State and federal environmental regulators are stepping up community outreach efforts amid heightened local concerns about ongoing radiological testing in the City of Niagara Falls and the Town of Niagara.
In addition, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has set up an incident command post at Niagara University, to organize staff working in the area. A DEC spokesman said no testing is going on NU.
In a joint release issued Tuesday, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced expanded fieldwork plans, including a public hotline and the availability of “drop-in” informational sessions at Veterans Memorial Community Park in the town.
Officials from both agencies said the steps are designed to provide more opportunities for residents to ask questions and to address their concerns about ongoing radiological testing.
The DEC and EPA are encouraging residents to contact agency representatives through a public hotline at 518-712-8279 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Calls received outside those hours will be returned as soon as possible, the agencies said.
Starting Thursday, agency representatives will also offer drop-in sessions at the community center inside the town park. Residents can ask questions and learn more about the property access and survey process.
Representatives from the DEC and EPA have been conducting door-to-door outreach to request permission to access private properties for on-site radiological testing. An initial round of property access forms delivered to homeowners living near Reservoir State Park in the Town of Niagara sparked concerns about the language of the waiver and led to the findings of high levels of radioactivity on some properties. As the Niagara Gazette previously reported, additional letters requesting property access were delivered to homeowners living on Jerauld Avenue, 32nd and 35th streets and other streets in a Niagara Falls neighborhood near Hyde Park and the Hyde Park Golf Course.
To date, the DEC and EPA say their agencies have received more than 300 signed access agreements, allowing teams to conduct radiological surveys and determine whether a more detailed investigation is needed.
Teams have surveyed hundreds of properties and other locations throughout the areas of interest, according to the two environmental agencies. After each survey, NYSDEC and EPA specialists review the results along with conditions specific to the property. For many properties, DEC and EPA officials say reviews have determined that no additional investigations are needed. Where results warrant a closer look, the agencies contact the property owner to arrange more detailed surveys or sampling.
Drop-in sessions are slated to be held starting this week at the Calvin K. Richards Senior/Youth Activity Center, Veteran’s Memorial Community Park, 7000 Joe Rotella Way, Niagara Falls. Sessions are scheduled to be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and again on Monday and on Aug. 10.
Additional information, including the July 20 meeting presentation, is available at on.ny.gov/NECRA, and resources including fact sheets, investigation updates, and answers to frequently asked questions will be posted soon. Residents can sign up for Niagara and Erie County Radiological Assessment email updates through the webpage and here: https://on.ny.gov/NECRAupdates.
EPA, NYSDEC, and NYSDOH will continue coordinating with property owners, local officials and community members as fieldwork progresses. Residents in the areas of interest who have not yet submitted a property access agreement can contact NECRA@dec.ny.gov or call (518) 712-8279 for assistance.