Photos from AP/Worldwide Photos and UPI/Bettmann, Newsphotos The Love Canal

Introduction 16 acre rectangular tract – SE City of Niagra Falls 1890’s: William. T. Love –Constructed canal for adjacent hydroelectric plant –Project abandoned due to new technologies Remaining canal: –1000m long –30m wide –5m deep

Problem: Causes Between 1942 and 1953: –Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corp. disposed of 21,800 tons of waste in the canal property sold to the city for $1 Land was used for –Housing Development (257 homes) –Elementary School First Clay Cap failed

Problem Waste started appearing in backyards and basements Residents complained: –Chemical odours –Loss of vegetation –Respiratory problems –Rashes –Poor Health 2nd August State of emergency declared –Unsafe levels of chemicals in air of 239 homes –School was closed –Pregnant women & children evacuated –Immediate remedial action

Alternative Solutions Insitu / Exsitu: –Physical /chemical treatment –Thermal treatment –Biological treatment –Containment –Air emissions / Off- Gas treatment

Solution Adopted Initial Actions –Collection, treatment and disposal 2130m perimeter trench dug between canal borders and adjacent housing On site treatment facility Clay cap + polyethylene layer Monitoring wells Storage + high temperature incineration –Removal of sewer system creek sediment –Remediation of 93rd Street School soil –Buyout of contaminated homes

Solution Adopted Courtesy of:

Current State 16 acre area surrounded by an eight foot barb wire fence Renamed Black Creek Village for a new image The school and 227 homes near the canal have been demolished Plans to have people move into some of the empty homes remaining are underway Capped with a new layers of clay

Lessons Learned Increased “NIMBY” attitude Increased awareness of epidemiology Better waste planning and management Effects on environment from toxic waste

Thank you