Business owners around Seneca Lake thrive on the tourism that comes to the Finger Lakes Region. However, many believe the tourism business is in jeopardy with a proposal to store liquid petroleum gas underground in the region. As our Bill Mich tells us, some owners are now coming together to present a united front against the local gas storage.

BURDETT, N.Y. — It was standing room only at the Damiani Wine Cellars. The mission, to bring as many people together as possible to fight the proposed underground storage of liquid petroleum gas near Seneca Lake.”We are going up against a multi-billion dollar corporation that has very deep pockets and we need to show a united front and let them know that this is not right for this area,” said concerned local resident Joseph Campbell.

That corporation is Inergy, the energy storage company that wants to store over two million barrels of LPG in underground salt caverns. The company has presented their facts to the public and say their operation is safe and won’t bring any negative effects to the region. But some residents and business owners just aren’t buying it.

“The best laid plans of engineers go awry and that impacts all of us here,” said co-owner of Damiani Wine Cellars, Lou Damiani.

The potential for hazardous leaks, explosions, and constant noise and light pollution from the industry have local business owners worried about the area’s tourism.

“By some tourist magazines, the number one lake tourist spot in the world, in the world, and what do we want to do? We want to make it the industrial hub of north east gas distribution? That’s going to help us? I don’t think so,” Damiani said.

By presenting a united front, owners think they can make a difference. They have collected nearly 1,200 petition signatures and hired a lawyer to fight the storage company. Keeping things the way they are is the ultimate goal.

“It is a place that people enjoy because of it serenity and its pure waters and that’s what everybody wants to keep,” said Seneca Sailing Adventures Owner Terry Stewart.

The group will hold another public information meeting detailing their concerns of the proposed gas storage Wednesday night at the Glenora Wine Cellars.