The village of Aurora is taking action to prevent what it believes is an environmental threat to Cayuga Lake, despite a declaration from the state saying there is none.
In January, the village board unanimously passed to prevent Cargill from flooding an abandoned portion of the Cayuga Salt Mine that is located under the lake with wastewater. The Minnesota-based multinational food company, one of the largest in the U.S., has owned the Lansing mine since 1970. It sources 2 million tons of salt a year there.
Aurora joins several communities in Cayuga, Tompkins and Seneca counties in to Cargill's plan. It is part of the company's application to renew its Mined Land Reclamation Permit, which was reviewed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The department issued a negative declaration, finding minimal to no environmental impacts.
But the village, in its resolution, raised concerns that the flooding has the potential for groundwater pollution. The resolution noted that Cargill would be storing "not-fully-saturated brine," or saltwater solution, beneath the lake. That, along with the instability of the mine, "raises serious questions about the safety and environmental integrity of Cayuga Lake," the resolution said.
The resolution asks the DEC to deny Cargill's application or rescind the declaration, conduct a public hearing, and work to prevent pollution of the lake and ensure the long-term stability of the mine.聽
Aurora Mayor Jim Orman told 人兽性交 the village is acting in accordance with the concerns of the community. He added that the village has not been in communication with Cargill.聽
Cargill did not respond to requests by 人兽性交 for comment.
In a statement, the DEC told 人兽性交 it is reviewing those concerns, and the lake's water quality is a top priority. But the department also noted Cargill is required to report inflow and storage. Under its current permit, water is pumped to an underground pond, where it becomes fully saturated before being pumped through other parts of the mine, as is common practice for salt mines.
"The DEC has no information indicating Cargill is dumping wastewater into the lakes," it said.聽"Numerous studies over the past 30 years found no hydraulic connection between the mine and Cayuga Lake."
