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Welcome to the first community newsletter for the Niagara and Erie County Radiological Assessment (NECRA) project to help keep interested residents, businesses, and community leaders updated about the initiative’s progress. You can unsubscribe at any time using the ‘unsubscribe’ link at the bottom of this page.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in consultation with New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), continue to advance the radiological assessment across areas of interest in Niagara and Erie counties and are committed to keeping the public informed.
In this issue:
Have questions? Meet with our team!
At the Drop-In Tabling Sessions, representatives from EPA, NYSDEC, and NYSDOH will be present to answer questions and provide information to residents. We held drop-in tabling sessions on Thursday, July 30 and Monday, August 3 at the Calvin K. Richards Senior/Youth Activity Center, Veteran’s Memorial Community Park. Approximately 80 residents attended both sessions, asking questions, and learning more about the property access and survey process.
We’re holding the next drop-in tabling session on Monday, August 10, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Calvin K. Richards Senior/Youth Activity Center, Veterans Memorial Community Park, 7000 Joe Rotella Way, Niagara Falls, NY, 14305.
Missed a drop-in tabling session? We’re scheduling additional sessions that we will announce soon!
DEC and EPA staff at a recent NECRA tabling event, speaking with the public
As assessment work continues, field teams are using the locations of interest identified by aerial and roadway surveys to prioritize screenings on properties. While we welcome residents to continue to submit property access agreements, our data will drive the decision-making process on where we screen first. Once that work is complete, EPA and NYSDEC may expand screening to other areas after evaluating survey results.
Preliminary results suggest that a vast majority of properties already screened will not need further action. EPA, NYSDEC and NYSDOH will determine if a property needs no further action after screening results and a property-specific technical review are completed. When the review is complete and no further action is determined an email will be sent specifying the result of the review. In addition, residents and owners of these properties will be mailed a packet with the results of the screening, a formal letter of determination noting that no further action is needed at this time, a copy of the property's screening map, general information about the screening process, and contact information for any questions.
Since screening will continue on a rolling basis until all identified sites are visited, residents may not receive their results at the same time as a neighbor, but all participants will receive results.
Radiological screening surveys can take place only after a tenant or owner signs a property access form. During these screening surveys, the worker walks the property with specialized handheld equipment in a back-and-forth pattern, similar to mowing a lawn.
We’ve screened more than 420 properties, and screening will continue throughout the coming weeks. Weather is a key factor in deciding when screening can take place, since rain and saturated soil can adversely affect screening results. The information collected in each radiological screening survey is reviewed by NYSDEC, NYSDOH, and EPA experts to thoroughly analyze the results and determine if additional assessment is needed or not.
When an additional assessment is needed, EPA, NYSDOH and NYSDEC work with residents to schedule and complete additional assessment activities, which may include additional radiological scans, air sampling and soil sampling. Agency workers will also meet with these residents to discuss the results of the screening and any additional assessment activities.
Staff also remain in direct contact with residents who have been offered voluntary temporary relocation by providing updates, discussing next steps and helping connect residents with available support.
Crew in protective gear testing recently-dug soil samples from a yard
NYSDEC began the broader regional assessment, including the aerial survey, and leads coordinating access to properties.
NYSDEC and EPA work together on doing initial radiological surveys. When further investigation is needed, EPA does additional assessment and sampling and determines if a property requires further action.
NYSDOH assists with reviewing field data and advises the agencies on health questions and helps explain what environmental findings may mean for residents.
Visit on.ny.gov/NECRA to view the July 20 meeting presentation, informational fact sheets about fieldwork, soil sampling, radiation health and safety, and how to contact agency representatives.
Anyone with questions about the ongoing radiological assessments can call (518) 712-8279, a dedicated phone line for the Niagara and Erie County Radiological Assessment available daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
NYSDEC, NYSDOH, and EPA will continue providing updates as fieldwork progresses and additional information becomes available.
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