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Seneca Falls board urges NYS DEC to require new environmental review for proposed Cuba County water withdrawal
Summary
The board adopted a resolution asking the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to reject a modified water-withdrawal permit application from Cuba Operating Company LLC and require a new environmental review, citing concerns about withdrawing more than 1,000,000 gallons per day from Cuba Lake and potential temperature effects on the lake.
The Seneca Falls Town Board voted to send a resolution to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation asking the agency to reject a modified water-withdrawal permit application from Cuba Operating Company LLC and require a fresh environmental review. Board members cited concerns about the project's scale and potential impacts on Cuba Lake.
At the meeting, the Chair summarized the board's concerns, saying the company would be "drawing over 1,000,000 gallons of water a day through Cuba Lake" and noted uncertainty about whether returned water would raise lake temperatures and ecological impacts. The resolution mirrors a prior county-level vote and is intended to signal local opposition and request a more thorough review by the DEC.
The motion passed by voice vote; the board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript but indicated unanimous vocal support during the meeting. The town's action joins other local jurisdictions raising scrutiny of large water-withdrawal proposals ahead of state permitting decisions.
