Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the state Department of Environmental Conservation to sue the International Joint Commission over Lake Ontario flooding.
The lawsuit alleges that mismanagement at the IJC and the commission's failure to respond to record high water levels on Lake Ontario exacerbated damage to shoreline properties.
"We will not shoulder the burden of the destruction that is a direct result of the IJC's gross mismanagement of Lake Ontario water levels, and the IJC needs to compensate New York for the severe damage to the homes and businesses along the shoreline. That's what this lawsuit is all about," said Cuomo.
In a statement, Senator Rob Ortt called the lawsuit "long overdue." Ortt added, "Although the Attorney General’s office declined to act on my proposal to sue the federal government for damages caused by Lake Ontario’s flooding back in May, I am pleased to see they have had a change of heart and will now seek financial compensation for the residents, localities, and businesses along the lake’s shores."
The governor's office says the state sustained more than $4 million in property damage as a result of the flooding, and the lawsuit seeks to have the IJC compensate the state for the damages.