Board Member Clyde Ohl, The Syracuse Post-Standard Letter to the Editor
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recently held an informational meeting on the Allied-Honeywell initiative to move forward with its environmental remedies for Onondaga Lake.
Question: Does the community benefit in any way from the Allied-Honeywell initiative to store permanently Onondaga Lake-dredged materials containing mercury, PCBs and other chemicals in sediment containment areas in the town of Camillus?
It seemed evident from the meeting the basics of the project were firmly in place. It also seemed evident the most residents could hope for was some “tweaking” of the project. However, no major deviations would be considered.
The DEC officials did assure the audience they had studied alternatives before deciding to place the lake dredgings on an abandoned wastebed, but little credence would be given to any major changes.
In effect, the arrangement placed before the public was plan A, and no Plan B was possible. Frankly, only minimal benefit would ever be realized. True, environmental issues would be addressed to provide a “safe,” decades-long storage system. However, this final storage of the dredgings from Onondaga Lake promises to be the final legacy of Honeywell International, which merged with AlliedSignal, on the area.
We should remember the primary goal of Allied-Honeywell has been to get out of town as quickly as possible after the 1986 closing of its old production plant. However, it can do so only after providing DEC with solutions to the problems left over from the pre-1986 era. Although Allied-Honeywell has set aside hundreds of millions of dollars to alleviate environmental concerns surrounding the old plant, it is also driven by the desire to provide same to the DEC at the lowest cost possible...
To view the complete Post Standard article, visit the Post Standard site at: http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2010/02/final_legacy_of_allied_chemica.html
________________________________________________________
ONONDAGA LAKE PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCES 2010 MINI-GRANT PROGRAM
Syracuse, N.Y. – The Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP) is accepting proposals for the Spring 2010 Public Education and Outreach Mini-Grants Program. Applications from eligible organizations within the Onondaga Lake watershed must be postmarked by March 1, 2010. Award notification will be in May 2010.
The purpose of the program is to fund multiple locally-based projects designed to increase the knowledge and involvement of the public in Onondaga Lake and its watershed and strengthen the link between communities and the Partnership. Individual grants will be awarded in various amounts up to $5,000. Organizations eligible to apply include: Indian Nations or their designated organization, local government or public agencies, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations and associations.
Additional information about eligibility and application forms for the Onondaga Lake Partnership Mini-Grants program may be obtained on the OLP website, http://www.onlakepartners.org/public_projects_mini.htm, or by contacting Onondaga Environmental Institute at 315-472-2150 x10 or via e-mail at olpoutreach@oei2.org.
Funding for the Mini-Grants Program is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), an OLP member organization, through a grant to Onondaga Environmental Institute.
________________________________________________________
| Ways to revitalize Onondaga Creek during a canoe trip with Don Hughes |
________________________________________________________
PUBLIC COMMENT
Contact: Edward Michalenko, President, Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI)
(315)472.2150 ext 10 outreach@oei2.org
Syracuse – September 24, 2009 – The Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP), in concert with Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI), is pleased to announce that the Draft Onondaga Creek Conceptual Revitalization Plan (OCRP) is available for public review and comment and can be viewed by the public either online or in area libraries and neighborhood centers.
The document presents a conceptual plan for renewing Onondaga Creek and transforming its corridor into an attractive asset. The draft plan is the result of a three year effort by OEI working in collaboration with project partners and the Onondaga Creek Working Group and funded through the Onondaga Lake Partnership with grant monies from the USEPA.
The DRAFT OCRP is available online at www.onondagaenvironmentalinstitute.org and at the following libraries and centers throughout the Onondaga Creek Watershed: White Branch, Beauchamp, Central, Petit Branch and Betts Libraries in the City of Syracuse, LaFayette Library, Onondaga Free Library, Southwest Community Center, Northeast Community Center, and the Tully Library.
Continued public involvement is vital to the transformation and improvement of the Onondaga Creek Watershed. Neighboring creek residents, property owners and organizations and businesses located along the creek as well as anyone interested in the future of the creek and Onondaga Lake are encouraged to review the document and submit their written comments to: the Onondaga Environmental Institute through e-mail (outreach@oei2.org) or mail (ATTN: Meredith Perreault/Onondaga Environmental Institute/102 West Division Street, Third Floor/Syracuse, NY 13204).
Over the past three years OEI, with its project partners and the Onondaga Creek Working Group, held a series of public meetings and planning workshops to set goals and plan for a better future for Onondaga Creek. The Working Group, a diverse group of volunteers who live or work in the watershed, was instrumental in the development of the OCRP. Building on the community vision, the Working Group’s efforts became the heart of the OCRP.
Some of the many possible benefits of creek revitalization listed in the plan include: generating renewal in surrounding neighborhoods, creating recreation and education opportunities, providing access to nearby nature, linking diverse communities, fostering economic growth and development, promoting local pride, and restoring and protecting the natural environment.
The public comment period on the draft plan will end December 31, 2009. For more information about the Onondaga Creek Conceptual Revitalization Plan visit www.onondagaenvironmentalinstitute.org. To schedule a presentation of the findings within the OCRP or to request a copy of the plan on compact disk, please contact Meredith Perreault at the Onondaga Environmental Institute at (315)472.2150 ext 22 or email outreach@oei2.org.
###
_______________________________________________________________________
OEI facilitates celebration of World Water Monitoring Day
OEI facilitates celebration of World Water Monitoring Day (http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/) for middle school and high school students in the Onondaga Lake watershed. Schools in the City of Syracuse and near Onondaga Creek are given preference.
The lively annual event succeeds due to cooperation of several government agencies, organizations and the school system. Onondaga Lake Partnership (Hotlink) sponsorship enables the event to receive federal funding. Each year four or more environmental scientists generously give their skill and energy, with the support of their employing agencies and organizations. The core group of volunteers from the US Geological Survey, Upstate Freshwater Institute, Onondaga Environmental Institute, New York State Parks, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation bring their expertise and enthusiasm each year. The critically important United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) federal funding pays for water testing supplies, teacher supplies, administrative labor, and student transportation to and from the field site. The US Geological Survey supervises the use of their waders and life vests, which the students wear for the in-stream sampling exercise.
The one-day event can efficiently include five school classes. The classes rotate through a site on the streambank of Onondaga Creek where the scientists and equipment are stationed. In 2009, five schools sent classes, and a total of 95 students participated.
US Geological Survey scientists lead students through an exercise of in-stream water quality testing for temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and acidity (pH). On shore, other scientists provide interactive presentations of fish and macroinvertebrates (with both live and fixed specimens), teaching small groups of students about key concepts of habitat, food chains, and other aspects of stream ecology. The classroom teachers circulate, observe, and take away a box of supplies to expand on the lessons provided at the event.
Students have the rare opportunity to meet full time practicing environmental scientists whose depth of knowledge is ready for their questions. The program stimulates students to be better citizens regarding protection of water quality and learn more about the parameters of water quality. The one-day event provides an intense and compact experience. As one teacher noted, “The students will talk about it for weeks.”
_______________________________________________________________________