April 16, 2025
OLEAN, N.Y. – The Seneca Nation and the City of Olean have created a joint task force to find long-needed solutions to the chronic discharge of untreated sewage from the City’s wastewater treatment system into the Ohi:yo’, the Seneca name for the Allegheny River.
Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca and Olean Mayor William Aiello announced the task force at a press conference at the city’s South 4th Street Pump Station, where several discharges into the river have occurred in recent years. The creation of the ten-person task force, which will include both President Seneca and Mayor Aiello, stemmed from a meeting between the two leaders that occurred last week.
“The chronic sewage overflows is an issue that is destroying our river and impacting residents of our Allegany Territory and other communities downstream from Olean. This is unacceptable,” President Seneca said. “The Seneca Nation is not prepared to wait several more years for a solution. We are committed to working together to help our neighbors in Olean and the City’s leaders find a path forward that prioritizes the river and the health of those who enjoy and depend upon her waters.”
“The City of Olean is pleased to have formed this task force with the Seneca Nation,” Mayor Aiello said. “Our collaboration affords us the opportunity to pool our expertise and mutual resources to address the challenges that Olean faces in our wastewater management practices. The Allegheny River is an asset for both the City of Olean and the Seneca Nation; safeguarding the environmental integrity of the river and public health is important for both of our communities. We look forward to working with President Seneca and the task force members in the coming months on this project.”
In addition to President Seneca, the Seneca Nation representatives on the task force are Seneca Nation Councillors Joshua Becker and Jonathan D. Williams; Kevin Jimerson, construction program manager; and Scott John, director of utilities.
The City of Olean will be represented on the task force by Mayor Aiello; Comon Council President John Crawford; Brad Camp, superintendent of sewer and water; Jeremy Meerdink, chief wastewater plant operator; and the City’s soon-to-be-named director of the Department of Public Works.
In 2001, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an Administrative Order of Consent for the City of Olean to upgrade its wastewater treatment facilities to stop discharges into the river. The order has subsequently been revised multiple times to allow the city additional time. Currently, Olean has until 2042 to become fully compliant with the order.
An approximate 35-mile stretch of the river is located on Seneca Nation territory. Many Nation members live along the river and regularly swim, fish and boat in its waters. Since 2007, there have been 46 recorded discharges from the city’s system into the river, resulting in millions of gallons of dangerous waste flowing through communities downstream, including the Nation’s Allegany Territory. In April and June 2024 alone, overflow events resulting from heavy rains in the area accounted for more than 460,000 gallons of untreated sewage being discharged into the river.
Despite the health and environmental risks posed by the repeated discharges, and despite repeated calls from the Nation and others to address and permanently fix the city’s infrastructure systems, Olean officials have maintained a course of making minimal investments of $250,000 in annual repairs, in keeping with the 2042 compliance deadline of the Order of Consent.
“The status quo and following the current path cannot be an option. We know that, and I believe the City’s leaders understand that as well,” President Seneca added. “The Seneca Nation and our people, along with our neighbors along Ohi:yo’, have been vocal in calling for action from the City. We’re not going to stop. Through this task force, the Seneca Nation will now have a meaningful seat at the table to keep pressing for a solution now, not two decades from now. If our Nation can assist Olean – through advocacy, through the expertise of our grant writers, and through other avenues – to finally put an end to this harmful situation, we are committed to doing that. The destruction of the river needs to stop now.”
Check out the live stream of the event HERE!
