By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
FRANKLINVILLE —State officials have lifted a three month-old recreation advisory for Ischua Creek due to the impact of improperly treated wastewater from the Great Lakes Cheese plant in Franklinville.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health said in a statement last week that water quality sampling and data collection along the creek show conditions have improved allowing for a return to normal fishing/fish consumption, boating, and swimming.
“Lifting the recreational advisory reflects the months of hard work by DEC staff to diligently chronicle creek impacts and collaborate to bring Great Lakes Cheese into full compliance,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton.
”Under Gov. Kathy Hochul’s direction, DEC took decisive steps to hold Great Lakes Cheese accountable and we are committed to continuing our stringent oversight of the facility to help ensure the long-term protection and restoration of the creek,” Loften said.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “The news of this advisory lift demonstrates the commitment of Governor Hochul to ensure public health is protected. The State Health Department will continue to work with DEC to ensure that the safety of New York State’s water bodies and drinking water systems is upheld.”
DEC was alerted Aug. 26 that thousands of dead fish were visible in the creek. That led the DEC to focus on the Great Lakes Cheese wastewater treatment system, which had a permit to discharge up to 900,000 gallons of treated wastewater a day.
The plant had been cited for several previous discharge violations in the months before the massive fish kill in August.
DEC continues to closely monitor water quality in Ischua Creek.
The state Department of Health has tested area water wells regularly since the incident and has found no results to be concerned about.
There was no impact on the water intake for the City of Olean water treatment plant on Olean Creek. The DEC had urged the city to more closely monitor conditions after the source of the contamination was discovered.
“Monitoring shows improved compliance with ambient water quality standards and successful implementation of many treatment plant corrective actions to stabilize effluent water quality entering the creek,” Lefton said. “There continue to be no indications of impacts to public drinking water supplies.”
The DEC levied a $475,000 fine against Great Lakes Cheese for the contamination. The company must pay $250,000 as a fine, with $75,000 suspended pending compliance and $150,000 for a community environmental quality project.
Great Lakes Cheese must also provide real-time monitoring of the discharge point at Ischua Creek and DEC will provide oversight for compliance.
The greatest impact on Ischua Creek was between the discharge point near the Ischua Valley Country Club across Route 16 from the sprawling Great Lakes Cheese plant to the vicinity of Five Mile Road.
The DEC has said Great Lakes Cheese will also be required to restore the fishery in Ischua Creek. Details of that work are being developed.
