Syracuse, N.Y. -- The bottom of Onondaga Lake near a possible beach could be contaminated with toxic chemicals, the Onondaga Nation said today in a report.

The nation said Onondaga County needs to test for industrial chemicals while conducting a study of whether a beach will be built at the north end of the lake.

"All potential beach sites along the northern shore of the lake were found to have elevated levels of toxic chemicals in 1992 testing," said the nation's report. "Throughout most of this area, one or more contaminant was found at levels that could be toxic to animals living in the sediments."

Last year, the county was awarded a $330,000 grant from the state to study whether to open a beach on the north end of the lake, probably at Willow Bay. The county must kick in $110,000 worth of staff time toward the study.

County officials have said that bacteria test results over the past several years show that the northern end of the lake is safe for swimming.

The Onondaga Nation said the county needs to look at not just bacteria levels, but at potential chemical contamination swimmers might contact.

"My impression is that they're focused on bacteria only," nation attorney Joe Heath said in an interview with Syracuse.com "That's clearly not the only issue in the lake."

Heath said the sediments in the lake contain mercury and 26 other chemicals, and that only a portion of the lake was dredged and capped by Honeywell.

County spokesman Justin Sayles did not immediately return a phone call.

A beach would need the approval of the state Department of Health. The department's regulations for beaches focus largely on bacteria, but also mention "chemical quality" of the water: "The water shall be free of chemical substances capable of creating toxic reactions, skin or membrane irritations to the general public."

It's not clear how much contamination lies in the sediment near Willow Bay, or what effects any chemicals there would have on swimmers.

The Onondaga Nation's report says that new testing is also needed because at least two tributaries to the lake could be bringing more chemicals into the lake. Bloody Brook had chromium and cadmium from a former General Electric plant, and Sawmill Creek could be bringing byproducts from the railroad tracks and distribution warehouses it meanders by on its way to the lake, the report says.

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