ENB Region 7 Completed Applications 03/29/2006

  The applicant proposes to upgrade and expand its wastewater treatment facility.  The proposed expansion would provide for an increase in the design flow of 0.4 million gallons per day (mgd) to 0.7 mgd of treated sanitary wastewater to the West Branch Delaware River, a class B(T) waterbody at the applicant's facility located on Mill Street, Village of Deposit.  The facility is currently exceeding its permitted flow, the proposed increase in flow would be sufficient to handle all current users that are connected and provide for sufficient capacity for additional connections.  The proposed upgraded facility would provide secondary treatment with ultraviolet light disinfection.

  The Department has made a tentative determination to issue a permit for a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit under Article 17 of the Environmental Conservation law.  This tentative determination indicates that the discharge regulated under this statute is considered to satisfy regulatory standards for permit issuance, based on information available to the Department at this time.  As a tentative determination, the Department seeks comments on the proposed regulated activity prior to making a final decision on permit issuance.  As such, this tentative determination does not signify department approval for or endorsement of the activity for which a permit is sought or for the overall proposed project.  A Draft permit and fact sheet are available for review.  The project is located on Mill Street, Deposit, NY.

Applicant proposes the permitting of an existing bluestone quarry.  Currently 3.9 acres have been mined and the applicant proposes to expand to a 5.0 acre quarry.  The expansion will be excavated using drilling, blasting and mechanical equipment.  The project is located on Trim Street approximately 0.1 mile from the intersection of Anne Road.

At the request of the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine (CCVM), the SUCF has proposed to develop a new Waste Management Facility for the treatment and destruction of pathological waste (i.e., animal carcass and bedding wastes) and conventional regulated medical waste (cRMW) at the CCVM. The new facility would replace the CCVM’s existing Incinerator Facility, which currently incinerates pathological waste and coordinates shipment of cRMW to an off-site, commercial treatment facility.

The new Waste Management Facility would use the Alkaline Hydrolysis process to treat approximately 600,000 lb/yr of carcass waste at the CCVM, with a maximum capacity to treat approximately 10,000 lb/day of carcass wastes. The Facility would use the Internal Steam Sterilization (ISS) process to treat approximately 5,000 lb/yr of bedding and 150,000 lb/yr of cRMW, with a maximum capacity to treat approximately 1,000 lb/day. The project would involve the installation of these processes adjacent to the CCVM Necropsy Facility (F wing) at Schurman Hall, in the location of the CCVM Incinerator Facility, and removal of the existing incinerator. The types and character of wastes currently received by the CCVM would not change under the Proposed Action.

Summary of Alkaline Hydrolysis - The Alkaline Hydrolysis technology dissolves carcass waste in a high temperature, high pressure, alkaline environment. The non-infectious byproducts of the process include a brine-like wastewater (i.e., “hydrolysate”), and solid byproducts known as “cremains” consisting of bone fragments and non-degradable matter such as cellulose materials (e.g., grass). This technology has demonstrated effectiveness in treating infectious carcass waste at multiple full-scale installations and was pilot-tested at the CCVM in July 2000.

Summary of Internal Steam Sterilization - The ISS technology sterilizes bedding waste and conventional regulated medical waste (cRMW) in the presence of high temperature steam. The process, which does not significantly change the physical or chemical characteristics of the wastes, has demonstrated effectiveness at multiple installations. Following treatment in an ISS unit, cRMW is shredded into an unrecognizable state so it can be safely landfilled.

The existing CCVM incinerator is currently permitted under the New York State Air Title V Program.  Once the new Waste Management Facility is operational and the incinerator facility is abandoned, Cornell University may request the current Title V permit authorizing its use be terminated.

Supplemental State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Determination Information - A Final Environmental Impact Statement was completed in May 2002.  A Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement was completed in April 2004.  The Department's Findings Statement is dated March 15, 2006.