The NYS DEC fined Great Lake Cheese for discharging hazardous materials into Ischua Creek. The investigation found that an August 2025 discharge poisioned fish and wildlife. A $475,000 corrective action was filed against Great Lakes Cheese.
The Order requires Great Lakes Cheese to complete extensive corrective actions to address violations, including detailed in-stream monitoring at the facility’s wastewater treatment plant operations; modifications to the wastewater treatment plant; implementation of plans to timely detect plant upsets to prevent a recurrence of the August 2025 discharge; actions to abate hydrogen sulfide exceedances from reoccurring; and the hiring of independent third parties approved by DEC to further ensure compliance with the terms of the Order, timely reporting of sampling data, and evaluating the design and operation of the biogas collection and control system to ensure compliance with the company’s Air State Facility permit.