BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — State and federal workers are expanding radiological screenings across Niagara and Erie Counties, with crews now working in the Southtowns after beginning the project in the Town of Niagara.
The leaders of the combined effort by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sat down with 7 News. The DEC commissioner and EPA regional administrator say more than 1,000 property owners have signed access forms allowing teams to conduct screenings on their properties and, in some cases, inside their homes.
So far, approximately 710 properties have been screened.
Of those, 460 property owners have been told that no further action is needed, while 220 properties remain under review. Another 30 properties have been referred to the EPA for additional investigation, which typically involves soil testing.
The soil testing can take a month or longer to complete, which means initial results should be completed soon.
The screening effort began in Niagara County, with crews first working in the Town of Niagara, Lewiston and the City of Niagara Falls. The work then moved to Grand Island before expanding into the Southtowns last week.
Rain over the weekend and Monday affected some of the field work, but officials say the screening effort is continuing.
A multiyear effort
The current ground surveys are the latest phase of a radiological investigation that began with aerial surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024.
By the summer of 2025, EPA crews were driving through communities in specially equipped vehicles with sensors designed to collect additional radiological data.
The project has now moved to a more detailed, ground-level screening of individual properties.
Officials say the goal is to identify areas that may warrant additional investigation and, if necessary, determine whether potentially hazardous material needs to be removed.
The DEC and EPA are working together on the effort despite the political differences between state officials in Albany and the federal government in Washington.
"What we're focused on here is delivering for the people of Western New York," said Michael Martucci, the administrator for Region 2 of the EPA.
Martucci's state-level counterpart, DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton, agreed.
"This isn't about politics," she said. "This is about delivering for Western New York communities, and that's why our partnership has remained so strong."
Officials say they want to complete as much of the field work as possible before winter weather arrives.
They also emphasize that the screenings are proactive — intended to identify potential problems before they become a larger concern for homeowners.
What happens next?
Properties that require additional investigation can be referred to the EPA for more extensive testing, including soil sampling.
Officials say they ultimately want homeowners to have confidence that the screening process has identified any potentially hazardous material and that appropriate action has been taken when necessary.
A new toll-free hotline is also available for residents with questions about the screening effort at 844-612-8144. It's staffed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with messages accepted outside those hours.
You can watch the full conversation with the DEC and EPA officials below.
WATCH: DEC & EPA update radiological screenings across Niagara and Erie Counties
