NEW YORK — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a new cleanup plan on Friday for a portion of the Eighteen Mile Creek Superfund site in Niagara County.
The EPA is asking the public to comment on the plan starting Friday, July 19 until August 19. EPA will host a public meeting at Newfane Townhall located at 2737 Main Street, Newfane, on August 1 at 6 p.m.
“EPA’s proposed cleanup for this portion of the creek is to remove and dispose the contaminated sediment and floodplain soil that threaten human health as well as fish and wildlife,” Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said in a statement. “We encourage the public to join our meeting, ask questions and share their views on the proposed plan.”
The EPA began planning work on the Eighteen Mile Creek in 2012 in several phases. The current phase will focus on contaminated sentiment and creek floodplain soil for about 5.3 miles downstream from Harwood Street.
The new plan recommends that contractors remove and dispose of floodplain soil contaminated with lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) within the specific 11-acre area. By targeting those areas, the EPA can speed up the cleanup by removing some known sources of contamination while evaluating the downstream part of the creek. EPA will propose further cleanup for the areas of the creek not covered by this new proposed plan.
Written comments on the proposed plan can be sent to Christopher O’Leary, Remedial Project Manager for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007 or sent via email: OLeary.Christopher@epa.gov.
For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Eighteen Mile Creek Superfund site profile page.
