EPA Removes New York’s Rochester Embayment from List of Most Polluted Areas in the Great Lakes
Nearly $14 million in GLRI cleanup funding results in delisting New York’s second area of concern
CHICAGO (Oct. 8, 2024) –Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia joined state and local partners in Rochester, New York, at an event to celebrate the cleanup and restoration of the Rochester Embayment, a 35-square-mile bay on Lake Ontario’s south shore. After decades of work, the embayment has officially been removed from the binational list of “Areas of Concern,” and is no longer considered one of the Great Lakes’ most environmentally degraded areas.
“The Rochester Embayment has become a thriving ecosystem for wildlife and a valuable resource for Rochester area residents,” said EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The delisting is a milestone for Rochester and the entire Great Lakes region. It demonstrates that we can reverse the environmental harm caused by decades of pollution if we collaborate across government, community, and business sectors and prioritize environmental stewardship.”
“It took decades to get here, but the benefits of this accomplishment will be enjoyed for many generations,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Debra Shore. “Cleaning up areas of concern means cleaner water, greener areas and more opportunities for economic revitalization, recreation and tourism. The Rochester community can now connect with this treasured resource in ways that once weren’t possible.”
“I was thrilled to lead the charge and secure $9.5 million in federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to finally rebuild the Braddock Bay barrier beach that Hurricane Agnes washed away in 1972 in the Town of Greece,” said Sen. Charles Schumer. “In the four years since its reconstruction, Braddock Bay has been transformed from a pollution hotspot into a thriving area with healthy restored habitats for wildlife and improvements that returned tourism, boating, and recreation to the waterfront. The Braddock Bay restoration was the last of 14 major pollution and ecologically impaired hotspots along Rochester’s Lake Ontario and Genesee River embayment coast line - from Webster to Parma - that have now been cleaned up and restored thanks to federal GLRI funding. The water is cleaner, birds and fish are more abundant, beach closures are down, and the Rochester coastline can now be removed from the EPA’s list of ‘Areas of Concern.’ I fought to secure a historic $1 billion for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with moments like this in mind. Investing in the Great Lakes means investing in the future of New York, and I will always fight for funding so our community can enjoy the full natural beauty and economic energy of the wonderful communities along the Great Lakes.”
“The delisting of the Rochester Embayment as an “Area of Concern” represents decades of effort to achieve a cleaner environment and healthier ecosystem,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. “I’m proud to celebrate this milestone for the Greater Rochester region and will continue to fight for GLRI funding to ensure that Lake Ontario, and all the Great Lakes can benefit from restoration efforts such as this one.”
“The Great Lakes are our region’s greatest natural wonder, providing recreational opportunities, acting as a critical economic driver, and serving as the home and habitat for wildlife,” said Rep. Joe Morelle. “After decades of dedicated work, I’m proud to be with the EPA for today’s delisting announcement and reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the Great Lakes for decades to come. I look forward to continuing our work together on this important issue.”
In 1987, the United States and Canada identified 43 “Areas of Concern” on the Great Lakes affected by historical contamination. Decades of industrial and urban pollution in the Rochester Embayment watershed contaminated sediments which led to habitat loss and fish and wildlife impairment. Thanks to a collaborative effort from all levels of government, the embayment has undergone a remarkable recovery. It is the seventh of the U.S. sites to be delisted and the second in New York.
“The transformation of the Rochester Embayment Area of Concern is a significant success story in the overall restoration and protection of the Great Lakes and Genesee River. Cleaner waters attract greater economic and recreational opportunities and provide more resilient habitat for birds, wildlife, fisheries, and communities,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “Today marks a significant milestone for the Rochester Embayment, the city of Rochester, and surrounding communities, and DEC is proud to have worked with U.S. EPA, Monroe County, and other restoration partners on this monumental effort that will positively impact the region for generations to come.”
“Today marks a tremendous milestone for Monroe County and our entire region as the Rochester Embayment is officially delisted as an Area of Concern. This achievement reflects decades of hard work, collaboration and a shared commitment to restoring the health of our waters,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “The embayment, which suffered from pollution for years, is now a thriving ecosystem once again supporting recreation, wildlife and economic activity. Thanks to the dedication of federal, state and local partners, especially through initiatives like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Monroe County’s Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Program, we have safeguarded this resource for generations to come.”
The Rochester Embayment received nearly $14 million through the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, or GLRI, to fund eight habitat restoration projects. Thanks to these projects, 275 acres of habitat and 30,000 linear feet of wetland channeling have been restored to improve connectivity and biodiversity in the bay.
The federal government also funded additional cleanups that have significantly improved conditions in the area of concern. These include a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act funded sediment remediation project at the Eastman-Kodak Business Park; a $550 million combined sewer overflow abatement program undertaken by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the city of Rochester; multi-state sediment remediation efforts across six manufactured gas plants; sediment removal efforts overseen by DEC to address contamination left behind at six former manufactured gas plants in the vicinity; and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ routine navigational channel dredging.
Federal funding is provided through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as part of a larger effort to restore and protect the Great Lakes. The GLRI was launched in 2010 as a non-regulatory program to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world.
In February 2022, President Biden and EPA Administrator Regan announced a $1 billion investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to significantly accelerate cleanup and restoration of the Great Lakes. EPA projects that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, combined with funds from annual Great Lakes Restoration Initiative appropriations and other sources, will result in the completion of cleanups at 22 of the 24 remaining areas of concern.
For more information about the Rochester Embayment Area of Concern, including the delisting report, please visit EPA’s webpage. A video highlighting this achievement can be viewed on DEC’s website.
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