The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation announced Tuesday that it had come to an agreement on the Phosphorus discharge limits for the Groton Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
After many years of debate, The DEC has finally come up with a reasonable approach to the ongoing problems with phosphorus discharges to the Owasco Inlet from the Town of Groton STP. The new permit will eventually limit the amount of phosphorus the plant can discharge into the Owasco Inlet to .5 milligrams per liter, or approximately two pounds per day. This is the level that OWLA has been lobbying for several years. Higher phosphorus levels have been associated with increased weed growth and algae blooms in the lake. Groton will be required to meet the new limits in 14 months; June, 2010.
The Auburn Citizen had a nice article outlining the final terms of the agreement and OWLA's position on the announcement. Our President ; Joe Wasileski was quoted as follows: "....... the organization is pretty happy about these regulations after eight years of fighting. Every pound of phosphorus can lead to 500 pounds of weeds in the lake, he said.“(Two pounds per day) is a big start,” Wasileski said. “This whole thing has just been dragging on so long.”
Read the entire article at this Link:
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2009/03/04/local_news/news02.txt
Showing posts with label Groton STP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Groton STP. Show all posts
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Saturday, August 16, 2008
DEC recieves 270 comment letters on Groton STP
The Syracuse Post-Standard is reporting this morning that the DEC has recieved 270 comment letters on the draft SPEDES permit for the Groton sewage treatment plant (STP). OWLA had launched a letter writing campaign to get people to comment on the draft permit that was issued for public comment in early July.
Thanks to all our volunteers who helped make the public aware of this important issue. Thanks also to our local government officials who weighed in for protecting Owasco Inlet and Owasco Lake.
Groton has responded with its own comments, asking for a lessening limits for phosphorous on its discharge to Owasco Inlet.
So now the DEC must consider all the comments and prepare a final permit which will drive the effectiveness of Groton's new STP upgrade design. Stay tuned.....................................
link to Post-Standard article:
http://www.syracuse.com/cayuga/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1218876932327640.xml&coll=1
Thanks to all our volunteers who helped make the public aware of this important issue. Thanks also to our local government officials who weighed in for protecting Owasco Inlet and Owasco Lake.
Groton has responded with its own comments, asking for a lessening limits for phosphorous on its discharge to Owasco Inlet.
So now the DEC must consider all the comments and prepare a final permit which will drive the effectiveness of Groton's new STP upgrade design. Stay tuned.....................................
link to Post-Standard article:
http://www.syracuse.com/cayuga/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1218876932327640.xml&coll=1
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Town of Groton complains to DEC about new permit limits
The Auburn Citizen reported today that the Town of Groton has written a letter of protest to the DEC complaining about the new phosphourus discharge limits that will be required under their new SPEDES permit. The permit issues the guidelines and limits for discharging sewage effluent into the Owasco Inlet which empties into Owasco Lake.
Folks, I can't believe that The Town of Groton, who has only contributed to an old problem by adding the fish farm to its STP input, does not want to minimize the damaging effluent it puts into the stream that flows through its own town. I wonder what the citizens of Groton think?
What do you think? (Feel free to post your comments here)
Stay tuned for more on this one, its not over yet..............................
link to Citizen article:
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2008/08/14/latest_news/latestnews01.txt
Folks, I can't believe that The Town of Groton, who has only contributed to an old problem by adding the fish farm to its STP input, does not want to minimize the damaging effluent it puts into the stream that flows through its own town. I wonder what the citizens of Groton think?
What do you think? (Feel free to post your comments here)
Stay tuned for more on this one, its not over yet..............................
link to Citizen article:
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2008/08/14/latest_news/latestnews01.txt
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Please write today!
Folks - don't forget our earlier postings concerning writing a personal response to the DEC concerning the Groton STP permit application.
Your comments are desired and encouraged. Also see our past links to various represenatatives. Its pretty easy to do on-line!
Thanks for your suppport!
Lakeman
Your comments are desired and encouraged. Also see our past links to various represenatatives. Its pretty easy to do on-line!
Thanks for your suppport!
Lakeman
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Write to our elected officials with your comments on Groton!
Please write our elected officials by August 8th!
To Write To The Governor:
Governor David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
To Email The Governor:Click here to email the Governor.
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS.
Responses may be sent via the U.S. Mail.
Contact our Senators on-line at:
Chuck Schumer:
http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/contact/webform.cfm
Hillary Rodham Clinton:
http://www.senate.gov/~clinton/contact/webform.cfm?subj=issue
or by mail/phone:
Senator Chuck Schumer
100 South Clinton Street, Room 841
Syracuse, NY 13261-7318
Phone: 315-423-5471Fax: 315-423-5185
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
James M. Hanley Federal Building
100 South Clinton Street
P.O. Box 7378
Syracuse, NY 13261-7378
Phone: (315) 448-0470 Fax: (315) 448-0476
Please write today!
link to draft Groton SPEDES permit:http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/44965.html
Groton STP background document:http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/grotonfactsht.pdf
Syracuse.com article:http://www.syracuse.com/cayuga/index.ssf?/base/news-13/121576669090760.xml&coll=1
Posted by Lakeman at 8:06 PM 0 comments
Labels: DEC, Groton, Owasco Inlet, owasco lake, STP
To Write To The Governor:
Governor David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
To Email The Governor:Click here to email the Governor.
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS.
Responses may be sent via the U.S. Mail.
Contact our Senators on-line at:
Chuck Schumer:
http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/contact/webform.cfm
Hillary Rodham Clinton:
http://www.senate.gov/~clinton/contact/webform.cfm?subj=issue
or by mail/phone:
Senator Chuck Schumer
100 South Clinton Street, Room 841
Syracuse, NY 13261-7318
Phone: 315-423-5471Fax: 315-423-5185
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
James M. Hanley Federal Building
100 South Clinton Street
P.O. Box 7378
Syracuse, NY 13261-7378
Phone: (315) 448-0470 Fax: (315) 448-0476
Please write today!
link to draft Groton SPEDES permit:http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/44965.html
Groton STP background document:http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/grotonfactsht.pdf
Syracuse.com article:http://www.syracuse.com/cayuga/index.ssf?/base/news-13/121576669090760.xml&coll=1
Posted by Lakeman at 8:06 PM 0 comments
Labels: DEC, Groton, Owasco Inlet, owasco lake, STP
From the OWLA President - Groton STP response
On behalf of the members of OWLA (Owasco Watershed Lake Association), and all citizens who cherish Owasco Lake as a resource, WE NEED YOUR HELP. We are extremely disappointed and upset by the latest position taken by the NYSDEC. They informed us, (via a press release) prior to the recent Owasco Lake Forum at Emerson Park, that they had reduced the phosphorus limit in Groton’s SPDES permit to 2 pounds per day. A couple of days later, when the permit was made public, we learned that the limit would remain at 4 pounds per day for the next four years. Their position is totally irresponsible, irrational, and unacceptable. Essentially it is a slap in the face.
Weeds and algae are growing in Owasco Lake at an explosive rate. This unprecedented deterioration is unequivocal. Take a look for yourself! The amounts of phosphorus that continue to be discharged into the Lake, and that are accumulating, are destroying the entire ecosystem. Numerous groups and individuals have been pleading for a reduction of this irresponsible discharge, but to no avail. This beautiful lake indeed, is in serious trouble, and the NYSDEC continues to adversely affect the situation. They must be held accountable and responsible. This condition is absolutely at a critical phase.
Action must be taken immediately. The reduction of phosphorous is not only possible, Groton has proven it can be done. In September 2006, under orders from NYSDEC, tests to reduce the amount of phosphorous entering the Owasco Inlet were performed at the Groton Treatment Plant. The discharged phosphorous level was reduced to under 2 pounds per day. This low level was maintained for the rest of 2006 and first half of 2007, but began increasing when no draft permit was forthcoming as promised. For at least the last year, the discharge level has averaged over 4.2 pounds per day due to lack of an agreement and enforcement!
The SPDES permit, which the NYSDEC now proposes, would allow a discharge of 4 pounds per day for the next 2 ½ years, and then over 3 pounds per day until 2012!! This is unacceptable. This irresponsibility must stop now. Immediate action must be taken.
Please visit the OWLA News blog at http://www.owlanews.blogspot.com/ and join our letter campaign to Governor Patterson and our Senators Schumer and Clinton et al.
Please write a personal response letter by August 8th to the DEC:
John H. Merriman, Jr.
NYSDEC Region 7, Cortland SUB-OFFICE, 1285 Fisher Ave., Cortland NY 13045.
You must include these four Identification fields in your response:
*Applicant’s name: Village of Groton
*Applicants ID number: 7-5028-00005/00001
*Location: Groton, Tompkins County
*Reason for specific objection:
Please ask the NYSDEC to:
#1 Reduce the amount of phosphorus that is discharged from the Groton sewage treatment Plant immediately to under 2 pounds per day, or better yet, what the latest technology can achieve.
#2 Please request them to not phase in this reduction for 4 years until 2012 as the NYSDEC requests, but impose this reduction immediately. (Four pounds of phosphates per day will grow 2000 pounds of weeds per day, every day for the next 4 years, adding 2.92 million pounds of new weed growth on top of the current crisis.)
#3 Form a Citizens Advisory Council to advise and monitor this entire process.
Please write your letter today and e-mail me a copy on our news blog at owlanews@gmail.com
Thank you,
Joe Wasileski
President OWLA
Weeds and algae are growing in Owasco Lake at an explosive rate. This unprecedented deterioration is unequivocal. Take a look for yourself! The amounts of phosphorus that continue to be discharged into the Lake, and that are accumulating, are destroying the entire ecosystem. Numerous groups and individuals have been pleading for a reduction of this irresponsible discharge, but to no avail. This beautiful lake indeed, is in serious trouble, and the NYSDEC continues to adversely affect the situation. They must be held accountable and responsible. This condition is absolutely at a critical phase.
Action must be taken immediately. The reduction of phosphorous is not only possible, Groton has proven it can be done. In September 2006, under orders from NYSDEC, tests to reduce the amount of phosphorous entering the Owasco Inlet were performed at the Groton Treatment Plant. The discharged phosphorous level was reduced to under 2 pounds per day. This low level was maintained for the rest of 2006 and first half of 2007, but began increasing when no draft permit was forthcoming as promised. For at least the last year, the discharge level has averaged over 4.2 pounds per day due to lack of an agreement and enforcement!
The SPDES permit, which the NYSDEC now proposes, would allow a discharge of 4 pounds per day for the next 2 ½ years, and then over 3 pounds per day until 2012!! This is unacceptable. This irresponsibility must stop now. Immediate action must be taken.
Please visit the OWLA News blog at http://www.owlanews.blogspot.com/ and join our letter campaign to Governor Patterson and our Senators Schumer and Clinton et al.
Please write a personal response letter by August 8th to the DEC:
John H. Merriman, Jr.
NYSDEC Region 7, Cortland SUB-OFFICE, 1285 Fisher Ave., Cortland NY 13045.
You must include these four Identification fields in your response:
*Applicant’s name: Village of Groton
*Applicants ID number: 7-5028-00005/00001
*Location: Groton, Tompkins County
*Reason for specific objection:
Please ask the NYSDEC to:
#1 Reduce the amount of phosphorus that is discharged from the Groton sewage treatment Plant immediately to under 2 pounds per day, or better yet, what the latest technology can achieve.
#2 Please request them to not phase in this reduction for 4 years until 2012 as the NYSDEC requests, but impose this reduction immediately. (Four pounds of phosphates per day will grow 2000 pounds of weeds per day, every day for the next 4 years, adding 2.92 million pounds of new weed growth on top of the current crisis.)
#3 Form a Citizens Advisory Council to advise and monitor this entire process.
Please write your letter today and e-mail me a copy on our news blog at owlanews@gmail.com
Thank you,
Joe Wasileski
President OWLA
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Write to the DEC about Groton
from the Auburn Citizen 7/18/08
Write to the DEC about Groton
By Guy Cosentino
Friday, July 18, 2008 11:47 PM EDT
The revelation disclosed late last week by state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, that the new regulations being proposed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation would string out the reduction of the discharge of phosphorus from the Groton sewage treatment plant should be no surprise.
Possibly to avoid listening to a public outcry at the First Annual Owasco Lake Day earlier this month, the DEC publicly said they were going to propose regulations to reduce the discharge of phosphorus from four pounds a day to two at Groton. This was after more than a year of waiting for the DEC to act after it was clear that the long term health of Owasco Lake was in free fall.
So to avoid logical and rightful questions on their failure to act, they announced without details (they would, of course, come out after the Emerson Park event) about what the specifics of the new regulations would be. As suggested in this column on July 4, local residents needed to be concerned about what was being proposed and be vigilant to the point of action on what would be proposed.
Last week we all found out from Nozzolio that the DEC's regulations are for a more gradual reduction in the phosphorus discharge from Groton. In the end it will be another four years before the levels first suggested on June 27 will come to pass (that is if the DEC approves what they are proposing and don't weaken their already loose standards because of protests from Groton).
None of us should be surprised by this failure of the DEC to act in the public's interest. The DEC has a record of double standards and erratic behavior.Remember when the city of Auburn was kept to a higher standard, being required to have double lined landfills, which raised the costs of building a landfill compared to the private venture in Seneca County? It wasn't an issue of favoring one over the other; it was about the need for consistency. How about when DEC swooped into NUCOR, then known as Auburn Steel, when a small amount of radioactive material failed to set off working sensors and the company seemed to be treated publicly like a criminal in the mid-1990s?
So with this all in mind, using the mantra that “if it is to be it is up to me,” everyone who drinks out of Owasco Lake needs to write to: John H Merriman Jr., NYSDEC Region 7 Cortland SUB-OFFICE, 1285 Fisher Ave., Cortland, NY 13045, listing the project as the Village of Groton's application, number 7-5028-00005/00001 and write why greater reductions are needed by Aug. 8.
There is no better time than to get this done this weekend.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com
link to article:http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2008/07/19/opinion/guy_cosentino.txt
Write to the DEC about Groton
By Guy Cosentino
Friday, July 18, 2008 11:47 PM EDT
The revelation disclosed late last week by state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, that the new regulations being proposed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation would string out the reduction of the discharge of phosphorus from the Groton sewage treatment plant should be no surprise.
Possibly to avoid listening to a public outcry at the First Annual Owasco Lake Day earlier this month, the DEC publicly said they were going to propose regulations to reduce the discharge of phosphorus from four pounds a day to two at Groton. This was after more than a year of waiting for the DEC to act after it was clear that the long term health of Owasco Lake was in free fall.
So to avoid logical and rightful questions on their failure to act, they announced without details (they would, of course, come out after the Emerson Park event) about what the specifics of the new regulations would be. As suggested in this column on July 4, local residents needed to be concerned about what was being proposed and be vigilant to the point of action on what would be proposed.
Last week we all found out from Nozzolio that the DEC's regulations are for a more gradual reduction in the phosphorus discharge from Groton. In the end it will be another four years before the levels first suggested on June 27 will come to pass (that is if the DEC approves what they are proposing and don't weaken their already loose standards because of protests from Groton).
None of us should be surprised by this failure of the DEC to act in the public's interest. The DEC has a record of double standards and erratic behavior.Remember when the city of Auburn was kept to a higher standard, being required to have double lined landfills, which raised the costs of building a landfill compared to the private venture in Seneca County? It wasn't an issue of favoring one over the other; it was about the need for consistency. How about when DEC swooped into NUCOR, then known as Auburn Steel, when a small amount of radioactive material failed to set off working sensors and the company seemed to be treated publicly like a criminal in the mid-1990s?
So with this all in mind, using the mantra that “if it is to be it is up to me,” everyone who drinks out of Owasco Lake needs to write to: John H Merriman Jr., NYSDEC Region 7 Cortland SUB-OFFICE, 1285 Fisher Ave., Cortland, NY 13045, listing the project as the Village of Groton's application, number 7-5028-00005/00001 and write why greater reductions are needed by Aug. 8.
There is no better time than to get this done this weekend.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com
link to article:http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2008/07/19/opinion/guy_cosentino.txt
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Public Comment needed on Groton STP permit
Concerned citizens - we need your help!
Groton STP background document:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/grotonfactsht.pdf
Syracuse.com article:
http://www.syracuse.com/cayuga/index.ssf?/base/news-13/121576669090760.xml&coll=1
The DEC has issued the draft SPEDES permit for public comment. The DEC has now suggested a phase in of the two pound daily limit that would not end until 18 months after construction of the new sewage treatment plant (STP) is completed(scheduled for Summer 2010).
Folks, this issue has been on the table for over 5 years. We really should stand our ground on this issue and not allow"phasing" in the 2lb. limit. Testing has proven for all practical purposes that the Groton STP can do the 2 lbs. limit now if they want to. There are also other questions relating to the monitoring period and other effluent parameter limits in the permit.
While we are spending money to fix this treatment plant, let's all insist that we do it right. OWLA's board is working on a detailed formal response to all the issues we have identified as questionable. Stay tuned here for some talking points for your responses in the coming days. Please read more about the situation through the links below.
Public Comment Period:
Written comments on the proposed permit should be mailed no later than August 8, 2008. All comments should be addressed to:
John Merriman,
1285 Fisher Avenue
Cortland, NY 13045-1090
link to draft Groton SPEDES permit:
Groton STP background document:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/grotonfactsht.pdf
Syracuse.com article:
http://www.syracuse.com/cayuga/index.ssf?/base/news-13/121576669090760.xml&coll=1
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Finally, DEC lowers Groton STP discharge limit!
We couldn't have said it better, "OWLA recieves 20th Anniversary gift from the the state on friday" said the Syracuse Post-Standard in its Saturday morning edition.
Yes, it is true! After years of pressure by OWLA and local government agencies, the DEC has announced it will be limiting the phosphorus discgarge at the Groton sewage treatment plant to 2lbs. per day. This was half of the originally proposed DEC limit.
We want to give a big thank you to all the folks who have been involved in trying to wake up the DEC to push for tougher stands on water quality. State Senator Michael Nozzolio has been one of our biggest supporters on this issue. Locally, the Cayuga County WQMA, with the technical leadership of Bruce Natale, and Eileen O'Connor of the CC Health Dept., among many others.
Al Kozlowski, Dick Coalson, Charlie Greene, Paul Lattimore and Joe Wasileski, with support from other members, have poured literally hundreds of hours into this issue over the last four years. They did a great job researching this issue and bringing it to the forefront. A special thanks to Al for his leadership to the OWLA team during a long fight. Thanks guys!
This is just another example of the difference that can be made if people get involved in protecting our "Jewel", Owasco Lake.
Don't forget this Tuesday July 1st is Owasco Lake Day! Come out and celebrate with us at Emerson Park from 5-7pm.
Yes, it is true! After years of pressure by OWLA and local government agencies, the DEC has announced it will be limiting the phosphorus discgarge at the Groton sewage treatment plant to 2lbs. per day. This was half of the originally proposed DEC limit.
We want to give a big thank you to all the folks who have been involved in trying to wake up the DEC to push for tougher stands on water quality. State Senator Michael Nozzolio has been one of our biggest supporters on this issue. Locally, the Cayuga County WQMA, with the technical leadership of Bruce Natale, and Eileen O'Connor of the CC Health Dept., among many others.
Al Kozlowski, Dick Coalson, Charlie Greene, Paul Lattimore and Joe Wasileski, with support from other members, have poured literally hundreds of hours into this issue over the last four years. They did a great job researching this issue and bringing it to the forefront. A special thanks to Al for his leadership to the OWLA team during a long fight. Thanks guys!
This is just another example of the difference that can be made if people get involved in protecting our "Jewel", Owasco Lake.
Don't forget this Tuesday July 1st is Owasco Lake Day! Come out and celebrate with us at Emerson Park from 5-7pm.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Report on Groton STP due out soon!
The Syracuse Post-Standard is reporting this morning that the DEC has stated that the draft permit for the Groton Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) should be done in late June or early July. The long awaited draft permit announcemnet will commence a 30 day public comment period. The Groton STP has been identified as a major contributor to high phosphorous counts in the Owasco Inlet and Owasco Lake.
OWLA, local officials and State Senator Mike Nozzolio have been pushing the NYSDEC for over a year to enact a more stringent phosphorus limit on the Groton STP. OWLA is urging the NYSDEC to enact a 2 lb. per day limit on phosphorous in the effluent dumped from the STP into Owasco Inlet.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Groton STP situation!
Link to article:
http://www.syracuse.com/cayuga/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1213433863123231.xml&coll=1
OWLA, local officials and State Senator Mike Nozzolio have been pushing the NYSDEC for over a year to enact a more stringent phosphorus limit on the Groton STP. OWLA is urging the NYSDEC to enact a 2 lb. per day limit on phosphorous in the effluent dumped from the STP into Owasco Inlet.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Groton STP situation!
Link to article:
http://www.syracuse.com/cayuga/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1213433863123231.xml&coll=1
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