Environmental Compliance
Genesee County Economic Development Center's (GCEDC’s) development of the STAMP Site is overseen by local, state, and federal permitting authorities. GCEDC works closely with these regulators to ensure that the development of STAMP complies with all applicable environmental laws.
Environmental Review
- Prior to any company locating at STAMP, the GCEDC completes two separate environmental analyses. The first is specific to the Tonawanda Seneca Nation (the Nation) and is designed to ensure that no development at STAMP will result in any adverse impacts to the Nation’s Territory. That review process is overseen by either the United States Army Corps of Engineers or NYSDEC, as well as the NY State Historic Preservation Office. The initial assessment document for each project is provided to the Nation for a 30-day review and comment period about the project as the start of the SEQR process.
- In addition to the Nation-specific analysis, GCEDC completes a fulsome review of every project pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act in coordination and consultation with dozens of local, state, and federal agencies, as well as the Nation. This review builds upon and goes above and beyond the original SEQR process that started in 2010.
Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
- In 2019, New York State passed into law the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act which, among other things, requires State Agencies to ensure that projects are in compliance with the goals of the CLCPA, including carbon emission reduction.
- While GCEDC is not a state agency, all projects seeking state funding or approvals undergo a CLCPA analysis. Edwards Vacuum is currently constructing a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility which will rely upon power delivered from the New York Power Authority’s Robert Moses Niagara Hydroelectric Power Station. The Edwards project does not include any demand for natural gas and will in fact offset greenhouse gas emissions by replacing offshore manufacturing (with its associated emissions from trans-oceanic transportation) with local manufacturing with far shorter transportation demands. In addition, the Edwards project underwent a number of revisions (including the switch to all electric and utilizing water-based paint systems) in order to eliminate emissions.
Treaty of Canandaigua
The 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua enshrines the right of Haudenosaunee to the “free use and enjoyment” of their lands. As detailed above, all development at STAMP is carefully analyzed prior to approval to ensure that the build out of STAMP has no adverse impact upon the Nation or its Territory. In fact, the development of STAMP results in several tangible benefits to the Nation, including the gradual replacement of untreated agricultural runoff from the existing farm fields to stormwater runoff managed in accordance with NYSDEC standards as well as the establishment of a permanent no-build buffer covering over 200 acres adjacent to the Nation’s Territory.
Waste Water Treatment
- Any company at STAMP will be required to pretreat wastewater prior to discharge as well as meet strict discharge limits set by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
- An underground discharge pipeline to Oak Orchard Creek would have minimal impacts on area waterways and communities and the necessary permits for its construction have been approved by the regulatory agencies, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
