Appellate Court Allows Challenge Against Permit Allowing Discharge of PFAS into Cayuga Lake

By Matt Dougherty | Ithaca.com | July 24, 2024

Read the full article by Matt Dougherty (Ithaca.com)

"On Thursday, July 18, a New York appellate court ruled in favor of allowing Seneca Lake Guardian (SLG) to challenge a controversial permit granted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). This permit, issued to the solid waste facility County Line, would permit liquid waste discharge containing dangerous "forever chemicals" known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) into Cayuga Lake.

PFAS are notorious for their persistence in the environment and their potential to cause severe health issues, including cancer and damage to the immune, reproductive, and nervous systems.

In October 2022, SLG sued the DEC for allowing County Line to discharge leachate containing PFAS into the Ithaca Area WasteWater Treatment Facility (IAWWTF). SLG accused the facility of discharging leachate into Cayuga Lake while lacking the equipment necessary to remove PFAS from the waste. Activists say this discharge poses a significant threat to community members who rely on Cayuga Lake for swimming, fishing, and drinking water."