Days after it was revealed Great Lakes Cheese has repeated discharge violations since opening last November, the DEC is “evaluating” its enforcement tools.

FRANKLINVILLE, N.Y. — Two days after WGRZ reported that Great Lakes Cheese violated its discharge permit 20 times between November 2024 and the end of July 2025, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is acknowledging the violations for the first time. 

In a lengthy statement issued Saturday afternoon, NYSDEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said:

“DEC takes seriously our responsibility to protect water and air quality and to ensure the environment and public are fully protected. Following the devastating water quality and habitat impacts to Ischua Creek in Franklinville, Cattaraugus County, DEC took immediate action to address water quality violations and deployed dozens of our experts in water, wildlife, incident management, and enforcement.

“The findings of DEC’s investigation to date indicates that discharges from the Great Lakes Cheese’s operations are the primary cause of the August 2025 fish and wildlife die-off. 

“DEC is continuing its comprehensive investigation into water quality and wildlife impacts to Ischua Creek. We are using every enforcement tool at our disposal to address all violations at Great Lakes Cheese to ensure the protection of the air, land, and water in this community.

“DEC is evaluating all enforcement tools at our disposal regarding this incident and outstanding violations and will pursue any natural resource damages as appropriate to ensure the restoration of the impacted section of Ischua Creek.”

On Aug. 29, after an order by the DEC to immediately remedy the situation, Great Lakes Cheese  halted production at the Franklinville facility. 

Several mobile wastewater treatment trailers have been on site for more than a week, according to sources. What’s unclear, at this time, is whether or not those trailers are simply storing waste or processing it and it’s being discharged offsite via tractor trailers. 

2 On Your Side has reached out to the DEC for clarity about this. 

NYS Senator George Borrello on Friday said he spoke with Commissioner Lefton, and reiterated that while he was frustrated that he found out about GLC’s repeated violations through WGRZ’s report, he was confident after speaking with her that DEC will hold the company accountable.

“It does appear to point to the fact that they have to make some significant changes to their infrastructure and waste handling, and that does appear to be what’s going on,” Borrello said. “Make no mistake about it, DEC is going to hold Great Lakes cheese responsible for environmental damage, but this does not appear to be anything that was done intentionally.”

Residents tell WGRZ that another protest outside Great Lakes Cheese is planned for Friday, Sept. 19 at 4:30 p.m.Â