The state agency in charge of monitoring pollution hasn’t been monitoring pollution in violation of the federal Clean Water Act, an advocacy group charged today.
Environmental Advocates said its review of state records found that the Department of Environmental Conservation “is failing to adequately review the permits and the performance of over 90 percent of the facilities that discharge water pollution to the stateâ€™s lakes, streams, and drinking water supplies.” The facilties include sewage treatment plants, chemical plants, and heavy industrial facilities, ranging from small plants to Eastman Kodak’s operationÂ in Rochester.Â
Report authorÂ Tim SweeneyÂ identified 1,150 facilities that haven’t been reviewed in more than a decade.
Among the examples cited around the state are the Rensselaer County Sewer District #1 in North Greenbush and GE Silicones in Waterford, both of whichÂ last had a technical review in 1992.
You can read the report, entitled “Muddying the Waters: the Unknown Consequences of New Yorkâ€™s Failed Water Pollution Permitting Program,”Â here.