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BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

BRASHER -- One week after the Department of Environmental Conservation attempted to address pollution concerns of citizens living along the Deer River, officials with North Country Dairy took to the mic.

Like last week, the meeting was contentious and filled with over 50 residents who were demanding answers from the plant's leadership as to what measures were being taken to clean up the Deer River.

But North Country Dairy CEO Kevin Ellis and interim plant manager Michael Zielinski did not always have answers.

The town hall meeting was yet another attempt to clarify what happened to the Deer River, what is being done to stop the contamination and what will be done to remediate the issues it has caused.

Just algae?

Ellis, who lives near Buffalo, said the plant "wants to be a good neighbor and do everything we can to address the issue."

But when prompted to admit that North Country Dairy is contaminating the river, Ellis shot back at residents that the Notice of Violation issued to the plant simply stated the river growth is "algae."

"That's all it says, algae," he said.

Ellis told residents that the DEC's report and Notice of Violation point fingers at the plant, essentially arguing "it is happening down river of your discharge pipe and not upstream of it, therefore you must be the cause."

Ellis said that justification alone is not enough to prove one way or another if the plant is contaminating the river.

"We don't even know what it is. It just says algae," Ellis said in reference to DEC documents.

"We know what it is. The DEC said it's sewage fungus," resident James Gurrola said.

Gurrola has been an outspoken critic of the process, attending town board meetings, county legislature meetings and local town halls.

Gurrola said residents were not there "to beat up on" North Country Dairy officials, saying residents wanted honest answers and transparency from both the plant and DEC officials.

"We appreciate you guys being here. We're happy you have finally come here to meet with us. But something has to be done. We live here. This is our community," he said.

Gurrola said there has been marginal change in recent weeks, with the usually "putrid" smell subsiding.

Plant officials say the introduction of good bacteria to the lagoons has likely helped with the smell.

"We're doing everything we can right now to figure out how to make this better. Any information or feedback you all have will help us to correct any issues," Ellis said.

But not all residents were pleased with Ellis' responses.

One resident questioned the plant's response to the DEC Notice of Violation issued in July, saying the plant has not done enough to help residents.

"You could have started at any time. You didn't need the DEC to tell you something (was wrong)," the resident said.

Ellis said he was just made aware of any issues earlier this spring, contrary to what some residents said during the meeting. Some residents said they had issued formal complaints for three straight years, saying the DEC did not formally investigate despite the complaints.

"I grew up in Skaneateles. I know good, clean water. I could drink the water there. I could swim in it," the resident said.

But Ellis pointed to a recent development "a couple of years ago" in Skaneateles that he said disproved that theory.

"Well, I hate to burst your bubble but they couldn't drink the water two years ago. Blue green algae. I know. I grew up there, so I know," Ellis responded.

Many residents questioned the processes the plant uses to eliminate waste and byproduct during the manufacturing process of Greek yogurt and sour cream as well.

Upgrades made

Ellis and Zielinski detailed many processes and upgrades the plant has made in recent years, including the installation of 8 new aerators to introduce more oxygen when necessary "to feed the good bacteria" when not enough oxygen is being produced in the multiple lagoons where byproduct is stored.

Zielinski said the plant installed six additional units in 2021 and two more in 2023 to help with the process.

Ellis also pointed to periodic tests and sampling being conducted by plant staff, saying they closely monitor everything coming into and everything leaving the plant.

"We check for everything from PH levels to discharge levels, you name it," Zielinski said.

When prompted for statistics, both Ellis and Zielinski provided them to residents. Many appeared shocked to learn that PH levels could range from 5.5 to 9.

Ellis told residents that the range was established by the DEC and the permitting process, known as SPEDES.

State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permits are issued through the DEC for numerous operations, including the dairy plant, and set the rules and standards for discharges such as the whey byproduct from North Country Dairy.

Hard questions

On multiple occasions, Ellis commented that the plant was working within the parameters of the permit issued to the plant.

That sentiment frustrated some in attendance who questioned Ellis if plant officials were pointing fingers at the DEC.

Ellis declined to comment.

As the meeting began to wind down resident Chris Beckstead launched into a series of questions, asking Ellis directly if plant officials believed the DEC report was incorrect in blaming the plant for the pollution.

Ellis in turn said they did not know what the pollution was yet and wanted to conduct further research to figure out what it was.

"But you're saying you want to find a solution but you don't know what it is. Don't you think you need to figure out what it is first before you can do something about it?" Beckstead asked.

Beckstead asked a number of other questions over 10 minutes, including what training or certifications the plant workers have, as well as discharge levels, production levels and reporting standards.

In most cases Ellis said the information was "largely proprietary" but did say that employees have extensive training to ensure full compliance with state, DEC and EPA regulations.

Dead fish

Local fishing promoter and Town of Massena Fishing Promoter Don Meissner also spoke to his concerns, recounting many fond memories and experiences he had on the river, including a guided tour he led for an Army Special Forces colonel years ago.

Meissner told the attendees and plant officials that many people he has guided on the river have become lifelong friends, many of whom have told him that their shared experiences are "some of their fondest memories."

"This river has the ability to change lives forever...this gave them a chance to experience something they would not be able to experience anywhere else," he said.

"This river, the Deer River, in my mind is the best Muskie river in the world," he continued.

Meissner said he and Linda McQuinn, Town of Massena grant writer, travel the Northeast promoting the region for "tourism based on our ecosystem."

But with the damage done to the river, Meissner said the ecosystem has been severely damaged and along with it the community.

Meissner said the primary reason he and his family moved to the area in 1967 was because his father was employed at the exact dairy plant in North Lawrence. Following a stint in the Navy during Vietnam, Meissner said he "longed to return to the North Country," with the memories of fishing the Deer River etched in his memory.

Meissner said he wants the same opportunity for others, whether they live on the Deer River, wish to host a class reunion on the river or make it a part of their daily lives.

According to Meissner, many residents have contacted him regarding the loss of aquatic life on the river, with many saying they fear the fish populations will not bounce back. "But that's all we want to know. We know a lot of everything that not only you have talked about, but also the DEC said, kind of goes over everybody's head because it's not what we've come here to hear. We came here to hear an answer as to how we can get our life back," Meissner finished.

Ellis said plant officials did not have many answers.

"We're here because we're not hiding. We're here to be transparent. And we're here to tell you, we want to be part of the solution. So we'll continue this dialogue and as we get more information we will let you know," Ellis said.