The last week has been a heady one for advocates working to protect Owasco Lake. Friday's decision by the state Department of Environmental Conservation to propose regulations cutting phosphorus from the Groton Sewage Treatment from four to two pounds daily was great news. Couple that with the overwhelming attendance at Tuesday night's Owasco Lake Day, sponsored by the Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA) and state Sen. Michael Nozzolio (who brought $125,000 in state funds to expand education efforts) and lake advocates have a lot to be happy about.
Yet, Nozzolio may have said it best when he suggested that “I don't believe any of us should be inebriated by this success.” While he might have been talking about the progress that has been made in restoring Owasco Lake, hiring a watershed inspector and the DEC decision, there is much more to do, especially on the last issue.
It should be remembered that what the DEC released on Wednesday is a proposal, not the final rules that will be enforced. Over the next 30 days there is a comment period where the DEC will consider whether to implement what has been released, strengthen them or, and this is the worrisome part - weaken them.
For more than a year the DEC has delayed (some might suggest avoided) taking action on one of the biggest clearly identifiable pollutants to Owasco Lake, an under-equipped treatment plant in Groton, that processes waste water, with high levels of phosphorus, some sent to it by a giant fish farm that grows tilapia.
Science, whether or not the DEC has wanted to admit it, makes it clear that Groton has a very negative effect on Owasco Lake. While things have improved, Groton, along with several other identifiable sources, continues to pose a great threat to what was, until recently, rated as the worst in “water quality” of the Finger Lakes. Those who will have to comply with new regs are likely going to fight them - we need to keep advocating for tighter rules.
Much still needs to be done at the local level to make sure that what the DEC proposed will be the rules that it enforces.
So, with this being the 232nd anniversary of the birth of our independence, it might be best to remember that the fight for “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is ongoing. It does not end with a government agency telling us what we want to hear - it comes with us fighting to make sure the public's will is enforced.
Happy Fourth of July!
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com
It should be remembered that what the DEC released on Wednesday is a proposal, not the final rules that will be enforced. Over the next 30 days there is a comment period where the DEC will consider whether to implement what has been released, strengthen them or, and this is the worrisome part - weaken them.
For more than a year the DEC has delayed (some might suggest avoided) taking action on one of the biggest clearly identifiable pollutants to Owasco Lake, an under-equipped treatment plant in Groton, that processes waste water, with high levels of phosphorus, some sent to it by a giant fish farm that grows tilapia.
Science, whether or not the DEC has wanted to admit it, makes it clear that Groton has a very negative effect on Owasco Lake. While things have improved, Groton, along with several other identifiable sources, continues to pose a great threat to what was, until recently, rated as the worst in “water quality” of the Finger Lakes. Those who will have to comply with new regs are likely going to fight them - we need to keep advocating for tighter rules.
Much still needs to be done at the local level to make sure that what the DEC proposed will be the rules that it enforces.
So, with this being the 232nd anniversary of the birth of our independence, it might be best to remember that the fight for “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is ongoing. It does not end with a government agency telling us what we want to hear - it comes with us fighting to make sure the public's will is enforced.
Happy Fourth of July!
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com
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