Niagara Falls, NY (WBEN) Parents at one Catholic school in Niagara Falls say they're concerned over an email with a note about soil testing on the campus. They're not just concerned about radiation, but how it was placed in the letter.
Daniel and Jocelyn McKiernan, say they got notice in the weekly email newsletter on Wednesday. "Iwas scrolling through the newsletter, and after birthdays and buying your uniform, there's this little health and safety blurb, and in this health and safety blurb, it says that the principal met with the EPA and DEC and went over the initial screenings, and they do not indicate a risk to health or safety. However, elevated readings from the screening warrant further exterior assessment to the property, and the cause is unknown. And that they plan to do additional soil samples and testing on November 11th when the children are not in school," says Jocelyn.
Her husband Daniel says that seems contradictory. "Hey, nothing to worry about, but we're going to come back when no one's around to look deeper," he says. "They're going to be there in hazmat suits and taping off parts of the school."
Their home has radioactive material, and now they're concerned it's in the school their son attends. "It's one thing if it's in the parking lot, but is it on the playground that our kids are playing on? Is it where we park our cars and wait for our kids at the end of the day or in the morning for pickup and drop off, where is it, and how exposed have our children actually been? Or the staff? You know, we all have a right to this information," says Jocelyn. "Are they when they're taking naps on the floor? Is it right underneath them? You know, how do we know this, and how can they ensure safety? And when we asked these questions in the office, we were met with very little information. And if maybe an hour later, we got a random text that said, we can assure you your children are safe. They have been safe, and they will continue to be safe. How can you guarantee assurance when you haven't done complete testing, and it's going to be three months before you get testing results back from DEC and EPA?"
Principal Johanna Richards shared the following with parents:
As I shared with you in the newsletter, we are cooperating fully with federal and state officials who will be conducting additional screening and will communicate at the earliest stage the findings resulting from this process. Again, we have been assured that there is no health risk to the school community. That said, please be assured that we share your concerns and will provide you as much insight and clarity as we can, and as soon as federal and state officials provide the same to us.
In addition, this morning we spoke to Caitlin from the EPA (Public affairs specialist working for EPA Region 5 External Communications Office) and her team and we set up further testing:
- Weds. 11/11 - online soil sampling test (referred to in newsletter) - results not anticipated for 3 months
- Weds. 11/11 - Interior scoping at the church, school, and Father Don’s house
- Weds. 11/11 - Radon testing set up in Church and Father Don’s and picked up Friday 11/13
- Friday 11/13 - Radon testing set up in school and picked up on Monday, 11/16
When all results come in, an EPA Tabling Meeting will be scheduled and all are welcome to attend.
Thank you for your patience as this work by the EPA and DEC continues. Naturally, this is a situation that affects us all, and we hope and pray that the further testing will validate the initial determination that there are no risks to the health and well-being of our school community.
School says testing will be done this week
School says testing will be done this week
