NY Hydro Operator To Pay $4M After Anglers’ Deaths

OSWEGO, N.Y. (AP) — A hydroelectric company has agreed to pay $4 million and make $1.7 million in safety upgrades following the deaths of two fishermen who were swept away during a water release in central New York.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says Brookfield Renewable Energy Group agreed to the payments as part of an investigation that concluded there were a number of safety problems at their plant on the Oswego River.

The fatal mishap happened in 2010.

Investigators say sirens were sounded twice to warn anglers, once about 90 minutes and again about an hour before the actual release. But the alert wasn't repeated just before water was allowed to rush into the river.

Caught in the water and killed were 45-year-old Leonard Nichols of Wellsburg and 52-year-old Clifford Luther of Horseheads.