DEC, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper announce hybrid outreach event for Buffalo River Area of Concern

Organizations to provide progress update, invite public comments on continuing restoration on July 30

Submitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper (BNW) announced a hybrid in-person and virtual outreach event to update the public about ongoing efforts to restore natural resources in the Buffalo River Area of Concern (AOC) and the proposed removal of the Fish Tumors and Other Deformities Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI), on Tuesday, July 30. Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, in partnership with DEC and Erie County, coordinates these restoration efforts under the Buffalo River AOC Remedial Action Plan (RAP).

The Buffalo River AOC is located in the City of Buffalo and includes the historically industrialized portion of the river beginning at its mouth, where it flows into Lake Erie, and continuing upstream approximately six miles to the Bailey Avenue bridge. The Fish Tumors and Other Deformities BUI was originally designated as impaired in the 1980s. In recent years, significant remedial efforts were completed to address contaminants in the Buffalo River, including sediment removal and capping, and additional control measures at former and current industrial facilities along the river.

Assessments demonstrated that this remediation resulted in improved ecological conditions that meet the criteria established to remove the Fish Tumors and Other Deformities BUI.

A draft report, which details the completed actions and assessments supporting the BUI removal, is available for public review at https://bnwaterkeeper.org/bui4-buffaloriver/.

Comments on the draft report and proposed BUI removal may be made at the event on Tuesday, July 30, and through BNW’s website, until Aug. 19.

To participate in-person, visit the Collections Gallery Conference Room on the second floor of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Central location, at 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. To participate virtually, go to: https://buffaloniagarawaterkeeper.my.webex.com/buffaloniagarawaterkeeper.my/j.php?MTID=mf260cbf5c59a8506eda1c530b9d11184.

For more information about the Buffalo River Area of Concern, visit:

√ https://bnwaterkeeper.org/buffalo-river/ 

√ https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-aocs/buffalo-river-aoc