August 28, 2016

Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York
The State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Greetings:

Your Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) "has a responsibility and obligation under federal law through the Clean Water Act (33 USC § § 1251 et seq) to establish and implement a policy which protects existing water quality from being degraded."

See: Organization and Delegation Memorandum Number 85-40

Given that mandate and other legal requirements to safeguard New York's water quality, I respectfully request that you DENY hydrocarbon storage permit applications pursuant to the New York State Oil, Gas, and Solution Mining Law and related state approvals required for methane and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) facilities to be built and operated in Reading, NY by Arlington Storage Company, LLC, Crestwood Equity Partners LP, Stagecoach Gas Services, LLC, Finger Lakes LPG Gas Storage, LLC or other interrelated corporate entities.

I make this request because DEC's spill incidents data document that the agency failed for more than 40 years to prevent various owners/operators of salt mining and hydrocarbon storage operations at the Reading, NY site from causing on-site toxic contamination as well as water quality violations in Seneca Lake.

As a result, there can be no question that any expanded or new hydrocarbon storage facilities permitted through the same inadequate regulatory requirements would almost certainly cause further water quality degradation in Seneca Lake in contravention of state standards and the U. S. Clean Water Act.

DEC's spill data directly refute assertions that the proposed facilities would cause negligible cumulative impacts on groundwater and surface water because construction of the proposed storage facilities would occur under DEC authority and would be mitigated to avoid significant impacts pursuant to conditional approval granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

DEC's spill data document dozens of pollution releases that occurred from 1974 to 2016. Most of the spills were never cleaned up in compliance with state standards. Some releases caused widespread groundwater contamination. Others simply dissipated in Seneca Lake without any remedial effort whatsoever even though heavy spill sheen reportedly spread up to 1.5 miles.

Extensive pollution was caused by incidents associated with both the construction and operation of existing facilities. Numerous reported spills involved shockingly huge releases, notably 470,000 gallons of "brine" released on 2/22/1980. A brine pond with a failed liner reportedly leaked for months beginning on 6/2/1997. Toxic contamination reportedly was uncovered on 10/17/1995 during construction of a gas storage facility.

See spill incidents profiles at: Reading, NY spill compilation

Conclusion

With all due respect, I believe it would be irresponsible to grant approvals for massive new fossil fuel infrastructure projects that can potentially cause irreparable harm to New York's environment and public health while perpetuating New York's addiction to natural gas, LPG and other fossil fuels.

In addition to the pollution problems in Reading, NY, DEC has repeatedly failed to prevent more than 120 other major pipeline and infrastructure pollution releases across New York. Many of these spills were never cleaned up to state standards. These regulatory inadequacies must not be tolerated any longer.

See: Dominion Pipeline (earlier known as CNG) spills and Natural Gas, Crude Oil and Petroleum Product Pipeline Fires, Explosions, Accidents, Ruptures and Spills

I believe it is imperative for your administration to avoid causing additional fossil fuel infrastructure hazards. For that reason, I request that you adopt an immediate moratorium on all fossil fuel infrastructure project approvals.

You recently received a coalition letter with a total of 1,105 signatories which requests that you adopt a statewide moratorium on all fossil fuel infrastructure project approvals, including the above-referenced two permit applications.

See: Coalition Letter Which Requests That Governor Cuomo Adopt a Statewide Moratorium on Fossil Fuel Project Approvals

This request echoes a New York State Legislators sign-on letter with a total of 22 Assembly and State Senate representatives.

See: Legislators Sign-on Letter Requests That Governor Cuomo Adopt Statewide Moratorium on Fossil Fuel Project Approvals

I trust that you will find these requests self-explanatory, but please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions that I might be able to answer.

Thank you for your consideration.

Very respectfully yours,

Walter Hang

US SALT 3580 SALT POINT ROAD SOUTH WEST SIDE WATKINS GLEN, NY
Spill Number: 1511923 Spill Date: 3/16/2016 Close Date: 05/18/2016
Cause of Spill: UNKNOWN
Meets Cleanup Standards: YES
Material Spilled: UNKNOWN PETROLEUM
Quantity Spilled: 0 GALLONS
QUANTITY RECOVERED: 0 GALLONS
Resource Affected: SURFACE WATER

Caller Remarks:
Seneca Lake, south west side caller states that there is sheen on water and gasoline odor by the warm water outfall from US Salt

DEC Investigator Remarks:
03/16/2016: TH TELECON WITH CALLER AT 1015. THE SHEEN WAS NOTICED THIS MORNING AT 0700. THE SHEEN WAS FAINT AND WIDESPREAD. NO ODOR WAS NOTICEABLE.

03/16/16 1340 KEHOE ON SITE TO CHECK REPORT. MET WITH DAVE CREA AND TODD REASONS. REASONS REPORTS THAT HE BELIEVES THE SPILL WAS THE RESULT OF POOR HOUSEKEEPING DURING AN ABOVEGROUND OIL/WATER SEPERATOR *(stet) CLEANING LAST WEEK. REASONS BELIEVES THE CREW SPILLED OIL ON THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO CLEAN IT UP. YESTERDAY, A BLOWDOWN LINE BROKE AND ALLOWED HOT WATER TO WASH OVER THE AREA OF SPILLED OIL. THE FLOW WASHED THE OIL INTO A DRAIN LEADING TO THE LAKE DISCHARGE. THE SEPERATOR IS USED TO COLLECT SEVERAL BOILER BLOWDOWNS PRIOR TO DISCHARGE TO THE FACILITY’S SPDES OUTFALL. THE AREA AROUND THE SEPERATOR WAS STAINED WITH OIL AND NEEDED TO BE CLEANED MORE. REASONS WILL HAVE THE AREA LCEANED (stet) AGAIN AND A STAINLESS STEEL PAN INSTALLED UNDER THE SEPERATOR. THE (BROEKN) (stet) PIPING FOR THE BLOWDOWN WILL BE REPAIED (stet) PERMANENTLY AS WELL. A CHECK OF THE LAKE FOUND ONLY A FAINT SHEEN NEAR THE DISCHARGE POINT. A SOUTHERN WIND AND ROUGH WATER APPEARS TO HAVE MITIGATED THE SHEEN ON THE LAKE. NO ACTION WOULD BE POSSIBLE ON THE LAKE.

A SPILL WAS REPORTED BY US SALT #1511925 & NRC REPORT #1143008.

US SALT 3580 SALT POINT ROAD WATKINS GLEN, NY
Spill Number: 1511925 Spill Date 03/16/2016 Close Date: 7/21/2016
Cause of Spill: HOUSEKEEPING
Meets Cleanup Standards: NO
Material Spilled: HYDRAULIC OIL
Quantity Spilled: .25 GALLONS
Quantity Recovered: 0 GALLONS
Resource Affected: SURFACE WATER

Caller Remarks: residual spillage found in oil water separator.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
REASONS BELIEVES THE CREW SPILLED OIL ON THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO CLEAN IT UP. YESTERDAY, A BLOWDOWN LINE BROKE AND ALLOWED HOT WATER TO WASH OVER THE AREA OF SPILLED OIL. THE FLOW WASHED THE OIL INTO A DRAIN LEADING TO THE LAKE DISCHARGE.

A SECOND SPILL WAS REPORTED BY A CITIZEN #1511923.

07/18/16 0840 KEHOE CALL FOR UPDATE, LEFT MESSAGE.

07/20/16 1145 KEHOE TELECON WITH REASONS, DUE TO POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH MORE DISCHARGES, US SALT DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE USE OF THE OIL/WATER SEPERATOR AND REPLUMB THE DISCHARGE INTO THE FACILITY’S PROCESS. NFA − CLOSED

INTERNATIONAL SALT I WATKINS GLEN, NY 14891
Spill Number: 8080221 Spill Date 2/22/1980 Close Date: 03/03/1980
Cause of Spill: EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Meets Cleanup Standards: UNKNOWN
Material Spilled: BRINE
Quantity Spilled: 470000 GALLONS
Quantity Recovered: 0 Gallons
Resource Affected: AIR

Caller Remarks:
INTERNATIONAL SALT COMPANY BRINE PUMPS FAILED, SO BRINE WHICH IS NORMALLY DEEP WELL INJECTED, WAS DISCHARGED ONTO SURFACE.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
NO ACTION RECOMMENDED. SPILLER REPAIRED PROBLEM.

SENECA LAKE TRIB. WELL WEST ROUTE 14 WATKINS GLEN, NY 14891
Spill Number: 7580228 Spill Date: 2/17/1975 Close Date: 02/17/1975
Cause of Spill: EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Meets Cleanup Standards: UNKNOWN
Material Spilled: #2 Fuel Oil
Quantity Spilled: 1500 GALLONS
Quantity Recovered: 0 Gallons
Resource Affected: GROUNDWATER

Caller Remarks:
PIPING BENT DUE TO AN ICE BUILD−UP AND DISTORTED THE PIPE (IN WELL #49)LEGAL ACTION PENDING 5311 (B)(5) VIOLATION − EPA.

AKZO SALT ROUTE 14 READING, NY 14876
Spill Number: 9508880 Spill Date: 10/17/1995 Close Date: 05/29/1996
Cause of Spill: UNKNOWN
Meets Cleanup Standards: NO
Material Spilled: #2 FUEL OIL
Quantity Spilled: 0
Resource Affected: SOIL

Caller Remarks:
WHILE NYSEG WAS DEVELOPING A GAS STORAGE THEY ENCOUNTERED CONTAMINATED SOIL THEY REMOVED ABOUT 200 YARDS OF SOIL.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
10/18/95 ALTHOUGH APPROX 200 CU YDS OF CONTAMINATED SOIL HAVE BEEN REMOVED, CONTAMINATION IS STILL EVIDENT.

10/19/95 SR INSPECTED; APPROXIMATELY 200−250 CU YDS OF SOIL EXCAVATED AND STAGED FOR DISPOSAL BY NYS ELECTRIC & GAS. CONTAMINATION CONTINUES ON WEST AND EAST, ZONE OF CONTAMINATION APPEARS TO BE 3−5 FT ZONE WITH NO APPARENT SOURCE. SAMPLES TAKEN FOR ANALYSIS, REPORT TO BE FORWARDED TO SPILLS. AT APPROX 5 FT, SOIL CLEAN PER NYSE&G, CONFIRMATORY SAMPLES TAKEN. AKZO SALT LIKELY RP FOR ADDITIONAL WORK. NYS E&G TO REVIEW LEASE AGREEMENT.

AKZO SALT HAS HIRED EMPIRE SOILS TO PERFORM SOIL BORINGS TO DELINEATE FUEL OIL CONTAMINATION. RESULTS TO BE FORWARDED TO SR.

PHASE II INVESTIGATION REPORT SUBMITTED 02/96. BASED ON RESULTS, NO FURTHER ACTIONS ARE NEEDED.

SENECA LAKE − AKZO SALT Spill SALT POINT ROAD READING, NY 14876
Spill Number: 9609404 Spill Date: 10/09/1996 Close Date: 12/02/1996
Cause of Spill: UNKNOWN
Meets Cleanup Standards: YES
Material Spilled: UNKNOWN PETROLEUM
Quantity Spilled: 0
Resource Affected: SURFACE WATER

Caller Remarks:
ECO Brazaukas received complaint of heavy sheen on Seneca Lake along Salt Point Road shore. Source appeared to be originating at Akzo Salt plant.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
10/10/96 SR MET WITH ECO’S BRAZAUKAS AND BURKE; SHEEN NOTED AT SENECA LAKE EXTENDING FROM AKZO PLANT SOUTH TO CAPT BILLS PIER (APPROX 1.5 MILES). CERTAIN SECTION OF SHORE ARE LIGHTLY COATED WITH APPARENT FUEL OIL; NO RECOVERABLE PRODUCT.

LIKELY SPILL SOURCE AT 275 GAL FUEL OIL AST AT AKZO.

11/15/96 JIM EDWARDS OF AKZO CONTACTED SR ON 10/15/96. SOURCE OF SPILL FOUND MONDAY PM DURING INSPECTION OF SUMP UNDER A GENERATOR LOCATED ACROSS RAILROAD TRACKS ON WEST SIDE OF MAIN BUILDING. SEALS ON STEAM DRIVEN AUXILIARY OIL PUMP LEAKED. OIL DRAINED TO SUMP AND EVENTUALLY DISCHARGED OUT MAIN OUTFALL. LOSS OF APPROXIMATELY 55−75 GALLONS OCCURRED.

US SALT WELL #65 3768 ROUTE 14 NORTH WATKINS GLEN, NY 14891
Spill Number: 1301354 Spill Date: 05/08/2013 Close Date: 06/10/2013
Cause of Spill: EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Meets Cleanup Standards: YES
Material Spilled: DIESEL
Quantity Spilled: 5 GALLONS
QUANTITY RECOVERED: 0 GALLONS
Resource Affected: SOIL

Caller Remarks:
pinhole in hose − cleanup in progress

DEC Investigator Remarks:
05/09/13 1150 KEHOE ON SITE TO MEET WITH MR. MOON. MR. MOON DESCRIBES A MUD LINE PASSING OVER A FUEL LINE AND WEARING A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE. THE FUEL SPRAYED OUT AND FLOWED UNDER THE DRILL EQUIPMENT AND RAN ABOUT 50 FEET. REQUESTED MR. MOON DIG A COUPLE OF CUTOFF TRENCHES BELOW EQUIPMENT IN THE FLOW PATH TO CATCH FUEL AS IT FLOWED. ALSO ASKED THAT THEY USE A LITTLE WATER TO FLUSH THE FREE PRODUCT TO THE TRENCHES THEN COLLECT FUEL. EQUIPMENT WILL BE MOVED IN A WEEK AND THEN SOIL CAN BE CHECKED AND EXCAVATED IF NEED BE.

05/13/13 1200 KEHOE ON SITE TO CHECK STATUS. MET WITH MOON AND WALKED SITE. CREWS HAD EXCAVATED TRENCHES AND SHEEN WAS VISIBLE. CREW HAD FLUSHED UPPER AREA AND WAS PADDING SURFACE. NO LARGE AMOUNT OF FREE PRODUCT WAS VISIBLE AND NO LONGER STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. CREW IS ALMOST DONE WITH WELL AND WILL CHECK SOIL WHEN EQUIPMENT IS GONE.

05/21/13 1210 KEHOE CHECK OF SITE. EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN REMOVED. STAINING ON ROCKS EVIDENT. MOON WILL HAVE CREW PULL BACK ROCK PAD AND REMOVE IMPACTED SOIL FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK.

05/28/13 1100 KEHOE ON SITE TO CHECK STATUS. CREW JUST FINISHED REMOVING IMPACTED SOIL. ABOUT 20 TONS OF SOIL REMOVED FOR SHIPMENT TO STEUBEN COUNTY LANDFILL IN BATH. NO SHEEN OR ODORS REMAIN. DUG DOWN ABOUT TWO FEET AT DEEPEST. GAVE OK TO BACKFILL.

06/10/13 EMAIL FROM BARRY MOON WITH SOIL DISPOSAL INFORMATION. 26.58 TONS OF SOIL SENT TO THE BATH LANDFILL.

SENECA LAKE COMPRESSOR 3768 STATE ROUTE 14 WATKINS GLEN, NY
Spill Number: 9707460 Spill Date: 9/24/1997 Close Date: 10/02/1997
Cause of Spill: OTHER
Meets Cleanup Standards: YES
Material Spilled: UNKNOWN PETROLEUM
Quantity Spilled: 20 GALLONS
QUANTITY RECOVERED: 0 GALLONS
Resource Affected: SOIL

Caller Remarks:
WHILE WOKRING ON AN ABANDONED NATURAL GAS PIPE LINE, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 20 GALLONS OF A PETROLEUM PIPELINE CONDENSATION INSIDE THE LINE WHICH WAS SPILLED WHILE WORK WAS BEING DONE.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
10/02/97 CLEANUP COMPLETED, TESTING DETERMINED NON−PCB.

AKZO BRINE POND OFF ROUTE 14@NYSEG STORAG READING, NY
Spill Number: 9610217 Spill Date: 11/15/1996 Close Date: 11/15/1996
Cause of Spill: OTHER
Meets Cleanup Standards: NO
Material Spilled: BRINE
Quantity Spilled:
Resource Affected: SURFACE WATER

Caller Remarks:
Brine pond filled by brine wells, pond monitored by Akzo and NYSEG; started to over flow approx 0400 hrs, brine wells shut down. Estimate approx 200 gal brine overflowed ran into small creek which feeds into Seneca Lake − No cleanup possible.

AKZO SALT COMPANY SALT POINT ROAD WATKINS GLEN, NY 14891
Spill Number: 9309549 Spill Date: 11/06/1993 Close Date: 11/06/1993
Cause of Spill: HUMAN ERROR
Meets Cleanup Standards: YES
Material Spilled: MOTOR OIL WASTE OIL/USED OIL
Quantity Spilled: WASTE OIL: 80 GALLONS
Resource Affected: SURFACE WATER

Caller Remarks:
A GENERATOR BEING RENTED BY AKZO SALT WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AUBURN ARMATURE. VALVE WAS LEFT OPEN & CRANK CASE OIL WAS LOST FROM THE UNIT. OIL FLOWED TO STREAM WHICH FLOWS TO SENECA LAKE (1000 FT TO LAKE).

DEC Investigator Remarks:
11/06/93: SAWDUST WAS PUT DOWN TO SOAK UP OIL. ABSORBENTS ALSO USED IN STREAM. BOOMS PUT ACROSS STREAM. SOME OIL DID REACH THE LAKE, CREATING AN OIL SLICK ON THE WATER SURFACE. NO CLEANUP POSSIBLE ON THE LAKE DUE TO WAVES BREAKING UP THE SHEEN. AKZO TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN THE BOOMS. SAWDUST AND ABSORBENTS TO BE PICKED UP.

AKZO SALT BRINE POND ROUTE 14 @ SENECA LAKE READING, NY 14891
Spill Number: 9702666 Spill Date: 6/02/1997 Close Date: 10/03/1997
Cause of Spill: OTHER
Meets Cleanup Standards: NO
Material Spilled: BRINE
Quantity Spilled: 0
Resource Affected: SOIL

Caller Remarks:
BRINE POND HAS DEVELOPED LEAK − APPROX 1−1/2 GALLONS PER HR. CUT OFF TRENCH HAS BEEN DUG TO CAPTURE DISCHARGE. CARGILL TO PERFORM TESTING TO CONFIRM LEAK RATE, IDENTIFY LOCATION.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
09/16/97 PER JIM EDWARDS OF CARGILL, MINOR LEAK FOUND IN SEAM, HAS BEEN REPAIRED, WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR. NO FURTHER ACTION NEEDED.

US SALT 3580 COUNTY ROAD 30 WATKINS GLEN, NY 14891
Spill Number: 1505025 Spill Date: 8/08/2015 Close Date: 08/11/2015
Cause of Spill: EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Meets Cleanup Standards: NO
Material Spilled: OTHER
Quantity Spilled: 2400 GALLONS
Resource Affected: SOIL

Caller Remarks:
lost to bank, on slow moving waterway− unk name. No recovery possible

DEC Investigator Remarks:
08/10/15: CH TELECON WITH TODD REASONS OF US SALT. SOMETIME LATE FRIDAY NIGHT OR EARLY SATURDAY MORNING ON 8/8/15, A PUMP THAT PUMPS BRINE WATER INTO STORAGE FAILED. THIS CAUSED AN OVERFLOW OF A BRINE WATER TANK. THE TANK HAS SECONDARY CONTAINMENT WHICH OVERFLOWS TO A COOKED BRINE TANK. THE COOKED BRINE TANK OVERFLOWED AND SOME OF THE BRINE WATER WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND INTO A POROUS CREEK BED WHERE IT APPEARED THE BRINE WATER SOAKED INTO THE BED. US SALT DID NOT THINK ANY OF THE BRINE WATER REACHED SENECA LAKE. REASONS ESTIMATED THE TOTAL OVERFLOW TO BE APPROX 4800 GALLONS OF WHICH HALF WENT BACK INTO THE PROCESS INSIDE THE PLANT AND THE OTHER HALF TO THE GORGE AND STREAM BED. WHEN DISCOVERED EARLY SATURDAY MORNING, US SALT BEGAN MAKING REPAIRS AND CALLED IN TRUCKS TO TRANSPORT BRINE WATER FROM THE OVER FLOWING TANK BACK INTO THE PLANT. BEING A WEEKEND IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR THEM TO GET THE TRUCKS ON SITE. BECAUSE THERE WERE ELECTRIC FAILURES AS WELL AS THE PUMP FAILURE, REPAIRS ALSO TOOK SOME TIME. DUE TO THE STEEP EMBANKMENT AND THE FACT THE BRINE WATER SOAKED INTO THE CREEK BED, NO OFF SITE RECOVERY WAS POSSIBLE. CH EMAILS NANCY RICE OF WATER AND LINDA COLLART OF MINERALS A COPY OF SPILL SHEET WITH BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT. WATER AND MINERALS TO DO ALL FOLLOW UP. NO FURTHER ACTION NECESSARY AT THIS TIME BY SPILLS.

US SALT CORPORATION 3580 SALT PLANT ROAD WATKINS GLEN, NY 14891
Spill Number: 1204539 Spill Date: 8/6/2012 Close Date: 09/06/2012
Cause of Spill: EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Meets Cleanup Standards: NO
Material Spilled: OTHER
Quantity Spilled: 15000 GALLONS
Quantity Recovered: 0 Gallons
Resource Affected: SURFACE WATER

Caller Remarks:
CALLER REPORTED THAT US SALT LOST POWER OVERNIGHT, AND AT APPROXIMATELY 05:00 HRS THIS MORNING SHUT OFF VALVE ON BRINE LINE (COMING FROM NORTH BRINE FIELD) IN PROXIMITY OF FACILITY TO PREVENT OVERFLOWS TO PRODUCTION TANKS, ETC.. VALVE CLOSURE RESULTED IN INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE APPROX. 1.5 MILE LONG PIPELINE, AND CAUSED A FAILURE AT PIPE JOINT, RESULTING IN DISCHARGE OF SATURATED BRINE SOLUTION. INITIAL ESTIMATE OF 15,000 GALLONS OF BRINE RELEASED, DISCHARGED TO CREEK WHICH THEN FEEDS INTO SENECA LAKE.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
SPILL REFERRED TO MINERALS PROGRAM FOR FOLLOW−UP, NFA REQUIRED OF SPILLS − CLOSED.

US SALT CORPORATION 3580 SALT POINT ROAD WATKINS GLEN, NY 14891 WELL #51
Spill Number: 1204437 Spill Date: 7/14/2012 Close Date: 09/06/2012
Cause of Spill: EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Meets Cleanup Standards: YES
Material Spilled: SALT WATER BRINE
Quantity Spilled: 1754
Quantity Recovered: 0 Gallons
Resource Affected: SOIL

Caller Remarks:
MINERALS PROGRAM RECEIVED REPORT VIA E−MAIL OF BRINE RELEASE THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED JULY 21 − 22. US SALT HAS INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED RELEASE FROM PINHOLE LEAK IN WELD ON PIPELINE THAT TRANSPORTS WEAK BRINE SOLUTION FROM SALT PLANT TO WELL 50. SPRAY FROM RELEASE HAS KILLED SOME VEGETATION, BUT THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION ON GROUND, NO APPARENT IMPACTS TO WATERS. AN INCIDENT REPORT HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
08/03/2012: SR CONTACTED BOB TRAVER OF US SALT: RELEASE WAS IN FORM OF SPRAY/MIST, WAS FIRST REPORTED ON JULY 14 BY BOATER ON SENECA LAKE, BUT FACILITY REP’S COULD NOT LOCATE BASED ON THE REPORT. ON JULY 16 SPILL WAS FOUND, AND REPAIRS MADE. 1/16 INCH DIA. HOLE HAD DEVELOPED IN WELD OF PIPE. US SALT CALCULATED RELEASE, BASED ON LINE PRESSURE, AT .68 GAL/MIN., WHICH BASED ON 43 HR. DURATION BETWEEN INITIAL REPORT AND REPAIR, TOTALS 1754 GALLONS. LIQUID RELEASED WAS 30% BRINE SOLUTION, AND WAS FROM RETURN LINE FROM US SALT FACILITY TO WELL # 51 (NOT 50). INCIDENT REPORT BEING PREPARED FOR SUBMITTAL TO DEC MINERALS.

08/03/2012: MINERALS REPRESENTATIVE (COLLART) TO INSPECT RELEASE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. SPILL REFERRED TO MINERALS PROGRAM FOR FOLLOW−UP, NFA REQUIRED OF SPILLS − CLOSED.

US SALT CORPORATION 3580 SALT POINT ROAD WATKINS GLEN, NY 14891 WELL #50
Spill Number: 0903134 Spill Date: 6/14/2009 Close Date: 09/16/2009
Cause of Spill: OTHER
Meets Cleanup Standards: YES
Material Spilled: BRINE
Quantity Spilled: 2000 GALLONS
Quantity Recovered: 2000 Gallons
Resource Affected: SOIL, SURFACE WATER

Caller Remarks:
CALLER REPORTS A RELEASE OF 1500−2000 GALLONS OF SALT BRINE FROM PRODUCTION. WELL LEAK HAS STOPPED. INCIDENT REPORT COMING. MINERALS PROGRAM INVESTIGATING.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
06/17/09 KEHOE CALL TO BOB TRAVERS, LEAK OCCURRED FROM WELL WHILE WORK WAS BEING DONE ON IT. BRINE WENT ALMOST DIRECTLY INTO A STREAM THAT GOES TO SENECA LAKE. INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY MINERALS, NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED BY SPILLS. NFA − CLOSED

NYSDEC Name: US SALT CORP Facility Id: NYD002246361
NYSDEC Address: SALT POINT RD WATKINS GLEN, NY 14891

EPA (RCRA) Name: US SALT CORP
EPA (RCRA) Address: SALT POINT RD & RTE 14 N OF WATKINS GLEN, NY 14891

US EPA RCRA Type: CONDITIONALLY EXEMPT SMALL QUANTITY GENERATOR Notification date: 11/27/1998

Historically listed as the following USEPA RCRA Generator Size(s) as well:
LARGE QUANTITY GENERATOR
SMALL QUANTITY GENERATOR

US EPA RCRA Violations:
Violation Type: Generators − General Responsible Agency: STATE
Violation Number: 0001 Location: NY Violation Determination Date: 12/16/2003
Former Citation: SR − 372.2(a)(8)(i)/(iii) Violation Return to Compliance: 02/06/2004

Violation Type: Generators − General Responsible Agency: STATE
Violation Number: 0002 Location: NY Violation Determination Date: 12/16/2003
Former Citation: SR − 373−3.2(d)(4)(i) Violation Return to Compliance: 02/06/2004

INTERNATIONAL SALT CO. SENECA LAKE READING, NY
Spill Number: 7390211 Spill Date: 2/11/1974 Close Date: 04/16/1974
Cause of Spill: UNKNOWN
Meets Cleanup Standards: UNKNOWN
Material Spilled: WASTE OIL/USED OIL
Quantity Spilled: 250 GALLONS
Quantity Recovered: 0 Gallons
Resource Affected: SEWER

Caller Remarks:
STORM SEWER DISCHARGE ALLOWED KEROSENE AND HEAVY MEDIUM OIL AT DISCHARGE PT. OF STORM SEWER TO SENECA LK. CONTAINMENT BOOTH. NYSDEC STRAW AMD ABSPORBENT. NO CLEANUP POSSIBLE.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
FINED $500 WITH STIPULATION B1154.

INTERNATIONAL SALT READING, NY 14876
Spill Number: 7380221 Spill Date: 2/19/1974 Close Date: 02/20/1974
Cause of Spill: OTHER
Meets Cleanup Standards: UNKNOWN
Material Spilled: WASTE OIL/USED OIL
Quantity Spilled: 300 GALLONS
Quantity Recovered: 0 Gallons
Resource Affected: SURFACE WATER

Caller Remarks:
WASTE OIL SPILL FROM GARAGE. BOOM DEPLOYED AFTER ACTUAL SPILL. TOO LATE TO CLEAN UP. SLICKS IN SENECA LAKE AND POOLS IN SMALL STREAM.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
LEGAL ACTION PENDING FOR FAILURE TO NOTIFY DEC.

BOOM PLACED ACROSS TRIBUTORY TO SENECA LAKE AFTER ACTUAL SPILL.

PERSONNEL ON SCENE: NY STATE POLICY−HORSEHEADS; C O BRUCE BELL. ALSO, SCHUYLER COUNTY WATERSHED INSPECTOR NOTIFIED.

SMALL STREAM N OF PLANT AND SENECA LAKE.

HOYS POINT PUMPING STATIO (stet) SALT POINT ROAD READING, NY
Spill Number: 9712819 Spill Date: 2/14/1998 Close Date: 06/12/1998
SALT POINT ROAD READING, NY

Cause of Spill: EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Meets Cleanup Standards: NO
Material Spilled: BRINE
Quantity Spilled: 60 GALLONS
Quantity Recovered: 0 Gallons
Resource Affected: SURFACE WATER

Caller Remarks:
GRAVITY FED BRINE LINE, CARRYING 50% SOLUTION, CAME APART AT THE FITTING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO PUMPING STATION. LOSS OF APPROXIMATELY 30,000 GALLONS OF SOLUTION SATURDAY EVENING. REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT PIPING SEPARATED AGAIN MONDAY EVENING, CAUSING AN ADDITIONAL LOSS OF 30,000 GALLONS OF BRINE. THE SPILLED MATERIAL FLOWED INTO A DEPRESSION ALONG THE LAKE SHORE, SEEPED DOWN (NO DIRECT FLOW INTO THE LAKE) AND LIKELY LEACHED INTO THE LAKE. SLUDGE IN DEPRESSION TO BE VACUUMED OUT TODAY.

DEC Investigator Remarks:
02/18 AAPEX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES VACCED UP REMAINDER OF SPILL MATERIAL. POLY LINE CONNECTION TO BE HEAT FUSED WHEN WARM WEATHER PERMITS. NO FURTHER ACTION.