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New York State expands Lake Ontario flooding lawsuit against IJC

The state claims the International Joint Commission failed to implement its flood protocol and did not provide relief to waterfront homes and business owners.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State expanded its lawsuit over Lake Ontario flooding against the International Joint Commission on Friday.

Governor Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Letitia James claim that the organization failed to implement its flood protocol and did not provide relief to waterfront homes and business owners.

“The International Joint Commission failed their primary mission of properly managing Lake Ontario’s water levels,” James said in a statement.

“We will not stand by while the IJC continues to expose New Yorkers to dangerous flooding. The individuals and families along the shoreline do not deserve the pain of having to deal with the damages to their homes and businesses.”  

The state's Department of Environmental Conservation had filed a lawsuit last month. Friday's announcement means that the lawsuit will now include "damages incurred by all state agencies, including DEC, which collectively number more than $50 million."

Those damages outlined by the state include:

  • Damages to state property;
  • Damages consisting of monies the State spent and will spend to repair harms to property, municipalities, and residents;
  • And damages to natural resources, including the value of lost recreational activities.

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