U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer slams the EPA for abandoning radioactive cleanup effort in Niagara County.
Neighbors say the agency started cleaning up waste on an old industrial site on Roberts Avenue in Lewiston late 2016, and suddenly left the project this past spring.
Homeowner Harry Wade said he can’t even sell his house for a descent price because of the waste site across the street from his house and under his driveway. He has been living on Roberts Avenue for the past 24 years with his son who has severe epilepsy. Wade and his fiancee want to get a home closer to her job in Niagara Falls.
“How do you tell a prospective buyer the driveway is radioactive,” Wade said.
There are at least 60 radioactive hot spots in Niagara County. At least three of them are in need of immediate attention. It’s causing communities to worry about their health and property value.
Senator Schumer was in Lewiston on Monday, to meet with residents. He said the EPA has not given him any answers as to why the agency stopped the million-dollar clean-up job.
Federal funding was recently restored to the EPA after lawmakers slashed it.
“Wake up! Get back to work! You were doing the right thing until a few months ago. Get back to doing it now,” Schumer said.
7 Eyewitness News reached out to the EPA both by phone and e-mail. We are still waiting to hear back from them.
