Governor Cuomo plans to develop an action plan by this Spring to reduce sources of pollution that spark the algal blooms that closed portions of Cayuga Lake to swimming last summer, even threatening the popular Women Swimmin fundraiser for Hospicare. But not everyone thinks the state’s ambitious timeframe, nor its relatively paltry financial contributions, are realistic in addressing the root of the problem.

Walter Hang, president of Toxics Targeting, discusses successful campaigns to block oil and gas infrastructure in 2017 along with plans to address toxic algal blooms in the Finger Lakes in 2018. This interview with WRFI’s Lori Sonken aired on December 29, 2017.

BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. -
Environmentalists from all across New York are urging Governor Andrew Cuomo to issue a moratorium on all fossil fuel projects after newly released data shows that state officials fail to regulate and clean up after them.

Assemblywoman Barbara LIfton wrote a second letter to the NYSDEC Commissioner pushing against Cargill, Inc.'s salt mining under Cayuga Lake. Sarah Mearhoff


Cayuga Lake may not be seeing much activity on its surface lately as Ithaca’s temperatures continue to fall, but deep under the lake's shore more than 200 employees continue to operate a 13,000-acre salt mine.

ITHACA, N.Y. (WENY) -- A local Assemblywoman and database firm are calling for an end to salt mining under Cayuga Lake.

State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton and Toxics Targeting President Walter Hang announced Tuesday their opposition to under-lake salt mining under any circumstances.


New York State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton held a press conference Tuesday to announce she and Assemblyman Steve Englebright have sent a new letter to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos urging a moratorium on all permitting of salt mining beneath Lake Cayuga, and requested the DEC require Cargill to move its mining operations under dry land. Lifton said she is categorically opposed to continued mining under the lake.

The mining company Cargill wants to expand their salt mine in Lansing, but environmentalists are raising a number of concerns. Listen to correspondent Amanda Chin’s story, and read the transcript below: