Photo by Virginia State Parks. Creative Commons license Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0). https://www.flickr.com/photos/37922399@N05/52749816654. Image description: Closeup of a Scarlet Tanager, a bird with a bright red body and black wings and eyes, perched on a branch, with many crisscrossing gray branches and greenery blurring in the background.
Dear allies,
Two years ago, GCEDC’s first attempt at constructing a STAMP Wastewater Treatment Pipeline resulted in ‘frac outs’ that spilled 500-700 gallons of hydraulic drilling fluid into Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge wetlands. Now, using a different route and scaled down plans, GCEDC is trying again. This time, they want to send sanitary wastewater from future STAMP tenants to the Village of Oakfield Wastewater Treatment Facility, which discharges into the Oak Orchard River. Let’s take action today: Tell NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to protect this precious river and its watershed.
Currently, the Village of Oakfield is applying for a modified permit for their Wastewater Treatment Facility. The permit adds stricter standards to the facility’s operations, with the intention of improving the water quality being discharged. These modifications are critically important to protecting public health and the ecological health of the Oak Orchard watershed. The current process also illustrates what is at stake in any future review required by the proposed STAMP Wastewater Treatment Pipeline (WWTP), which DEC has sensibly chosen to segment from this SPDES modification process.
Wastewater discharged from the Village of Oakfield Facility flows into a tributary of the Oak Orchard River and ultimately into the River. Impacts to the River from STAMP wastewater will profoundly affect fragile and unique local ecologies, including those within the boundaries of local state and federally public protected lands such as the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Moreover, the Orleans County economy depends heavily on the well-being of the Oak Orchard watershed. Impacts to water quality could jeopardize the County’s $28 million dollar sportfishing industry and undermine opportunities for local hunting, fishing, and birding.
Let’s take action today. Tell DEC to approve the current permit modification and demand that they commit to creating multiple opportunities for public input on any future permitting or approvals related to the proposed STAMP WWTP, including but not limited to modification of the Oakfield WWTP SPDES permit to accept such flow. Members of the public in and around STAMP, the Oakfield WWTP, and the WWTP’s discharge pathway into Orleans County must be informed well in advance of any such DEC action.
Want to get more involved in the struggle to Rethink STAMP? Attend a campaign call on August 21 at 6:30pm on Zoom with Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. We will share updates, calls to action, and how you can support. There will be ample time for Q+A.
Missed the wonderful screening and panel discussion of our short doc Unheard Voices: The Fight for Tonawanda Seneca Nation’s Way of Life hosted by our friends at NY Renews? You can still check out the recording and the film, which is posted on our YouTube channel.
LINK TO RECORDING Passcode: w.0kFZ4G
LINK TO PRESENTATION SLIDES
LINK to our YouTube Channel
In solidarity,
Allies of TSN,
PS - Looking for additional ways to take action now?
Tell DEC & USACE: Protect the Nation's drinking water from STAMP!
Tell NYPA: No Low Cost Hydropower to STAMP!
Tell Gov Hochul & Senator Schumer: No new NYS funds or permits to STAMP
Assist Sierra Club in their role in the joint lawsuit with the Nation against the proposed Data Center at STAMP. Save the date for our court hearing in Batavia: October 16 at 10am.
Check out and share: “What Is Rethink STAMP?” A Two-Pager from Allies of TSN that provides background on STAMP and the history of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.
Two years ago, GCEDC’s first attempt at constructing a STAMP Wastewater Treatment Pipeline resulted in ‘frac outs’ that spilled 500-700 gallons of hydraulic drilling fluid into Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge wetlands. Now, using a different route and scaled down plans, GCEDC is trying again. This time, they want to send sanitary wastewater from future STAMP tenants to the Village of Oakfield Wastewater Treatment Facility, which discharges into the Oak Orchard River. Let’s take action today: Tell NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to protect this precious river and its watershed.
Currently, the Village of Oakfield is applying for a modified permit for their Wastewater Treatment Facility. The permit adds stricter standards to the facility’s operations, with the intention of improving the water quality being discharged. These modifications are critically important to protecting public health and the ecological health of the Oak Orchard watershed. The current process also illustrates what is at stake in any future review required by the proposed STAMP Wastewater Treatment Pipeline (WWTP), which DEC has sensibly chosen to segment from this SPDES modification process.
Wastewater discharged from the Village of Oakfield Facility flows into a tributary of the Oak Orchard River and ultimately into the River. Impacts to the River from STAMP wastewater will profoundly affect fragile and unique local ecologies, including those within the boundaries of local state and federally public protected lands such as the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Moreover, the Orleans County economy depends heavily on the well-being of the Oak Orchard watershed. Impacts to water quality could jeopardize the County’s $28 million dollar sportfishing industry and undermine opportunities for local hunting, fishing, and birding.
Let’s take action today. Tell DEC to approve the current permit modification and demand that they commit to creating multiple opportunities for public input on any future permitting or approvals related to the proposed STAMP WWTP, including but not limited to modification of the Oakfield WWTP SPDES permit to accept such flow. Members of the public in and around STAMP, the Oakfield WWTP, and the WWTP’s discharge pathway into Orleans County must be informed well in advance of any such DEC action.
Want to get more involved in the struggle to Rethink STAMP? Attend a campaign call on August 21 at 6:30pm on Zoom with Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. We will share updates, calls to action, and how you can support. There will be ample time for Q+A.
Missed the wonderful screening and panel discussion of our short doc Unheard Voices: The Fight for Tonawanda Seneca Nation’s Way of Life hosted by our friends at NY Renews? You can still check out the recording and the film, which is posted on our YouTube channel.
LINK TO RECORDING Passcode: w.0kFZ4G
LINK TO PRESENTATION SLIDES
LINK to our YouTube Channel
In solidarity,
Allies of TSN,
PS - Looking for additional ways to take action now?
Tell DEC & USACE: Protect the Nation's drinking water from STAMP!
Tell NYPA: No Low Cost Hydropower to STAMP!
Tell Gov Hochul & Senator Schumer: No new NYS funds or permits to STAMP
Assist Sierra Club in their role in the joint lawsuit with the Nation against the proposed Data Center at STAMP. Save the date for our court hearing in Batavia: October 16 at 10am.
Check out and share: “What Is Rethink STAMP?” A Two-Pager from Allies of TSN that provides background on STAMP and the history of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.
