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Residents urged to await DEC liaison as Grand Island grapples with historic radioactive fill reports
Summary
Board members discussed a wave of testing and outreach after EPA/DEC detection runs and homeowner letters; agencies may offer voluntary relocations in some Niagara County cases and the board requested a DEC liaison to brief residents at a workshop.
Board members described historical use of industrial slag and other fill that, in past studies (1984, 2008, 2012, 2016), has sometimes shown elevated radioactivity in Western New York and in spots on Grand Island. Speaker 3 said agencies "sent letters to every, homeowner, and some more sent on Grand Island," and described how agency teams use detection equipment, then dig small test holes and potentially drill further samples with homeowner consent.
Members expressed concern about homeowner privacy and property values if addresses or test results are made public; Speaker 3 said a DEC liaison will be invited to the next board workshop to explain testing procedures and consent forms. The board emphasized the need for factual information in a calmer forum, and staff agreed to request the DEC representative.
