To the Editor:

Since early 2024, North Lawrence and Brasher residents have seen Leptomitus lactus contamination, a sewage fungus, in the Deer River due to North Country Dairy’s processing waste (“North Lawrence and Brasher residents voice concerns over Deer River contamination” North Country Now, 6/6/24). The fungus is smelly and blob-like, posing threats to nearby residents’ well water as well as aquatic ecosystems in the river. Not only is the dairy plant still operating, but its representatives have failed to take responsibility for their actions and clean up Deer River.

Close to the river, some communities could become environmental justice areas, meaning they would be disproportionately burdened by environmental degradation. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Potential Environmental Justice Areas (PEJAs) map, the area of contamination is sandwiched between two PEJAs, where 65% of the communities are minority populations and 30% live below the poverty line. Deer River, a tributary of St. Regis Falls, has even smaller connected brooks in the affected PEJAs, so the sewage fungus could potentially spread into these marginalized communities.

Kevin J. Ellis, CEO of North Country Dairy, released a well-crafted — but ultimately lackluster — statement (https://northlawrencecommunityupdate.com/) on the issue, leaving out any form of direct action.

Let’s hold North Country Dairy accountable for its mess and ensure that no communities, especially those that have been historically underserved, have to deal with further water contamination. 

Caroline Ettinger-DeLong
Potsdam