'Not an American dream; an American nightmare': Jocelyn McKiernan

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WBEN)...."This is Love Canal all over again."

That's the opinion of Dr. David Carpenter from the University of Albany and former director of New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Laboratory.

Carpenter is one of the chemical contamination experts working with Niagara Falls homeowners Daniel and Jocelyn McKiernan, whose 99th Street house is ground zero for off-the-charts levels on contamination dating back to the Love Canal era.

Carpenter is part of a growing legion of supporters that are backing the McKiernan family and their request to either state or federal agencies or, officials, to be relocated away from their Love Canal neighborhood.

"So far, all we've heard is deafening silence," said Christen Civiletto, a prominent environmentalist attorney.

Tests, privately financed by the McKiernans and their supporters, have a found a laundry-list of chemicals found in their backyard and seeping its way into their house.

Among the chemicals:

DDT

Alpha BHC

Phenanthrene

Pyrene

Chrysene

Chloroform

Any one of these would be considered dangerous but more than 20 chemicals have been found in the McKiernan residence.

Since moving into the house six years ago, Jocelyn McKiernan said she has had five miscarriages. Daniel, her husband, has developed medical issues as have their children.

"It's not the American dream; it's the American nightmare," Jocelyn McKiernan said.

State Sen. Robert Ortt, during a face-to-face meeting this week with federal EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, brought up the McKiernans and their plight.

Zeldin said he would look into the matter.

In the meantime, frustration coupled with anger and anxiety and angst continue to mount with McKiernans and their supporters while silence remains from state and federal agencies.

"There is no excuse for fumbling around when it comes to this family," said Ed Mills, a retired DEC geologist. "No excuse."