Honeywell has completed the dredging and capping of Onondaga Lake. The result of more than two decades and millions of hours of intensive effort, the project was completed through an unwavering focus on sound science, technical excellence, community engagement, sustainable practices, and a commitment to health and safety. Habitat restoration, a major focus of the cleanup, continues in 2017, as does Honeywell’s commitment to encouraging community volunteers to become environmental stewards.

Watch a video about the impact of the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

“Onondaga Lake is becoming a source of pride and optimism for the community and an economic driver for the region thanks to the extraordinary efforts of state and federal regulators, Honeywell, Onondaga County, elected officials, educational institutions, and the community,” said Kate Adams, Honeywell Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “We are incredibly proud of the team that accomplished this successful project and grateful to the community for its support and engagement.”

Working under the supervision of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Honeywell worked with national and local experts, including the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), Syracuse University and Upstate Freshwater Institute. About 500 Central New York workers have been an integral part of the cleanup, providing expertise, essential resources, dedication, and hard work.

“The completion of this project to revitalize Onondaga Lake marks a major milestone for Central New York that will improve the quality of life for residents, and opens up additional opportunities for tourism, outdoor recreation, and economic development for the entire region,” New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said. “This work will help ensure that the lake remains a clean, viable natural resource for generations to come.”

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Onondaga Lake and its shores are undergoing major revitalization, helping return the lake to its former glory. A former source of shame, the lake is coming back as a source of pride for the community. Water quality is improving, aquatic populations are rebounding, and people are experiencing the lake in ways that haven’t been possible in generations. In the past, Onondaga Lake was often called the most polluted lake in the nation, but today, it is the most resilient.”

Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney said, “This is a moment to celebrate Onondaga Lake and all of those committed to its restoration. Together, Governor Cuomo, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Honeywell and Onondaga County are helping restore Onondaga Lake and its shores for the benefit of generations to come.”

In November 2015, Honeywell received Audubon New York’s Thomas W. Keesee, Jr. Conservation Award for its leadership in the cleanup, “one of the most ambitious environmental reclamation projects in the United States.”

Substantial Progress Achieved, Best Water Quality in More Than 100 Years

• Lake dredging was finished in November 2014, a year ahead of schedule.
• More than 3 million cubic yards of material consisting primarily of sand, activated carbon, and stone was used to cap 475 acres of the lake bottom, providing a new habitat layer.
• To date, 74 acres of wetlands have been created or enhanced and nearly 600,000 native plants, trees, and shrubs now provide diverse habitat for more than 230 wildlife species.
• Geddes Brook, LCP wetlands, and Nine Mile Creek are remediated and restored, creating a green corridor from the lake to upland areas.
• According to the New York State Department of Health, water quality in the northern two-thirds of Onondaga Lake has achieved public health criteria for swimming.
• DEC has documented 65 species of fish, up from nine to 12 counted in the 1970s.
• The aquatic plant community has expanded from less than 12 percent of shallow-water lake areas to about 80 percent, according to SUNY-ESF.
• Upstate Freshwater Institute has confirmed that methylmercury (the form of mercury that accumulates in fish and organisms) in deep-water portions has decreased 98 percent since 2009.
• EPA, in its five-year report on Onondaga Lake, states that the cleanup is progressing as expected:
  • Concentrations of dissolved mercury are significantly lower in surface water samples.
  • Levels of methylmercury have declined dramatically in both lake water and zooplankton. The decline is expected to contribute to lower mercury concentrations in fish.
  • Natural recovery in the lake is progressing faster than predicted.

The cleanup, together with upgrades made by Onondaga County to its wastewater treatment plant and the county’s Save the Rain program, has resulted in the best water quality in more than 100 years.

Community’s Vision and Dialogue Key to Sustainable Outcomes

The Central New York community has played a key role in the efforts to clean up Onondaga Lake.

• More than 1,200 community meetings, presentations, and tours have been held since 2004.
• The Onondaga Lake Community Participation Working Group has met to foster community input and provide ways for the public to receive information.
• Designed and built by Honeywell, the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center has hosted more than 14,000 people, providing the public with access to the significant work taking place.
• More than 650 community members have joined the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, which was founded in 2012 and seeks to inspire environmental stewardship through a hands-on, experience-based program. Citizens and organizations have the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain Onondaga Lake and its value as an Important Bird Area.
• In 2015, a symbolic lake swim drew hundreds of community members.
• Thousands of people attended the inaugural Onondaga Cup and Lakefest in July 2016, including Governor Cuomo.

View a fact sheet about the end of dredging and capping.

Watch videos and view photographs of the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

Read news about the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

Individuals interested in more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup can contact Honeywell at 315-552-9784 or visit www.lakecleanup.com.

Click here to download the Dredging and Capping Completed Fact Sheet (717 KB)

Solvay Fire Department received more than $5,000 worth of water rescue equipment, including personal flotation devices, buoys, lights, and stretchers. Pictured left to right are Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe, Chief of Fire Tom Spaeth, volunteer firefighter Heidi Armstrong, volunteer firefighter Jayson Kellogg, volunteer firefighter and EMT Steve VanOrden, volunteer firefighter Bob Zingaro, and Honeywell’s Advisor for Emergency Preparedness Peter Alberti.

“This new safety equipment is essential to prepare our department for increased recreational use of Onondaga Lake,” said Chief of Fire Tom Spaeth. “We thank Honeywell for helping Solvay Fire Department provide excellent response services in the event we’re called into action.”

Honeywell also donated more than $4,000 worth of rescue equipment to Lakeside Fire District. The equipment is built to transport patients on off-road terrain. Pictured left to right are Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe, First Assistant Chief Michael Kolakowski, volunteer firefighter and EMT Ben Robedee, volunteer firefighter Cody Schaefer, and Fire Chief Timothy Wolsey.

“Before this donation, we would walk to the scene and carry the patient out,” said Lakeside Fire Chief Timothy Wolsey. “Now, we can reach patients faster, begin treatment, and drive the patient to an awaiting roadside ambulance. We’re thankful for the help that Honeywell has provided. We are now better prepared for any emergency.”

Honeywell’s Emergency Response Team continues to meet with local emergency responders, including those from Baldwinsville, Camillus, Geddes, Liverpool, Solvay, the city of Syracuse, the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Management, and the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications 911 Dispatch Center, to prepare for and coordinate emergency response efforts related to the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

Substantial progress has been achieved on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, and water quality is the best it has been in decades. Dredging of the lake bottom was completed in 2014, a year ahead of schedule. Capping and habitat restoration will be finished in 2016.

“First responders have worked with Honeywell to prepare for any potential lake-related incidents,” said John McAuliffe, Honeywell Syracuse program director. “As the work progresses and recreational use of the lake increases, these additional resources will help the departments respond faster and more efficiently to emergency incidents.”

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

Dear Community Member,

Onondaga Lake is a story of growth and renewal. Wildlife is returning to restored wetlands and Honeywell finished dredging in 2014. Capping and habitat enhancements will be completed in 2016.

The early completion was the result of focused execution of a carefully designed project plan by hundreds of scientists, engineers, and skilled craft laborers. Nearly 90 percent of the workers live in Central New York and about 80 percent of project materials were supplied by New York State businesses.

The hard work of creative, knowledgeable, and dedicated professionals and members of the Central New York academic community has been critical to the success of this project.

Thousands of Central New Yorkers have learned about the cleanup by touring the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center along the southwest shoreline. In addition, hundreds of volunteers have joined the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, a partnership among Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, O’Brien & Gere, and Honeywell, and become environmental stewards protecting the Onondaga Lake watershed. We invite you to join us.

We are proud of the historical milestones we have achieved and hope you share our excitement as you read our sixth annual update. You can learn more by visiting our website at www.lakecleanup.com.

Sincerely,
John P. McAuliffe
Syracuse Program Director

“Water quality is the best in 100 years and more than 110 species of fish, birds, and mammals have returned to restored wetlands. Hundreds of Central New Yorkers are working on the project, and nearly 500 more have become environmental stewards helping to restore the watershed,” said John McAuliffe, Honeywell Syracuse program director. “The completion of dredging is a significant milestone in the restoration of one of Central New York’s most valuable resources. The community’s pride and passion has helped fuel this progress and is being rewarded as the lake will be a healthy, sustainable asset for generations to come.”

Capping and habitat restoration will continue through 2015 and be completed in 2016.

Early Completion of Dredging Result of Focused Execution
of Carefully Designed Project Plan

The completion of dredging a year ahead of schedule is the result of:

• seven years of design, piloting, and engineering
• investments in team building, health & safety and emergency response planning, community engagement, and contractor dialogue
• strong design team of national and local experts, the best in the field, who were motivated to work as a team
• talent, creativity, and dedication of local universities, engineers, suppliers, and craft labor
• on-site regulatory presence supporting timely decision-making
• commitment to continual improvement
• dedicated EPA / DEC oversight personnel

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Audubon
to Provide Input on Grass / Native Vegetation for Consolidation Area

Honeywell is working in cooperation with local environmental and wildlife stakeholders to explore innovative ways to enhance the traditional vegetated landfill cover for the consolidation area where the lake material will be permanently stored in geotextile tubes. Experts at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Audubon are providing critical input on selection of native grasses and vegetation as well as best management practices to foster sustainability.

Rendering of grass and native vegetation at consolidation area.

To view a fact sheet, click here.

Individuals interested in more information should contact Honeywell at 315-552-9784. For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

To view a video from the event, click here.

Click here to download the End of Dredging Fact Sheet (4MB PDF)

The Western Dredging Association (WEDA) has awarded the Onondaga Lake cleanup team the WEDA Annual Safety Award for its outstanding safety record and performance. The award is presented to “corporations or projects that have been conducted with special attention and focus to public and worker health and safety.”

The Onondaga Lake cleanup team includes Honeywell, Parsons, O’Brien & Gere, Sevenson Environmental Services, Infrastructure Alternatives, de maximus, and Anchor QEA.

To see a video about the WEDA Award and the Onondaga Lake cleanup team’s commitment to safety, click here.

“It gives me great pleasure to recognize Honeywell’s Onondaga Lake Restoration team, who has an outstanding commitment to safety, despite having a challenging multi-year project to implement,” said Thomas Verna, chairman of WEDA’s safety commission, at an event in June. “For several years now, WEDA has been able to recognize corporations and projects that emphasize safety, and we are very proud of that.”

President/Chairman of WEDA Ram Mohan (right), presents the award to Honeywell Director of Remediation Design and Construction William Hague (left) and Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe (center).

“Honeywell has really emphasized health and safety throughout the Onondaga Lake cleanup project. The work and attention to safety has paid off not only for the community, but also for the workers and the people that have been involved in this project,” said New York State Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli, pictured above (right) with John McAuliffe.

WEDA cited a culture of safety that has been promoted throughout the entire project, noting that in the first two years of the dredging project, a programwide commitment to safety has resulted in an enviable safety record with only one “lost time incident” reported. The award covered more than 874,000 hours of work, over two years.

A culture of safety has been promoted throughout the entire Onondaga Lake cleanup program. All new employees receive a site orientation; every project meeting begins with a safety moment; site safety audits are conducted at regular intervals; and Honeywell sponsors safety events for the entire workforce.

At the end of July, the Onondaga Lake dredging project was 83 percent complete. It is on schedule to be finished by the end of 2014, with capping to be completed in 2016.

“Our team has worked hard to conceive and execute this project using sound science, partnerships with national and local experts, and efficient regulatory oversight,” said Honeywell’s John McAuliffe. “WEDA’s recognition of the Onondaga Lake team’s outstanding health and safety practices and its exemplary record is a reflection of the team’s commitment to achieving a sustainable lake remedy while working in partnership with the local community,” said Honeywell’s William Hague.

McAuliffe and Hague are pictured above with Onondaga Lake cleanup management team members, pictured left to right: Bill Cretens, Infrastructure Alternatives; Joe Detor, Anchor QEA; Mike Crystal, Sevenson Environmental Services; Paul Blue, Parsons; New York State Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli; Larry Somer, Honeywell; Chris Calkins, O’Brien & Gere; and Bob Rule, de maximus.

WEDA is a member of the World Organization of Dredging Associations and covers North, Central and South America. WEDA is dedicated to the exchange of knowledge in fields related to dredging, navigation, marine engineering and construction by sponsoring or co-sponsoring national and international technical conferences, seminars, and symposiums, including publication and dissemination of the proceedings.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.

Honeywell is conducting the state’s cleanup plan under the supervision, and at the direction of, federal and state regulators. The protection of health and safety, for both workers and the public, is the top priority.

Under the direct supervision of DEC, Honeywell has taken extensive measures – and will continue to do so – to minimize odors. Every governmental agency that has looked at this project has confirmed, and reconfirmed, that any such odors do not constitute a health risk. The actual environmental data and the experts confirm this fact.

DEC and the Attorney General (AG) of the State of New York both submitted documents with the court supporting the government’s plan. DEC also determined that the Camillus community’s consultant, Minnich and Scotto based its report on “flawed assumptions and inaccurate information.” Key excerpts below.

Community Health and Safety Plan (CHASP)
A key part of the cleanup is the Health and Safety Plan, which was reviewed and approved by DEC.

• According to DEC’s court submission: “2012 SCA operations and all 2013 SCA operations to date have met all CHASP health-based numerical performance standards for air quality.” [The SCA is the sediment containment area where the lake material is consolidated and put into geotubes for drying and safe isolation long term.]

Attorney General Court Statement

• “[N]ot only are air emissions from the SCA monitored around the clock, and the resulting data available in ‘real time,’ the actual data generated by that monitoring has shown not a single exceedance of the conservative health-based criteria established by DEC and EPA to ensure protection of public health.”
• ” … Honeywell’s … ongoing remediation work is being conducted in compliance with the ROD, Consent Decree, and approved remedial design, including the Community Health and Safety Plan.” [Record of Decision is DEC's formal decision document.]

DEC Court Statement

• “It should be noted that during the planning and design process, the parties to the Consent Decree … planned for the possibility that odors could arise from the SCA operations.”
• ” … DEC will continue to monitor the project and ensure that Honeywell adaptively manages the remedial process so that all available and appropriate steps to reduce odors are taken.”

DEC Response to Minnich and Scotto, Town of Camillus Consultant

• “The Report does not incorporate the significant air quality monitoring data collected during the 2012 dredging operations, and instead, relies on a predictive model.”
• Minnich and Scotto’s “criticism of the existing air monitoring system is unfounded.”
• ” … DEC has vast and extensive experience in air monitoring at hundreds of other sites. … DEC sees no need to replace the existing comprehensive monitoring system. …”

After decades of intense planning, public participation, environmental engineering, and careful design by the regulatory agencies with expertise in this area, the restoration of Onondaga Lake should not be held hostage by the unfounded criticism of a consultant who recommends a different technology based upon, according to DEC, “flawed assumptions and inaccurate information.”

Central New York is on the cusp of a restored Onondaga Lake, which the community now believes – for the first time – will happen in their lifetimes.

Click here to download the 2012 Annual Report (4MB PDF)

Click here to download the Fall 2012 Fact Sheet (4MB PDF)