Traveling to Onondaga Lake shouldn’t be too high on your list of fun things to do in the hot Syracuse weather this week. It was once known as the most polluted lake in the United States, and a representative of the Onondaga Nation says toxic remediation efforts there haven’t gone far enough.

But fortunately, you now have a chance to comment on the mess at Onondaga Lake, and demand further change.

It’s been close to 20 years since Solvay Process Company, now known as Honeywell International Inc., was first sued by New York state in the late 1980s under the Superfund law for contaminating the lake.

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And as part of its cleanup project, Honeywell is hosting a public comment period on its Onondaga Lake site until Sept. 24. Residents are encouraged to reach out to Tracy Alan Smith, a representative of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, to raise concerns, ask questions or provide insight on Onondaga Lake.

Joe Heath, an environmentalist who has been the Onondaga Nation’s general counsel since 1982, said 27 dangerous chemicals have been found in the lake.

Those chemicals — some of which include mercury, cyanide and arsenic — were found to be highly carcinogenic and harmful to the health of both people and wildlife living near the lake.

Culturally significant sites of the Onondaga Nation are located near the water.

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“Historically, the comments make little to no difference in the ultimate remedy selected. The (DEC) will publish what they call a responsiveness summary, but we call it an evasiveness summary,” Heath said.

It’s important, now more than ever, for local residents to exercise democratic rights and comment on Honeywell’s project and the past destruction of a once beautiful central New York destination.

Emily Cerrito is a sophomore television, radio and film major. Her column appears biweekly. You can reach her at ercerrit@syr.edu.

Published on September 5, 2018 at 7:25 pm