Settlement aimed at helping restore watershed damaged by decades of industrial pollution

By Andy Gardner

For decades starting in the 1950s, several industrial facilities released hazardous substances into areas around the St. Lawrence River, contaminating and degrading natural resources.

Funds secured by the federal government, the State of New York, and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe for resulting damage to natural resources, fishing and Mohawk culture are now available for restoration and recreational projects in the region.

The natural resource trustees, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Environmental Conservation, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are accepting proposals through Oct. 15 for projects that cost up to $8 million and focus on restoring natural resources and natural resource services in the St. Lawrence watershed near Akwesasne and Massena.

The funds come from settlements with Alcoa Inc. (Alcoa West) and Reynolds Metals Company, as well as General Motors, which provided the trustees with $20.3 million for restoration. Since 2013, the trustees have used the funds to develop a Mohawk Master/Apprentice program and Mohawk language program, as well as provide support to programs such as the Akwesasne Freedom School and Cultural Center. The trustees have also acquired 726 acres of habitat at Coles Creek and Wilson Hill, restored habitat for Blanding’s turtles and common terns, removed 4 stream barriers to open up 45 miles for fish passage, and constructed 4 boat launches and fishing access sites.

The goal of the natural resource damage assessment and restoration process is to replace, restore, rehabilitate, or acquire the equivalent of injured natural resources and resource services lost due to the release of hazardous substances – at no cost to the taxpayer. This process is distinct from the remediation or cleanup process overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and NYSDEC.

Projects must be located at Akwesasne or within or adjacent to the area affected by contamination from the General Motors, Alcoa or Reynolds facilities in Massena.

Restore natural resources or natural resource services, such as fishing. Outcomes could include acres of habitat restored or protected, new boating or shoreline access, improved water quality, restored fisheries, or improvements to other cultural aspects such as horticulture and basket-making; medicine plants and healing; hunting and trapping; or the Mohawk language and relationships between elders and youth.

Be consistent with goals in the St. Lawrence Environment Restoration and Compensation Determination Plan, which can be found at https://bit.ly/2mbMgqE. Proposals must include enough information for the trustees to evaluate cost and restoration effectiveness. The maximum project award is $1,000,000 and the minimum is $25,000.

Proposal requirements and submission information is at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=f19as00328, or go to Grants.gov and search for Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00328.