STAMP Discharge FAQ

 

Neighbors,

On behalf of the Genesee County Economic Development Center, we would like to share some information with you about STAMP Mega-Site (Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park).  This generational economic development initiative will transform the future of the GLOW and Buffalo and Rochester regions.

An important update pertains to the construction of an underground pipeline that would discharge treated water from businesses at STAMP into an area waterway.  This process is similar to how municipalities treat water before it is discharged into local waterways.

For more information about STAMP, including studies and peer reviews of the pipeline please see the information provided below.

 

Read the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)'s Review

Download the DEC Responsiveness Summary (September 22, 2022)

 

What is STAMP?

STAMP (Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park) is an approximately 1,250 acre site that has been in development since 2008 to support next generation businesses in various industry sectors including the semiconductor and renewable energy space. 

Located in Genesee County, STAMP is designed to attract companies that will generate good jobs for families in nearby communities, including Pembroke (6.5 miles), Oakfield (7.5 miles), Akron (8.5 miles), Medina (10 miles), Batavia (16 miles), and Lockport (18 miles). Situated between Buffalo and Rochester, it is an ideal location to help bring new jobs and financial investments to our region.

 

What companies are at STAMP?

Plug Power, a green hydrogen manufacturer, and Edwards, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer, have committed to projects at STAMP.

Announced by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Plug Power and Edwards will create approximately 700 new jobs at average salaries above $80,000 and a total private sector investment of approximately $1 billion.

While the STAMP sanitary wastewater treatment plant would initially discharge approximately 50,000 gallons per day of treated water into Oak Orchard Creek, the studies and peer reviews assessed the impacts of the potential for a maximum of 6 million gallons per day as if STAMP was at full build out.

 

What is currently under construction?

A number of utility infrastructure projects have been completed at STAMP and others are in the process, including the construction of a force main for the discharging of treated water from the STAMP site that would empty into Oak Orchard Creek in the town of Shelby in Orleans County.

The first phase is currently under construction along State Highway 63, and two additional phases will complete the line from STAMP to the discharge point in the Creek.

This project is located primarily in existing New York State Department of Transportation right-of-ways in Genesee and Orleans County in which 40 temporary and permanent easements were negotiated with property owners.  

STAMP Discharge Route

 

What is the quality of water being discharged?

This pipeline will discharge treated water that has been treated to comply with strict standards set by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).  The NYSDEC permitting process does not allow the discharge of any substances into Oak Orchard Creek which would impair the waterway. 

Accordingly, the NYSDEC discharge permit include strict limitations that are at or below background levels in the creek.  For example, the phosphorus limit for the permit (0.2 mg/L) is actually lower than existing background levels in the Creek (0.25 mg/L).

Studies and peer reviews reviewed by the NYSDEC prior to the permit being approved found that there would be no appreciable impact to the water levels, no appreciable impact to flow rates, and that the treated water being discharged will have a constituency lower than what is currently in the creek now.

 

What are the major findings of the reports?

  • The increased flow from the STAMP discharge will not have a noticeable impact on the 100 year flood elevations downstream nor will it impact stream velocity, water levels, water quality impairments and/or area wide erosion.
  • The increase in surface water elevations in Oak Orchard Creek during a 10-year storm event would be approximately 1/8” to 1/4” with STAMP discharging at the maximum expected level of 6 MGD. 
  • Given the above, the Medina waste water treatment plant which currently operates with a maximum permitted level of treating 4.5 MGD could expand by another 10 MGD in order to accommodate new capacity for business growth and/or expansion without impact from STAMP’s maximum expected 6 MGD discharge. 
  • An adjoining dam to Oak Orchard Creek could absorb the 6 MGD into its storage capacity without modification to the dam’s operations. 

 

Read the Hydrology Report, Summary, and Peer Reviews

Download the JM Davidson Hydrology Report (May 22, 2020)

Download the JM Davidson Hydrology Report Summary (December 14, 2022)

Download the Wendel Peer Review (February 2, 2022)

Download the CPL Peer Review (March 31, 2022)

 

What does this project mean for our community?

The creation of over 700 high-quality jobs in the renewable energy manufacturing and semiconductor manufacturing industries.

It is anticipated that the industries targeted for STAMP will create opportunities for supply chain companies, including those currently in our region and others that will look to locate in our region. In fact, construction work at Plug Power and Edwards have already brought increased opportunities to local businesses and our skilled labor workforce.