Heuvelton company agrees to reduce discharged pollutants in Oswegatchie River

NEW YORK — EPA announced a legal settlement with Losurdo Foods Inc. of Heuvelton, New York, that will reduce the amount of pollutants the company allegedly discharges to the municipal water treatment plant, according to a press release.

In addition to a penalty of $4,525, Losurdo agreed to upgrade its cheese manufacturing equipment, resulting in a 16 percent reduction in the amount of nitrate compounds and a 50 percent reduction in the amount of wastewater it sends to the treatment plant each year, stated the release.

The release reported that Losurdo uses nitric acid to clean its process lines and when treated, nitric acid produces nitrate compounds; both chemicals are toxic and can harm eyes, skin, the respiratory system and teeth and can cause significant environmental damage to streams, lakes and rivers.

By reducing the amount of nitrates and wastewater Losurdo sends to the Heuvelton water treatment plant, the company will be decreasing the quantity of nitrates discharged into the Oswegatchie River, noted the release.

You can find the release here.