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Canandaigua council opposes proposed five-year biosolids moratorium, citing local treatment standards and costs
Summary
The council unanimously adopted a resolution opposing S.5759-C/A.6192, arguing a statewide five-year moratorium on biosolids reuse would impose severe financial and operational burdens; the city says its biosolids meet NYSDEC Class A thresholds and cites a $28 million upgrade to its WRRF.
The Canandaigua City Council on May 18 adopted a resolution opposing pending New York State legislation (S.5759-C/A.6192) that would impose a five-year moratorium on the beneficial reuse of biosolids. The motion was made by Councilmember-at-Large Doug Merrill and seconded by Councilmember Guy Turchetti; the resolution passed by voice vote 9-0.
The resolution states the Canandaigua Water Resources Recovery Facility (WRRF) serves approximately 15,000 residents in the City of Canandaigua and the Towns of Canandaigua, Hopewell and Gorham and reports its biosolids average 10.3 µg/kg PFOS and 8.72 µg/kg PFOA, which the resolution says are below the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) recycling threshold of 20 µg/kg for PFOS and PFOA. The council noted a recent $28 million investment in WRRF upgrades intended to produce Class A biosolids and an agreement to dispose biosolids at $0 per ton once the NYSDEC issues a Class A permit; it also says current costs to truck and dispose biosolids at the Ontario County landfill total about $174,340.
The resolution argues that a statewide moratorium would create severe financial, operational and environmental consequences for municipalities, that New York State lacks sufficient landfill capacity to absorb displaced biosolids, and that the proposed legislation does not target the source of PFAS contamination. The council called on the Governor and Legislature to rely on NYSDEC technical standards and to focus policy on preventing PFAS from entering wastewater systems.
No council debate or dissenting amendments are recorded in the minutes. The resolution passed immediately and was recorded as carried by voice vote.
