The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ cleanup plan for its Niagara Falls Storage Site received overwhelming support from stakeholders this month, with the public comment period closing Feb. 6.
The Environmental Protection Agency, the Niagara County Department of Health, the town of Lewiston, N.Y., and the Tuscarora Nation Native American tribe all wrote in support of the USACE’s preferred option, alternative 4. That option will involve excavation, treatment, and off-site disposal of all waste at the 191-acre property, which contains radioactive material from Manhattan Project operations. The Corps has stated that alternative 4 provides the best overall protection of human health and the environment.
The Department of Health did note, however, that it has concerns that remedial investigation data “has been suspect” with regards to the potential for material leaks and legacy contamination that will make ongoing monitoring for leakage difficult. The comment goes on to state that alternative 4 addresses that concern.
Full cleanup of the site could take at least a decade, and based on the site feasibility study, the Corps calls for between $50 million and $70 million in annual funding. The Corps expects a decision on budgeting for the site around 2022.
