SYRACUSE -- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis answered criticism from actor Alec Baldwin during a visit to Onondaga Lake Tuesday.

On a statewide tour to promote the upcoming 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Grannis sees the cleanup of Onondaga Lake as a success story but is not about to say mission accomplished. "We have a long way to go to address the toxic contaminants in the lake."

The state's plan to allow Honeywell to dispose of sediment in wastebed 13 in Camillus came under fire on Saturday from actor Alec Baldwin, who has relatives living in Camillus. Baldwin called for the state to find an alternative disposal site.

Commissioner Grannis said he understands the concerns of Baldwin and people living near the proposed waste site. "Alec is a great actor. Obviously he's got a great reputation," said Grannis.

Grannis pointed out the sediment disposal plan will undergo a review by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. "If it raises concerns, we'll have to address them. We think a lot of it are issues we've looked at very carefully for the last five years."

Since the first Earth Day 40 years ago, Commissioner Grannis says that things have changed on Onondaga Lake. Specifically, he cited:

- The number of fish species have increased from 9 to 65

- Phosphorus chloride and ammonia levels are substantially lower

- The lake is now considered an "important bird area" with ospreys, eagles and egrets

- The lake's water quality is at its best in 40 years.

Honeywell intends to begin dredging the sediment in 2012.

Click here to read the DEC's news release regarding Onondaga Lake.