Editor's Note: All information Was Received from Interviews with Christen Civiletto, Lexi, and Jackie.
(OPGOV GLOBAL) – In March 2026, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation mailed 120 letters to homeowners in Niagara Falls. The agencies cited aerial and roadside scans that revealed radiological contamination.
To receive any testing, residents were first required to sign a Property Access Agreement. The Property Access Agreement required homeowners to waive "any and all claims; now and in the future" against New York State, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the EPA, and any authorized representatives.
Christen Civiletto, an environmental attorney who spent 14 years on Love Canal litigation, advised Lexi not to sign.
"It was duress, and it was unconscionable," Civiletto said.
(Photo Credit: Lexi)
For four months, agencies refused to change the agreement. After a press conference with representatives from Senator Charles Schumer’s office and Congressman Tim Kennedy’s office, the EPA responded. Lexi and Jackie said the original waiver wasn't removed until they got the attention of the media.
(Photo Credit: "Contaminated: Niagara's Buried Legacy" by Forgotten World on Youtube)
"When I'm asking about the risks of cancer with the radiation, he (EPA representative) says there's a risk in everything," Jackie said. "You don't choose to live with radioactive waste in your home," Jackie said.
Normal radiation background inside a home is 8 to 13. Testing found averages of 45 picocuries (unit used to measure the rate of radioactivity and radioactive decay and release) per liter of radiation throughout the house, with counts as high as 241 inside the home. When the EPA did show up, it was unclear whether they sent a contractor, or one of their own representatives. After measuring the radioactivity in the air in a basement and finding more than double the EPA action level of radiation, the man who showed up told the family it was "fine to stay." They were also told to expect to hear from the Department of Health but were never contacted.
An independent engineer told Jackie and her family, "I wouldn't live in this house.”
When Jackie told him that she and her family had lived in that house for fourteen years, the man looked horrified and heartbroken.
(Photo Credit: Lexi)
“He’s like, I’m so sorry; you need to get cancer screenings,” Jackie said.
On July 18, 2026, the EPA approved Lexi, Jackie, Carolyn, and Kelly for relocation. Residents said the relocation was not recommended by the agency.
When Lexi and Jackie were finally able to get through to the EPA for their relocation outcome, they were told, “We have nothing for you; can you guys find your own place until we find you something?”
“They offered Lexi and her family to stay for one night in an Airbnb and then come back home,” Jackie said, “It’s been laughable, and the worst part is they’ve been putting out to the press that we’ve been relocated. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about history repeating itself in such a heartbreaking and infuriating way," she added.
“They’ve shown me like one house, but then they told me I’d have to get rid of my animals,” she said, “They showed me another house that was disgusting; the floorboard almost fell through."
(Photo Credit: Lexi:)
Lexi grew up in the house behind her current home. Her grandmother lived there from 1978 until she died at age 58 of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Her grandfather still lives there today. He has lung cancer. Lexi’s mother, age 49, has an environmentally-linked breast cancer. There are also many of neurological problems in the family. Lexi, who has a 3-year-old daughter at home, developed Visual Snow Syndrome two and a half years ago.
She described it as "Static in my vision all the time. Severe migraines. Light makes me feel like I’m going to throw up."
Civiletto represented 1,500 families in "Love Canal Round 2" litigation. A judge dismissed it on a technicality in year 14. She said the problem is bigger than four houses.
"There's a lot more contamination than what they told us, and we didn't even know there were 89," Civiletto said, referring to Superfund sites and hazardous waste sites in Niagara Falls. "I grew up there and didn't even know how bad it was."
Families are demanding their homes be declared Superfund sites. They said the EPA is doing "cursory Geiger Counter screenings."
A State Superfund requires digging, deep soil testing, and a Public Participation Plan where residents vote on cleanup. Right now, contractors are digging in up to 15 yards in the neighborhood while families are still home.
(Photo Credit: Lexi)
"They're using water to water it down, but we're still afraid of things getting kicked up," Lexi said. I'm disgusted and disappointed; we have to live with the mistakes of our industrial past," Lexi said. "
Over 800 homes have been tested, and 450 "cleared." Officials have not provided a public definition of "cleared."
The contamination started in the 50’s with no waste regulations or oversight. Now, families are still paying for it today because when the waste was discovered, further investigation was not thoroughly completed. The families are asking for one thing: Put it on State Superfund. Test all the homes. Tell the truth.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at pepper.w@lead4earth.org
0
0
Comments