LOOW RAB announces new public information resources

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, February 3, 2007

The Lake Ontario Ordnance Works Restoration Advisory Board reports it has increased its visibility as well as its information flow to the public. “We now have a Web site and some new materials for the public,” stated Karen Allen, chair of the RAB Outreach Committee. The site, www.loowrab.org, includes current findings, programs and schedules of the RAB, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who provide the federal management and oversight of the 7,500-acre area.

Located in the towns of Lewiston and Porter, the LOOW lands were originally taken from private owners by the federal government during World War II for war-time munitions production activities, and now comprise a number of operations, including the Lewiston-Porter School District campus, the Niagara Falls Storage Site, Modern Corp., and CWM Chemical Services, plus a variety of government, military and private uses.

According to Walter Garrow, RAB chairman, the organization is now set up to provide short presentations on LOOW history and recent findings for local organizations. “We have 65 years of material, some previously classified, which we compressed into short programs for group meetings.”

He adds a brochure detailing the background of the LOOW site is available at area libraries, schools and municipal offices.

Additional materials are being assembled through the Historical Committee chaired by Guy Zaczek in the form of an interactive history of the site and related subjects, which have impacted the area. His most current production is a CD that contains the past few years’ published articles, “which should be a great reference for researchers and interested citizens of the area,” said Zaczek.

Those interested in obtaining a free copy can request one by writing to the LOOW RAB at P.O. Box 181, Youngstown, NY 14174.

Sister Karen Allen, LOOW RAB Outreach Committee chair, explained that the Corps of Engineers periodically publishes findings and status of their investigative work, especially related to the Niagara Falls Storage Site where half of the world’s mined uranium is buried and CWM’s hazardous waste landfill. “We have had good cooperation with the three local libraries and Porter and Lewiston town boards that provide a place for us on their bulletin boards to keep residents informed,” explained Allen, “and we have a complete hardcopy archive in our official public resource center maintained at the Lewiston Library.”

Garrow stated that as a result of the RAB’s public briefing session last October, there were enough requests “to strengthen RAB’s conduit to the community to be sure that everyone is well informed.” RAB announced that its Steering Committee will meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. at the Lewiston Public Library. “The public is always invited,” said Garrow. He also encouraged residents to join the RAB as a committee member, technical expert, or Steering Committee participant. “We need the local input and always can use the extra talent and suggestions,” so a call to 745-7790 will start the process.

He reports the Restoration Advisory Board is a community-based group formed to influence the investigation and promote the satisfactory remediation of all public and private parcels of the LOOW site. Continual public input is sought and periodic community sessions are conducted for the exchange of information and to provide an open and independent dialogue.

For further information visit the RAB web site, www.loowrab.org, or contact Garrow at 283-4017.