BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week

CANTON — Attorneys for the town of Canton will be sending a reply letter to the state Department of Environmental Conservation notifying the agency that there are no publicly owned sewer systems in the town.

The DEC recently sent a notice to the town to register what it believes is a publicly owned sewer system or face a fine of more than $37,000 per day until it is registered.

Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley told the board at their meeting Dec. 10 that, after conferring with the town codes department and the village department of public works, she had contacted the DEC after receiving the notice to tell them that the town does not operate such a system.

“What’s concerning about this letter is failure to register is a violation of NYCR750, at a rate of $37,500 per day. So that drew my attention and that’s why I’ve been working on this,” Ashley told the board.

Ashley said a DEC representative told her that the notice was the result of the DEC being audited by the state Comptroller’s Office and discrepancies in the DEC’s registration program for publicly owned sewers.

During a brief discussion on the matter Town Councilman Jimmy Smith recounted how at one time the town did operate a sewer district. However, that district was eventually annexed into the village.

“It’s the DEC’s problem. If they bill us we aren’t going to pay it, and if they pursue it I’m confident we can convince them we don’t operate a sewer system,” said Town Councilman Tim Danehy during the discussion.

Ashley said she would work with town attorney Eric Gustafson on drafting a letter in reply to the DEC.