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.
Greetings! We want to share news on the fight against STAMP, as well as a preview of an upcoming call for support.
On Monday, September 11 2023, Orleans County filed suit in New York State Supreme Court to stop the construction of the WNY STAMP wastewater pipeline. The suit charges six plaintiffs - including the developer, the Genesee County Economic Development Corporation - with initiating construction in violation of the law and with acting “arbitrarily, capriciously and in excess of their authority." Orleans County is demanding an injunction to halt construction activities while litigation is underway.
Construction on the 9.5 mile pipeline began in early August - even though the developer lacked several key permits. The pipeline, much of which would traverse the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, is slated to discharge up to 6 million gallons daily of wastewater into Oak Orchard Creek in Orleans County. The pipeline originates next to the Tonawanda Seneca Nation Reservation and travels through the Nation’s ancestral territory.
On the same day that Orleans County filed their lawsuit, the Buffalo-based Investigative Post published the first in a series of stories examining the WNY STAMP development process, including potential corruption linked to the developer and local elected officials. We are eagerly anticipating the release of the next installment.
While we celebrate these critical developments in the fight against STAMP, and applaud the work of our allies in Orleans County, we remain deeply concerned about the failures of our state and federal agencies to respect the sovereignty of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation and to engage the Nation's traditional leadership in a robust and meaningful consultation process, as mandated by federal law.
In coming days, we will be asking you, our friends and neighbors, to support the Nation by submitting public comments on the profoundly flawed supplemental Environmental Assessment recently issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the impact of WNY STAMP on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Despite the Nation's objection to this process, the USFWS is replicating a long and disgusting history of non-consultation, in direct violation of guidelines set forth by the Department of the Interior.
So: take a moment to savor these positive updates, read J. Dale Shoemaker's piece, and stay tuned for how you can take action in support of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation and against the destructive WNY STAMP project!
In solidarity,
Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation
PS - As many of you know, on July 27, STAMP Sewer Works, Inc. held a condemnation hearing in relation to the wastewater pipeline and the three individual landowners who have refused to sign easements for pipeline construction across their property. Your outpouring of letters and public testimony made a critical difference! At their August 3, 2023 meeting, the STAMP Sewer Works, Inc. Board decided to table their proposed eminent domain resolution. According to the Video News Service, the "overwhelming response of comments at the public hearing" was the rationale given. Click here to read more.
Media on Orleans County's litigation to stop the STAMP wastewater pipeline:
GCEDC board chair releases open letter to community in response to Orleans County lawsuit
Howard Owens, The Batavian
September 13, 2023
UPDATE: Orleans files to stop STAMP sewer project
Brian Quinn, Batavia News
September 13, 2023
Orleans files suit to stop sewer line from STAMP to Oak Orchard
Tom Rivers, Orleans Hub
September 13, 2023
Orleans County files complaint to try to stop STAMP development project
Brian Quinn, The Daily News
September 12, 2023
Orleans Co. suing Genesee EDC over pipeline
Interview with reporter Dale Shoemaker on WGRZ
September 12, 2023
Orleans County lawsuit against Genesee County threatens STAMP development
Kevin Oklobzija, Rochester Business Journal
September 12, 2023
A high-stakes battle between WNY counties
J. Dale Shoemaker, Investigative Post
September 11, 2203
On Monday, September 11 2023, Orleans County filed suit in New York State Supreme Court to stop the construction of the WNY STAMP wastewater pipeline. The suit charges six plaintiffs - including the developer, the Genesee County Economic Development Corporation - with initiating construction in violation of the law and with acting “arbitrarily, capriciously and in excess of their authority." Orleans County is demanding an injunction to halt construction activities while litigation is underway.
Construction on the 9.5 mile pipeline began in early August - even though the developer lacked several key permits. The pipeline, much of which would traverse the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, is slated to discharge up to 6 million gallons daily of wastewater into Oak Orchard Creek in Orleans County. The pipeline originates next to the Tonawanda Seneca Nation Reservation and travels through the Nation’s ancestral territory.
On the same day that Orleans County filed their lawsuit, the Buffalo-based Investigative Post published the first in a series of stories examining the WNY STAMP development process, including potential corruption linked to the developer and local elected officials. We are eagerly anticipating the release of the next installment.
While we celebrate these critical developments in the fight against STAMP, and applaud the work of our allies in Orleans County, we remain deeply concerned about the failures of our state and federal agencies to respect the sovereignty of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation and to engage the Nation's traditional leadership in a robust and meaningful consultation process, as mandated by federal law.
In coming days, we will be asking you, our friends and neighbors, to support the Nation by submitting public comments on the profoundly flawed supplemental Environmental Assessment recently issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the impact of WNY STAMP on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Despite the Nation's objection to this process, the USFWS is replicating a long and disgusting history of non-consultation, in direct violation of guidelines set forth by the Department of the Interior.
So: take a moment to savor these positive updates, read J. Dale Shoemaker's piece, and stay tuned for how you can take action in support of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation and against the destructive WNY STAMP project!
In solidarity,
Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation
PS - As many of you know, on July 27, STAMP Sewer Works, Inc. held a condemnation hearing in relation to the wastewater pipeline and the three individual landowners who have refused to sign easements for pipeline construction across their property. Your outpouring of letters and public testimony made a critical difference! At their August 3, 2023 meeting, the STAMP Sewer Works, Inc. Board decided to table their proposed eminent domain resolution. According to the Video News Service, the "overwhelming response of comments at the public hearing" was the rationale given. Click here to read more.
Media on Orleans County's litigation to stop the STAMP wastewater pipeline:
GCEDC board chair releases open letter to community in response to Orleans County lawsuit
Howard Owens, The Batavian
September 13, 2023
UPDATE: Orleans files to stop STAMP sewer project
Brian Quinn, Batavia News
September 13, 2023
Orleans files suit to stop sewer line from STAMP to Oak Orchard
Tom Rivers, Orleans Hub
September 13, 2023
Orleans County files complaint to try to stop STAMP development project
Brian Quinn, The Daily News
September 12, 2023
Orleans Co. suing Genesee EDC over pipeline
Interview with reporter Dale Shoemaker on WGRZ
September 12, 2023
Orleans County lawsuit against Genesee County threatens STAMP development
Kevin Oklobzija, Rochester Business Journal
September 12, 2023
A high-stakes battle between WNY counties
J. Dale Shoemaker, Investigative Post
September 11, 2203
