New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $50,000 penalty today for the Niagara Falls New York Water Board.
The penalty stems from the July 29th discharge of black smelly water into an area in the lower Niagara River near the falls during a busy tourist weekend.
Cuomo says the Water Board will also be required to make changes at its aging wastewater plant and get state approval before making any future discharges.
State officials have determined the July 29 discharge was the result of basic breaches in protocol.
Local water officials have blamed outdated equipment and miscommunication between employees for the incident.
The board has also been cited for an unrelated discharge in August.