Seneca County Board sends resolution requesting public comment and review of Kuga Salt Mine permit application

The Seneca County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution related to Cargill Incorporated's permit application for the Kuga Salt Mine, urging distribution of the county's comments to state decision-makers after noting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation had declared itself lead agency and issued a negative declaration.

Supervisor Cromwellter introduced the resolution and the board debated language noting that the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) had classified the application as a type 1 action — normally subject to a more thorough environmental review — but had issued a negative declaration. A supervisor said the DEC's public-comment period had been extended and urged residents to reach out; the resolution identifies recipients including the DEC, the DEC Commissioner, the Office of General Services Commissioner and the DEC permit administrator so Seneca County voices will be considered in the review.

The motion to send the county's resolution and comments passed by voice vote; the transcript records the board's direction to forward the resolution to the listed state officials. The resolution text, as read at the meeting, directs that a copy of the county's resolution be sent to the DEC, DEC Commissioner, OGS Commissioner and the DEC permit administrator to ensure local perspectives are heard during the decision-making process.

Board members noted the public-comment deadline had been extended to a date mentioned during the meeting; the transcript records that extension but does not include the specific calendar date in the motion text. The resolution does not itself change the DEC's procedural determination; it is a request that the agency consider local comments and the county's concerns during its permit determination process.