffey says the 13 billion gallons of water in Alcove is of high quality.
Square One For NG Advantage: Company Resubmitting All Permits For Fenton Site
TOWN OF FENTON, NY -
Vermont-based NG Advantage must re-apply for all permits and applications as it looks for approval to build a fueling station for trucks transporting compressed natural gas.
"It appears as though NG will be starting the process over again," said Town of Fenton Engineer Richard Armstrong
Armstrong told Fox 40 News Friday the company has submitted a new draft schedule to begin the review process beginning at the end of September.
"Anything submitted in the past must be resubmitted," said Armstrong.
This includes a DEC stormwater construction general permit, which was not contested in court petitions against the project as well as an Aquifer Permit that was submitted by NG on Thursday morning, according to Town Supervisor, Dave Hamlin.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, "they [Fenton] have the primary authority over the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPP)." The proposed facility applied for and obtained the required DEC stormwater construction general permit, "which does not require a public review process," due to its status as an MS4.
While Fenton is authorized to review and grant the permit, the permit itself states construction "cannot commence" until the project meets standards under New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).
On August 28, a Broome County Supreme Court judge found the Town of Fenton Planning Board made several missteps in the approval process, saying the board did not take a hard look at environmental and traffic issues.
"As we have said since the decision, NG Advantage will continue to seek approval to finish construction of the Fenton Operations Center. This project is safe, clean and good for the Southern Tier economy, and we're confident it meets all necessary conditions to be properly permitted by the town," said NG Advantage Spokesman, Morgan Hook.
Opponents of the project say the state permit must be formally be rescinded.
The Lawyer representing a group of Fenton residents, Claudia Braymer says she is speaking with her clients about challenging the permit issued by the DEC.
"This permit should no longer be valid since it was issued pursuant to the Town of Fenton Planning Board's prior, inadequate environmental review, which has now been annulled by the Court as insufficient," said Braymer.
"They received a critical state approval based on a Town review that a court has deemed to be completely inadequate and improper and that's why Governor Cuomo now has the responsibility to revoke the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit," said Walter Hang, Environmental Analyst.
NG Advantage has said it has already invested more than $23 million on the project and now must reinvest in obtaining all of the new permits. The next Town of Fenton Planning Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m.
You can view the Stormwater Permit below:
Opponents of Town of Fenton natural gas compressor ramp up efforts
PORT DICKINSON, N.Y. - Opponents of the Fenton natural gas compressor and trucking terminal are ramping up their efforts to stop the project.
Over 70 people came out to a meeting held by Fenton RAC (Residents Against Compressor).
The facility is being constructed along West Service Road in Hillcrest, but work was forced to halt after Fenton RAC and the Chenango Valley School District filed an Article 78 lawsuit against the Town of Fenton and the operators of the facility, NG Advantage.
The company plans to tap gas from the Millennium Pipeline which will be compressed into trucks and transported across the state.
On Monday night, the group heard from Walter Hang, President of the Ithaca-based environmental firm Toxics Targeting.
He says in order to fight the project, residents need to organize, raise money and lobby the Governor.
Hang encouraged attendees to phone bank the Governor and gather more residents to support their cause.
Fenton RAC founding member and Town of Fenton resident Adrienne Irons says they're worried about traffic and the station's proximity to nearby schools and churches.
"We're concerned because they're calling for between 100 and 150 trucks per day. We already have a small intersection that is already very clogged. We're just concerned about traffic and potential accidents," said Irons.
While some residents are fighting the station, NG Advantage has earned the endorsement of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce.
In a statement Tuesday, State Senator Fred Akshar says he supports natural gas expansion, but suggested that NG consider another location.
On Wednesday afternoon, a Supreme Court Judge will rule on the Article 78, and according to Fenton RAC, the suit contains language to allow the judge to put an end to the project completely.
For more information, or to donate to the group, log on to NoFentonCompressor.com.