vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA to Return to Niagara Falls Boulevard Site Niagara Falls, New York to Continue Cleanup Work Community Update September 2018 EPA encourages public participation. If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding the site, please contact one of the following: Michael Basile EPA Community Involvement Coordinator 186 Exchange Street Buffalo, NY 14204 716-551-4410 basile.michael@epa.gov or Peter Lisichenko, P.G. EPA On-Scene Coordinator 347-276-6251 lisichenko.peter@epa.gov UPDATE ON THE SITE The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will return to the Niagara Falls Boulevard site (9524 Niagara Falls Boulevard - bowling alley parking lot and adjacent 9540 building supply store parking lot) Niagara Falls, NY. in September 2018 to continue cleanup work. In the 1960s, a glass-like, granulated by-product called "slag" from former industrial facilities was used as fill material on both the bowling alley and building supply center properties prior to paving. The fill material contains low levels of radioactive elements, which may present a health risk over the long term. EPA will begin excavating material from the asphalt parking lot in September to reduce any risk to the public. ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTIES In 2013, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health conducted a review of the bowling alley and building supply center properties and ultimately referred the site to EPA for further assessment. EPA also performed a gamma radiation survey of the Niagara Falls Boulevard property and collected soil samples. The occupied interior space of the bowling alley was found to be free of contamination. EPA detected some radiation above acceptable screening levels in several areas within the building supply center. These portions of the building were constructed on top of the asphalt parking lot. Occupied offices of the building supply center were previously cleaned up. Now EPA is returning to excavate the parking lot. PHASED APPROACH TO FIELD WORK EPA began its work at the site in 2017 and conducted a short-term cleanup beneath the offices of the building supply center by excavating contaminated materials and replacing it with clean fill, installing a new concrete floor and other restoration activities. In addition, EPA excavated an area behind the parking lot that also had contaminated low level radioactive materials and replaced it with clean fill in preparation as a staging area for future activities. SUFERFUND TASK FORCE In May 2017, EPA established a task force to restore the Superfund program to its rightful place at the center of the Agency's core mission to protect health and the environment. epa.gov/superfund/superfund-task-force ------- 4% United States Environmental Protection ^'^1 #* Agency EPA is returning to excavate the parking lot. EPA will excavate the low level radioactive material, stock-pile it in the staging area behind the two businesses in a secure area, and prepare it for off-site shipment to a regulated facility out of state. Clean fill will replace the excavated materials and the parking lot will be repaved. During all excavation activities, EPA will monitor the air to ensure that both workers and the public are protected. It is anticipated that this project should be completed in late 2019. tJ.S.Efy SUPERFund TASK FORCE In May 2017, EPA established a task force to restore the Superfund program to its rightful place at the center of the Agency's core mission to protect health and the environment. epa.gov/superfund/superfund-task-force ------- |