New York state environmental regulators have returned to investigate the western end of Cayuga Island in Niagara Falls, where some residents were advised more than 40 years ago to limit their exposure to surface and garden soils due to the presence of organic chemicals.
As was first reported by the Buffalo News on Monday, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Health Department have initiated investigation into elevated levels of mercury, pesticides and other contaminants in the West Rivershore Drive right-of-way on the island.
The investigation stems from a report filed with the DEC in October by an engineering firm hired by the Niagara Falls Water Board to perform utility line work on the street. Workers from CPL Engineering reported smelling foul odors following a pair of soil borings taken from the street’s right-of-way last fall.
On Tuesday, the DEC confirmed it took soil samples in the area following the report and that results received in December showed several contaminants exceeding the agency’s screening levels for residential settings.
The state agencies initiated the investigation to determine the potential for contamination to affect soil, groundwater, and indoor air quality in the area. The sampling plan includes private properties and state officials said it is being done in an effort to evaluate whether contaminants of potential concern are present. The DEC noted that the investigation is being conducted out of an abundance of caution to ensure potential exposures are addressed.
The DEC’s interim region 9 Director Chad Staniszewski told the Buffalo News on Monday that his agency and the state health department are currently evaluating the situation for potential health risks to Cayuga Island residents.
A spokesperson for the DEC declined a request from the Gazette to interview Staniszweski on Tuesday.
Instead, the state agency issued an email in response to questions from the newspaper, confirming the investigation while offering background information about historical conditions on the western end of Cayuga Island.
The DEC’s environmental remediation database notes that prior to 1930, the western end of the island was extended by about 250 yards into the Niagara River by the placement of fill and industrial materials. The database also notes that from 1958 to 1962, the western end was widened again by the placement of fill and industrial material reportedly sourced from several private companies, including Carborundum, Union Carbide, Hooker Chemical Corp., Olin, and Pittsburgh Metallurgical.
The DEC notes that the area is contaminated with mercury, lead, BHCs and other organic chemicals, with most of the materials found in the subsurface soil.
Residents whose yards were found to have subsurface soil contamination were advised, following testing in the 1990s, not to disturb the contaminated soil by digging or excavating. The site remediation page notes that, in a few instances, contaminants were found in surface soil and garden soil at concentrations that might pose a concern if the residents were repeatedly exposed to them.
“In these instances, the residents were advised on how they might minimize their exposures to surface or garden soils,” the DEC noted.
The DEC started notifying Cayuga Island residents about their interest in performing tests on private property in February. Residents have been asked to agree to participate in the type and extent of potential contaminants, where applicable.
According to the DEC, the sampling plan will include:
• Collecting and testing surface soil samples at up to four locations from each property by hand digging or augering;
• Collecting and testing sub-slab soil vapor and indoor air samples to determine if chemicals underground are entering the indoor air of a building through the basement, crawlspace, or slab – a process called soil vapor intrusion; and
• Collecting and testing sump water samples from homes with sumps.
The DEC indicated that a contractor working for the agency has already collected vapor, indoor, sump water and other samples where property access has been granted. The DEC anticipates completing the sampling process this spring.
Mayor Robert Restaino told the Niagara Gazette he believes 22 affected property owners attended a meeting at the LaSalle library branch where DEC representatives answered questions and sought permission to conduct testing on their land.
“The New York State DEC is on this project, and I am sure they will do all they can to attend to what is there and have remediation of what is there,” Restaino said.