 Welcome to the 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.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), 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:
Please call 844-612-8144 Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to reach our NECRA team. If you call outside these hours and leave a message, call center representatives will get back to you during operational times.
As assessment work continues, field teams are using the locations of interest identified to date by aerial and roadway surveys to prioritize property screenings. 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.
Visiting properties within an area of interest does not confirm contamination. It means the agencies observed radiological measurements that require closer ground-level evaluation and more information is needed. Agencies will not access properties without permission and will keep residents informed throughout the process if screening is allowed.
Once NYSDEC and EPA have a signed access form giving permission to conduct surveys on a property, we contact the property owner and schedule an outdoor radiological screening.
Screening Large Properties
For large properties which aren’t readily accessible by foot, the NECRA team uses an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that includes a drone equipped with radiation detectors and a GPS. The UAS operator creates a flight plan for the drone to fly in a grid pattern across the property at a height of 150 feet. At that height, the drone is above the tree line. The drone flies at 7 miles per hour, recording radiation measurements and location data every second.
Using the UAS allows us to screen large, wooded properties and other properties that would otherwise not be easily accessible to a ground crew. Based on the data collected, ground crews may collect additional data in targeted areas.
 The drone equipped with a radiation detector.
Want to know when you can expect results after having measurements taken on your property?
Soil Screening Surveys
Once the initial outdoor screening is completed, the data is closely analyzed by our environmental unit. Analysis takes two to three weeks. If follow-up assessment is needed, the property owner will receive a phone call to schedule the additional assessment. If there is no further assessment needed, then the property owner is mailed a letter which advises that No Further Action is necessary along with the results from the screening survey.
Soil Scoping Surveys
If additional scoping is needed, the data collected during a supplemental scoping survey is brought to the environmental unit for analysis. Similarly to screening surveys, scoping analysis takes two weeks before results are available.
Soil Sampling
When soil collection is proposed, samples are collected and sent to a lab for analysis. Data will be validated, reviewed by the environmental unit, and results provided. The entire process, from a sampling event to the lab analysis, data validation, and interpretation, can take up to three months. Learn more about soil sampling in the Niagara and Erie County Radiological Assessment Soil Sampling Factsheet.
Indoor Air Sampling
When radon sampling is proposed, data is available two weeks after the samples are collected. Thoron screening data is available two weeks after the end of the measurement period.
Over 1,050 property owners have signed access agreements to have their properties screened, and our field teams have completed screening surveys at more than 1,000 of those properties. We are continuing to schedule screenings.
Preliminary data reviews indicate that the vast majority of properties screened will need no further action. To date, more than 700 properties have received notification indicating no additional radiological investigation is needed at those properties. Information packets, which include a formal letter of determination, a copy of the property’s screening map, fact sheet, and frequently asked questions with contact information, were mailed to property owners. Notifications to residents and property owners will be forwarded on a continuing basis as the data is reviewed. The Environmental Unit is still reviewing the results for over 200 of these. Thirty-two properties have been referred by NYSDEC to EPA for additional assessment.
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.
NECRA Hotline: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.: 844-612-8144
NECRA Email: NECRA@dec.ny.gov
NYSDEC, NYSDOH, and EPA will continue providing updates as fieldwork progresses and additional information becomes available.
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