North Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - Citing his own personal concerns, State Sen. Rob Ortt (R, North Tonawanda) says he wants the state to add long buried radioactive materials into New York's Superfund program.
Buried hazardous waste has been included in New York's Superfund but radioactive material was not - even with the legacy of buried materials dating back to the Manhattan Project era in the early 1940s along with other products from Western New York's heavy industrial past.
The Superfund provides varying levels of relief - from financial to medical aid to relocation services - if a property meets certain criteria including high levels of contamination.
Environmental remediation and concerns about buried radioactive waste has become a major talking point in recent months after it was discovered that 120 homes in the Town of Niagara may have been contaminated and the ground zero area is around the Military Park neighborhood in the Town of Niagara.
"These families have been through enough," Ortt said.
Ortt has proposed a bill in the state Senate requesting that radioactive materials be included in the Superfund program. Currently, it is not but it is included the federal Superfund program. The federal program was created from the Love Canal environmental issues of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Ortt is looking for a companion bill in the state Assembly and, a sign-off from Gov. Kathy Hochul.
"This isn't a political; issue," Ortt said. "This is about people's lives and their homes."
Leaders of the Save Our Backyard Niagara grassroots-driven organization have been pushing Albany leaders to include radioactive materials in the Superfund program.
Ortt also wants the state DEC to issue certificates if a home is tested and found safe from radioactive contamination.
"People will need that," Ortt said.
Ortt is looking to bring some much-needed help for impacted homeowners
Ortt is looking to bring some much-needed help for impacted homeowners
