What Happened at Onondaga County’s Special Committee meeting Meeting on 10/7/2025
October 9th 2025
The Onondaga County Legislature met on October 7th for a special session.
What Happened at Session: Oak Orchard SEQRA
Committee: Environmental Protection
Topic: Oak Orchard Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades and right of way acquisition
Requested action: Negative Declaration under SEQRA
Why we took this up
We reviewed a request for a SEQRA Negative Declaration for upgrades at the existing Oak Orchard wastewater campus. The County Executive’s administration presented this as work inside a previously disturbed footprint that adds capacity for homes and businesses. If that is correct and impacts are not significant, a negative declaration may be appropriate. My focus was to place key issues on the record and to ask for public facing steps before final approval. We did not vote on the Declaration, instead we used all of the time to get important questions answered.
What we discussed
Staff explained that the project will happen in several steps to update the old equipment and make the plant handle more water. Right now, the plant can clean about 10 million gallons a day, and they want to raise that to almost 15 million, with the ability to handle up to 25 million during busy times. The new system will use special filters and ultraviolet light to clean the water. The gas made during the process, called methane, will be used to help run the plant instead of being sent out to the power grid.
They also talked about how they estimate future growth. Staff are making a chart that shows how much water different homes and businesses would use. We asked them to share that chart in simple terms so everyone can understand it.
What I asked
I kept my questions practical and focused on accountability. I’ve received complaints about the Construction at Hopkins Park. I think an area our county can improve on is how we interact with the community. Especially when they disagree with us.
Public feedback and transparency. We asked how the public can track this and when the next chance to be heard will be. Staff stated that peer agencies have already been noticed, that there will be a Commissioner’s public hearing, and that SEQRA will be revisited at each funding step. I asked for the hearing date to be posted clearly and for follow up documents to be made easy to find.
Odor and complaint tracking. I asked for a public facing odor and complaint system. Staff described internal procedures and said new assets will include odor control. I asked for a simple way for neighbors to submit complaints and to see responses.
Noise baselines. I asked what decibel baseline we are using and how we will verify after construction. Staff did not have the number on hand and committed to provide it. New equipment usually includes sound attenuation. I asked for a short plan that shows the baseline and how we will confirm compliance.
Wetlands and fill. I asked where wetland replacement will occur and at what ratio. Staff noted that existing lagoons classified as wetlands will be filled as part of the upgrade. I asked for the mitigation location and ratio in writing.
Spill history. Legislator Romeo asked about the DEC spill number listed in the packet and whether follow up sampling was done. Staff will provide the details.
Energy recovery. He also asked if Oak Orchard will send biogas to the grid like Metro. Staff said no, not at this time. Gas will support plant boilers and equipment. We asked for a brief note on future options like combined heat and power so we keep the door open.
What is next
A negative declaration is a statement that impacts will not be significant based on what we know today. It is not a final construction approval. I am hopeful that the following items to be posted or provided before we take the final step.
The date and details for the Commissioner’s public hearing
The simple EDU table that translates capacity into households and commercial users
The noise baseline and a short verification plan
The odor and complaint tracking process that the public can use and see
The wetland mitigation location and ratio
The DEC spill information and any follow up
I appreciate the team’s willingness to answer questions and to provide the missing pieces. The goal is not to slow good infrastructure. The goal is to do it right and to keep the public informed.
