New York agency fined $50,000 US for black discharge near Niagara Falls

New York state will fine the Niagara Falls Water Board $50,000 US for discharging black and smelly water near the falls during a busy tourist weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.

The agency will be required to make changes at its aging wastewater plant and obtain state approval before any future discharges.

The July 29 discharge caused discoloured water to empty into the Niagara River near the American side of the falls on a summer weekend critical to the local tourism industry. The foul-smelling discharge enveloped the dock for the popular Maid of the Mist tour boats.

Cuomo soon ordered an investigation into the matter.

"Polluting one of world's greatest wonders is completely intolerable and unacceptable, and this action today will hold the Niagara Falls Water Board accountable, require them to clean up their practices and protect the economically important Niagara River," Cuomo said in a statement released on the governor's website.

"We have to make sure it never ever happens again," he said during a subsequent visit Thursday to Niagara Falls. He said the state determined the discharge was the result of "basic breaches of protocol" at the plant.

A message left with water board executive director Rolfe Porter was not immediately returned Thursday. Local water officials have blamed outdated equipment and miscommunication between employees for the incident. The board also has been cited for an unrelated discharge in August.

Cuomo dismissed claims the discharge was caused by technological issues, likening the plant to an old car that's in a crash.

"It's not the age of the car — you drove it into a tree," he said. "That's the problem. You drove the car into a tree. Let's discuss that first."