Issues
Seneca Meadows Landfill
Seneca Lake Guardian is working diligently to help close the Seneca Meadows Landfill (SMI) by 2025.
Bitcoin Mining
Greenidge is an old coal power plant with an already bad environmental history. Once mothballed, it was converted to a gas fired plant for use as a “peaker plant”- to only be used when excess energy was needed by the public, and not run continually. Now, its out of state owners at Atlas Holdings want to expand operations for a privately owned bitcoin operation which would consume enough power to fuel 93,000 homes. That’s bigger than 2 of Amazon’s immense data centers. This facility threatens the health of our air, our water, and the Finger Lakes’ thriving agricultural and tourism-driven economy.
PFAS
Poly-FluoroAlkyl Substances
What Are PFAS? PFAS are commonly called “forever chemicals” that have been discovered in nearly every human’s blood and have a number of negative health impacts. Seneca Lake Guardian has worked with other organizations to push for a lower acceptable limit of PFAS contamination in water by the state, worked on getting more PFAS testing within our community, better informing the public on PFAS contamination, remediation/ cleanup of these contaminants in our water.
Coal Ash Landfills
The Greenidge Facility has a toxic legacy from its predecessor, which was a coal fired power plant. Cleaning up and closing the coal ash landfill and coal ash pond is vital to the health of Seneca Lake and the health of those who drink, cook with, bather, or recreate in Seneca Lake waters. Seneca Lake Guardian is working with other groups to ensure that this is cleaned up and closed safely.
CAFOs
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
A controversial 10-million-gallon manure lagoon that state officials had recently ruled to be in violation of state regulations is being constructed in Cayuga County. Manure is high in phosphorous and nitrogen, nutrients that are suspected fuels for HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms).
Harmful Algal Blooms
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are an increasing concern in the Finger Lakes. A cyanobacteria caused by adequate nutrient (e.g., phosphorus) loading, warm temperatures, microplastics, and calm winds, can multiply rapidly and form blooms that are visible on the surface of the affected waterbody. Several types of cyanobacteria can produce toxins and other harmful compounds that can pose health risks to people and animals through ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation. While other environmental organizations have been diligent in their reporting and research on HABs, Seneca Lake Guardian believes in taking a more active role in the prevention and reduction of future blooms by way of regulations and enforcement. SLG is working closely with key decision makers and other environmental organizations toward this effort.