Dear Commissioner Lefton,

As the State Senator representing Niagara County, I am writing to urge you to direct the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to establish a process whereby the DEC provides a written “clean bill of health” confirmation to property owners whenever the DEC tests their property for radioactive contamination and determines that radioactive levels are within acceptable standards and do not pose a threat to public health. 

For many of the residents of Niagara County, their most valuable asset is their home. Unfortunately, the mere possibility that a property may have been tested for radioactive contamination can create uncertainty in the housing market and drive down the value of a property. Without written confirmation from the DEC that a property was tested and found to have no elevated levels of radioactive contamination, property owners may face unjust reductions in their property values.

The residents in the affected areas have already experienced an immense amount of anxiety, worrying about the health and safety of themselves and their family. Providing residents with written confirmation that their property has a clean bill of health would provide peace of mind to residents and help preserve property values to ensure the financial harm from this troubling incident is minimal. 

I respectfully urge you to implement this commonsense policy as soon as possible for the residents of Niagara County. It would provide some peace of mind for residents of my district that are going through a difficult time.

Sincerely,

Robert G. Ortt

Senate Minority Leader
62nd District