Schumer Urges the EPA to Fund a Relocation of Residents Along Eighteenmile Creek as Part of their Remedial Action Plan, Set to be Released in August – Relocation is Preferred Option for Residents
Cost of Relocation of Six Homes Less than Cost of Temporarily Capping Soil, Which Could Be Rendered Useless In Next Flood– Schumer Pushes EPA to First Get Residents out of Harm’s Way & Prioritize The Community Health, Then Clean Up Site
Schumer to EPA: Put Health & Safety of Residents First, Relocate Residents Away from Contamination
WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 17, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to relocate six residences along Eighteenmile Creek in Lockport that are routinely impacted by flood waters from the contaminated creek. Eighteenmile Creek is an EPA Superfund site that has been plagued by hazardous waste contamination, which is now threatening the health and safety of half a dozen homeowners and their families along Water Street. Currently, the EPA is reviewing two options for remediation, either relocation of the homeowners or a temporary soil cap on the contamination. Schumer argued that – first and foremost – the EPA should move these residents to protect their health and safety. Secondly, he argued that not only is relocation a cheaper short-term option, but it’s also more cost-effective over the long-term. The cost to purchase all the homes is estimated at only $250,000 but a temporary soil cap would cost approximately $1.2 million and could be washed away by future flooding.
“The EPA’s priorities should be to get the residents away from contamination first, and then clean up the contaminated site because we cannot gamble with the health and safety of Western New Yorkers. The EPA is currently reviewing their remedial options and I am urging them to include relocation as a part of their remedial action plan, which prioritizes safety and appears to be a more cost-effective option,” said Schumer. “Capping the soil is like putting a Band-Aid on a heart attack, and it’s more expensive to boot. We need a solution that brings these residents to safety, not a solution that can be washed away with the next flood. Homeowners are concerned by contamination in their yards, drinking water, and flooded basements—they simply should be bought out of their homes while the site goes through a full environmental review and cleanup.”
Following five inches of rain June 28, Eighteenmile Creek – which is contaminated with PCBs, heavy metals and other hazardous materials – overflowed its banks into nearby properties. Some residents on Water Street report experiencing recurrent flooding, up to 8 to 10 times a year. The EPA recently held a public hearing during which a number of residents voiced their support for the inclusion of relocation in the remedial action plan. Schumer noted that this is a public health concern and relocation of the 6 homes should be included in any action plan, regardless of other strategies.
The Eighteenmile Creek site is located in Niagara County, New York, on the south side of Lake Ontario. Much of the flow in the main branch of Eighteenmile Creek comes from water diverted from the New York State Barge Canal (NYSBC). The creek flows north for approximately 15 miles and discharges into Lake Ontario in Olcott, New York.
Eighteenmile Creek has a long history of industrial use dating back to the 19th century when it was used as a source of power. Eighteenmile Creek was designated as an area of concern (AOC) because of water quality and bottom sediment problems associated with past industrial and municipal discharge practices, the disposal of waste and the use of pesticides. Sampling indicates the presence of numerous contaminants in creek sediments, the most prevalent being Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Other pollutants include mercury, lead, copper, pesticides/insecticides, dioxins, and furans.
Specific causes of contamination have not been determined, but possible sources may include releases from hazardous waste sites or contaminated properties. Burt and Newfane dams, both located on Eighteenmile Creek downstream of the Corridor Site, may serve as areas within the creek where contaminated sediments accumulate.
A copy of Senator Schumer’s letter to XXX appears below:
Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe:
I write today to urge you to incorporate the relocation of residents along Eighteenmile creek as part of your remedial action plan for this Superfund site, set to be released in the coming weeks. As I am sure you are aware Eighteenmile Creek poses significant health concerns to local residents with prevalent PCBs as well as other pollutants like lead, mercury, insecticides/pesticides, and copper. Dating back to the 1980’s Eighteenmile Creek has been the subject of investigations by the EPA and DEC – and it was designated as an Area of Concern (AOC) by the EPA because of the prevalence of these pollutants. The creek has recently and routinely flooded, and when it does the pollutants in the water not only contaminate the back yards of home owners, but have recently come within feet of homes themselves – running the risk of polluted waters rushing into the homes of Western New Yorkers.
Now the EPA is in the process of determining what remedial actions should be taken for residents living along the creek – and as part of that process the EPA conducted a public meeting where two different options were discussed. The first option, which is limited to a temporary cap on contaminated soil along the creek bank runs the risk of not fully mitigating the danger to public health and also has the potential to be significantly more expensive over the long run. The other option, which I am advocating you pursue, is to buy-out the residents living along the creek. By purchasing the homes along the creek at a fair price, and allowing the residents to relocate, the EPA can ensure the public’s health and safety are protected while permanent clean-up options are evaluated.
I understand the need to evaluate the cost of both of these actions – but in this case the prudent and safer course is also the less expensive course of action. It is estimated that in order to buy out the homeowners the total cost would be roughly $250,000, while the plan to cap the soil is estimated to cost $1.2M and could likely become moot should the creek flood again. As you finalize your remedial action plan I urge you to buy-out these homeowners, protecting their health and safety, and then work on a long-term clean-up plan for the creek.
Thank you for your consideration, should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
U.S. Senator
