The Seneca County Board's Agriculture & Environmental Affairs committee on Dec. 23 voted to ask the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to deny or rescind the negative declaration for a proposed salt/brine operation and to require preparation of a full environmental impact statement and public hearing.

Supervisor Kronawetter introduced the resolution and described scientific concerns he said were raised by experts and local stakeholders. "If you anybody's interested, go to Kugel Lake Watershed Network... as that sinks down, it's gonna squeeze it up through the cracks, and Cayuga Lake will eventually be saltwater," he said, urging caution and stricter environmental review. The motion was seconded and the resolution carried at committee, with at least one supervisor indicating they would abstain or wait for additional technical comment.

Board members debated the measure before voting. Some supervisors said they had talked with employees at the mine who assured them the project was safe and preferred to withhold judgement until they heard from local experts; one supervisor said they would abstain. Others said they were not comfortable making a decision until they’d reviewed additional evidence.

The committee also asked that Cargo, Inc.'s reclamation plan and financial assurance (bond) be revised if the DEC proceeds, and asked the DEC to address substantive community concerns about potential pollution and long-term stability of the mine and surrounding areas.

The matter will be forwarded to the full Board and to the DEC for further consideration. The transcript records committee-level action and debate but no technical DEC determination; any next steps will depend on DEC review and any formal permit actions.