Officials to present survey status and answer property-level questions
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), working with the state Department of Health, will hold a public availability session at 5 p.m. Monday, July 20 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center. The agencies say the meeting is part of an effort to keep the community informed about an ongoing radiological survey of Niagara and Erie counties.
The session will open with a joint presentation by DEC and EPA staff covering recent data collection phases, expected timelines for next steps and planned revisions to the prior access agreement that guides testing on private property. Officials also plan to explain the process for testing and the approach if investigations identify manmade radiological sources.
- When: 5 p.m., Monday, July 20
- Where: Niagara Falls Convention Center
- Who: DEC, EPA and state Department of Health representatives
- Cost: Free; public invited
After the presentation, agency technical staff will be available for one-on-one conversations so residents and property owners can ask specific questions about survey results or next steps. Organizers say the event is intended to provide clarity for property owners where further investigation may be needed.
“DEC is committed to ensuring Western New Yorkers are informed of the extensive efforts underway to protect public health and provide more certainty for property owners where additional investigation of radiological material is needed,”
The release also quoted EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci, who described the session as an opportunity to bring technical experts into the community to explain work completed, what remains under investigation and what happens next.
| Topic | What will be covered |
|---|---|
| Survey status | Summary of data collection phases to date |
| Access and testing | Revisions to prior access agreement and testing process |
| Contamination response | How manmade radiological findings would be addressed |
Niagara Falls residents on both sides of the international border frequently follow developments in nearby U.S. counties because of the shared watershed, cross-border travel and interconnected communities. While the agencies announcing the meeting are U.S. state and federal bodies, the information provided could be relevant to residents concerned about environmental and public-health implications.
No fee is required to attend the session, and organizers say all are welcome. The agencies encouraged attendees to bring questions; registration information was not required for participation in the announcement.
