Did You Know......

According to Paul James of HGTV's Gardening by the Yard, the majority of synthetic pre and post emerging herbicides for controlling weeds in lawns contain the chemicals 24D, 245T and arsenic.




Certain brands of potting soil and plant food contain arsenic, some in levels that if they were in your yard would make it a remediation target by the agencies.

Examples: Source: Washington State Dept. of Agriculture: http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/Fertilizers/ProductDatabase.htm

• Schultz Professional Potting Soil Plus/ African Violets & Blooming Plants 0.08-0.14-0.09                          
  128 PPM of arsenic


• Scotts All-Purpose Plant Food 18-13-13                                                                                                  
  50.9 PPM


• Schultz Professional Potting Soil Plus 0.08-0.12-0.08                                                                                
  34.55 PPM


• Schultz Multicote Time Release Outdoor Plant Food 17-17-17                                                                  
  28.2 PPM


• Schultz Enriched Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables 0.5-.10-.05                                                          
  25.57 PPM

And yet the agencies allow these products to be on the open market and on store shelves.

The notes from the CIG's July 8, 2008 meeting are now available online.

At the July CIG meeting, a number of handouts were made available to the attendees They are listed below with the links to get to them.

1. The FMC fact sheet describing the new Home Value Assurance Program which replaces the Property Price Protection Plan for homes put up for sale. This plan will go into affect January 2009. The Property Price Protection Plan runs through June 2009.
Click here to download.

2. Comparison sheet for the Property Price Protection Plan and the new Home Value Assurance Program.
Click here to download.

3. The FMC "Keeping You Posted' update. Click here to download.

4. The DEC internet source for a Buffalo News article concerning what they called "Nasty Sites" in Niagara County. The report claimed FMC was such a site and they had off site ground water contamination. Also the article stated the plant was used for disposal of pesticides without mention of pesticide manufacturing. The reporter used only the negative parts of the DEC information. The DEC admits they need to better keep such internet pages of information more up to date. Click here to download.

5. A DOH Biological Monitoring Study done in 1987 using Roy-Hart school students using hair and urine samples to detect levels of arsenic and lead. The results were then compared with results of tests using students from a school in Greenbush, NY, near Albany. The results showed no statistical differences. The agencies have stated one reason they did not recognize the Exponent study which tested Middleport residents for arsenic was hair samples were not used and they felt those samples would be more accurate. Hair samples were used in this DOH study. Click here to download.

6. A DOH Incidence of Cancer study done in 1987 in Middleport comparing expected cancer cases with actual occurrences. Seventeen of the most common cancer types for men and women were studied. No statistical increase in cancer cases over expected were found in this study. Click here to Download.

Keep in mind the two above studies were done before any remediation of residential property or the school football field was done.

The notes from the CIG's June 18, 2008 meeting with the Agencies are now available. They are 14 pages long and can also be downloaded using the link below.

The agency's answers to the questions members of the CIG have been asking has been posted in the document repository in the Agency/CIG Communications section. These answers will be discussed at the June 18 CIG meeting. Members of the EPA, DEC, and DOH will be in attendance.

The work plan for the Phytoremediation Pilot Study is now available for downloading in the document repository on this site. The Pilot Study work plan is in two parts: the text and the figures at the end of the document.

The RFI document for the facilities investigation of Middleport and surrounding areas has been divided into 10 volumes. The division of the area for the various volumes are shown on two maps which have been added to the document repository or can be viewed by clicking here. Each area or volume is color coded on the first map except those for Volumes 6 and 7 which are north of Person Rd consisting of Jeddo and Johnson Creeks. They are shown on the second map.

Volume 1 is the history of the area and includes aerial photos as far back as 1931 and Sampson maps showing the village layout of buildings and their usage as far back as the 19th century. Volume 1 is in 2 files and posted in the document repository in the RCRA Document Library.

The CIG has asked FMC to treat Volume 4, Culvert 105 and its flood zone, with high priority and Volumes 5 and 6, the tributary of Jeddo creek both north and south of Pearson Rd, with medium priority. Volume 2, the air deposition area in the village has been completed and submitted to the agencies for approval. That file is also large and is not in the repository yet.

The June meeting of the Community Input Group will be different than our usual meeting. Instead of one part with updates from FMC and the agencies and the second part a discussion between CIG members only, June's meeting will be devoted to a question and answer session with the agencies. The questions have been submitted to the EPA, DEC and DOH. They include many which have been asked by Middleport citizens over the years. The meeting will begin at 5:30 PM at the Masonic Hall and end around 7:30. The usual lite meal will be available. All citizens are welcome to attend. To review the questions, click on the "Read Full Article" link below. It is expected the agencies will send their answers in advance so they can be reviewed prior to the meeting. When received, they will be posted on the site as well.

Due to additional questions from Middleport residents about the FMC proposed Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU), FMC has submitted an article for posting on the CIG web site. It explains what type of material will be placed in the CAMU and presents questions and answers pertaining to the use of a bottom liner, the environmental effect on the area, soil source, if it's hazardous and long term responsibility. Click the Read Full Article link below to read the article. Please post your comments at the end.