85° and Patchy rain nearby
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It was a meeting off the rails from the start at the on Monday.
Angry residents of the Town of Niagara faced off against state and federal bureaucrats in an emotional gathering at the Niagara Falls Convention Center. The government employees intended a sober presentation of facts and figures and processes but never got the chance.
The residents of the Town of Niagara, beset by the traumatic impact of the realization that many of their homes, in a sublime, mostly Republican bastion of suburbia, were indeed built on radioactive slag sold as cheap fill following the Manhattan project in the last century.
The raw emotion boiled over in the emotional plea of Trevor Bradley, who with Lexi is in the process of being temporarily relocated with their 3-year-old daughter whom they used to think safely played in the backyard only to discover it wasn’t so.
“How am I supposed to protect my daughter from something I can’t see, taste, smell or feel?” he asked loudly from the gallery as the meeting flew off the rails. Several residents dramatically walked out.
The State Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency were all represented, and commissioners from DOH and DEC. Gov. Kathy Hochul was not present but she sent leaders from the departments that will most likely have the most impact on the outcome of the crisis.
Officials outlined a three-phase approach to address the radiological "areas of interest" identified through aerial and ground surveys.
- Phase 1 & 2 (Complete): Aerial flyovers at 500 feet and ground-level truck surveys covering over 1,000 miles of driving. These identified 121 properties requiring further investigation.
- Phase 3 (Active): Individual property assessments. This involves radiological staff using meters to collect screening data.
- In-Depth Sampling: If screening indicates risk, the EPA will use mini-excavators to sample soil down to eight feet. Lab analysis of these samples is expected to take two to three months to produce a definitive risk assessment and cleanup plan.
A primary point of friction was the "voluntary temporary relocation" process. Residents expressed outrage over the inadequacy of current offers.
- Immediate Action: Initial relocation typically involves hotels or Airbnbs.
- Long-term Support: The US Army Corps of Engineers facilitates longer-term temporary housing (weeks or months) for properties deemed unsafe.
- Resident Grievances:
- Relocation offers have been short-term (one night) or in locations unsuitable for families with pets and children (e.g., proximity to fireworks causing distress to dogs).
- Claims that official reports promised within 24 hours have been delayed for days.
- Confusion regarding "access agreements"; officials admitted previous versions contained "standard legal language" that residents interpreted as waiving their rights to sue. A revised agreement has been issued.
- Health Risks: Commissioner James McDonald of the State Department of Health acknowledged that ionizing radiation can lead to cancer but emphasized that the state is taking a "conservative" approach to minimize any exposure.
