Niagara and Eric County radiological assessment (NECRA) update

Information courtesy of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in cooperation with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), continue to expand fieldwork and community outreach as part of the ongoing radiological investigation in Niagara and Erie counties.

To help provide more opportunities to address property owners’ questions and concerns, EPA, NYSDEC and NYSDOH have increased opportunities for the public to speak directly with agency representatives, ask questions about the investigation, and learn what to expect if work is conducted on their property.

Joint agency teams are continuing door-to-door outreach to request property access, explain the fieldwork process, and answer residents’ questions. More than 500 property owners have signed access agreements, allowing teams to conduct radiological surveys and determine whether more detailed investigation is needed.

Teams have surveyed hundreds of properties and other locations throughout the areas of interest. After each survey, NYSDEC and EPA specialists review the results along with conditions specific to the property. For many properties, that review has determined that no additional investigation is needed. Where results warrant a closer look, the agencies contact the property owner to arrange more detailed surveys or sampling.

Residents can also speak with agency representatives through a public hotline at 518-712-8279 available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Calls received outside those hours will be returned as soon as possible.

Agency representatives will also hold drop-in sessions at the Town of Niagara’s community center. Residents can ask questions and learn more about the property access and survey process.

Sessions will take place at the Calvin K. Richards Senior/Youth Activity Center, Veteran’s Memorial Community Park, 7000 Joe Rotella Way, from 3-7 p.m. Mondays, Aug. 3 and 10.

Additional information, including the July 20 meeting presentation, is available at the NECRA webpage, 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.

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.

On Wednesday, teams visited more than 100 properties to speak directly with residents and requested permission to conduct screening. This number brings the total number of homes visited to more than 1,050 properties since July 23. In that time, 526 new access agreements were signed and provided both in-person and through the newly activated call center.

On Wednesday, joint DEC-EPA teams screened 49 properties.

DEC and EPA will continue providing updates as fieldwork progresses and additional information becomes available.