Those communities include:<\/p>\n
AuroraBostonBrantConcordEdenEvansHamburgMarillaOrchard Park <\/p>\n
The DEC, EPA, and NYS Dept. of Health have conducted radiological assessments on hundreds of properties in Erie and Niagara Counties.<\/p>\n
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Residents received the information Monday during a joint information session.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The continued health and wellness of our residents remains my administration’s top concern. That is why for weeks now members of my administration have participated in EPA and NYS DEC calls regarding potential radiological exposure in the region and I have been personally briefed on the matter by DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton and others,\u201d said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.<\/p>\n
The county executive says testing will move down to other parts of the county, including the southtowns.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cNow that testing has commenced on Grand Island, and we have been advised that screenings will begin in various communities in the southtowns, it is important for all residents to know the EPA and NYSDEC have the authority, experts and modern technological resources to conduct this new phase of radiological surveys, especially given that the last survey of the region was done in 1984.”<\/p>\n
Poloncarz says testing on Grand Island has come back negative.<\/p>\n
“I have been advised that all sites tested so far on Grand Island have come back clean, which is very good news,” said Poloncarz.<\/p>\n
However it’s unclear how much testing has actually been done on the Island.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The NYSDEC sought permission to test Veterans Park during a town board meeting on August 3, and that testing has not been completed yet, according to sources.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One property owner that spoke with 2 On Your Side on background just received a preliminary report from testing that was completed in mid-July, and was told by the NYSDEC that the final report was expected next week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The NYSDEC and EPA have previously said that testing results take upwards of 20 days to get back to the department.<\/p>\n
“Nevertheless, this critical work is made necessary by our area\u2019s nuclear legacy, which included participating in the Manhattan Project and decades of unregulated waste disposal. The goal is to protect public health and our environment, and we support these agencies\u2019 work as they move ahead with their mission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lawmakers representing those communities weren’t notified about the expanded testing until Monday afternoon, or in some cases late Tuesday morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our office had contacts with DEC, they they reached out to us just just yesterday,” Assemblyman Pat Burke said. “So we’ve followed up, and I’m trying to communicate directly with the commissioner.”<\/p>\n
Assemblymember Pat Burke, who represents the 142nd District, said that he was told approximately 15 areas of interest have been identified, but didn’t have any specifics beyond that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It’s been unclear,” Burke said. “At least, it’s some of the outlying area, I think near some of the parks was at least indicated to me.”<\/p>\n
“But I was not given any specific sites, so I don’t want to be alarmist or speculate,” Burke continued. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
David DiPietro, representative for the 147th Assembly District, is calling on the NYSDEC to host town hall meetings in the communities where testing has expanded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Once people start finding out that this has been spreading and it covers a lot more towns, people are gonna get very anxious, and we want to make sure that we handle this in the right way,” DiPietro said. “I just want to be open and honest, and make sure that the state, federal, whoever’s involved, that we’re out out in the open.”<\/p>\n
“That’s why I’d like to do some town halls as we go in forward and get more information, so that people can actually come out personally, ask questions, and get direct answers,” DiPietro continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The DEC and EPA issued a joint statement Monday evening:\u00a0<\/p>\n
“NYSDEC and EPA assessment teams continue to conduct fieldwork across areas of interest in Niagara and Erie counties. Significant progress has been made in reaching most residents within the areas of interest in Niagara County and Grand Island.<\/p>\n
Starting tomorrow [Tuesday], teams will be going to properties identified in the areas of interest in Aurora, Boston, \u00a0Brant, Concord, Eden, Evans, Hamburg, Marilla, and Orchard Park to request access for permission to conduct radiological screenings.”<\/p>\n
New York State Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C, Elma) is asking residents to cooperate with the testing. \u00a0\u201cThe testing is being conducted as a precaution and does not mean that residents are at risk,\u201d Senator Gallivan said. \u201cI urge property owners to cooperate with the DEC and EPA as they conduct their research. My office will work with both agencies to ensure appropriate action, if needed, is taken.\u201d<\/p>\n