No cleanup in sight for Niagara Falls Air Reserve station polluted by ‘forever chemicals’

Six years after the federal government learned that the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station was one of the nation’s most PFAS-polluted military sites, it still has no cleanup plan.

The ubiquitous and insidious per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals are present in the station’s groundwater at levels up to 300,000 times higher than drinking water standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to studies carried out by a consultant for the army.

The pollution came from foam, called aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, which firefighters used primarily during training activities at the station between the 1960s and late 1990s.

PFAS chemicals have since entered Cayuga Creek, according to studies by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The creek passes through the station and is a tributary of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, a major source of drinking water for thousands of people in the United States and Canada.

These chemicals are of particular concern to scientists because they bioaccumulate — meaning the body doesn’t eliminate them as it would other contaminants — earning them their colloquial name “forever chemicals.”

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, their exposure has been linked to increased risks of certain types of cancer, suppression of immune functions, slight decreases in birth weight, increased cholesterol levels and pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia.

Health experts and lawmakers disagree over FDA-approved alternative to combating synthetic opioid overdoses: A state bill that would allow any FDA-approved drug to reverse opioid overdoses to be available in New York is blocked by a state Senate committee after passing the State Assembly by 143 votes to 1.

Calls for better nutrition and wellness grow as Buffalo Schools Stewardship Project stalls: Parents and students believe that reliance on largely processed frozen foods will cause Buffalo’s academic performance to fall behind, spark new behavior and safety problems, and allow the city’s child poverty rate to fall. stay around the 40% reported by the state comptroller. Learn more

Erie County seeks public input on its cultural plan: Erie County is developing a cultural plan to create a more cohesive relationship between the county and arts and cultural organizations, to better assess and support their needs and help maximize their potential. Three public meetings are scheduled today through Wednesday. Learn more

Elizabeth Licata: They founded the party that was the Pink Flamingo: Mark Supples and Amy Taylor: It’s a story that must begin with Mark Supples and Amy Taylor, who took over the bar in 1983, with $12,000 on hand. Using these resources and choosing a jaunty name that paid homage to both Cheektowaga clichés and a classic John Water film, Supples and Taylor attempted to create the kind of hangout they themselves would frequent . Learn more

‘We can’t move forward’: Lackawanna finally looks at a tax increase, this one by 23.6%: Lackawanna residents learned of the potential increase during a public hearing last week on a proposal to allow the city to exceed its tax collection cap for the 2024-25 budget year which begins on the 1st august.

A pleasant Monday: Mostly sunny with a few passing clouds. High temperature around 80 degrees. Learn more

The Editorial Board: Save-A-Lot may be saved, but East Side shopping options still need help: Without a proactive approach, the health and well-being of East Side residents, as well as the economic vitality of Broadway Market, will continue to suffer. Learn more

Bills training camp questions: Can defensive end Von Miller rediscover past production? : Von Miller had no sacks last year after returning from his ACL injury. Will he be able to regain his form during his age 35 season? The first question in our 10-part series previewing Bills training camp takes a look. Learn more

Finding playoff performers among challenges facing Sabers scouts ahead of draft: Not only are scouts asked to determine which 17- and 18-year-old players have the talent and intangibles to one day become NHL players, they must also decide who can become an athlete who thrives in the environment under playoff pressure. Learn more

Board of Regents aims for gender-neutral sports; Section VI supports the NYSPHSAA recommendation: The amendments would create gender-neutral opportunities and remove gender identification where possible, while providing recommendations for what to do when a high school only offers single-gender teams and must allow members of another sex to try their hand. Learn more

#EveryDayAPhoto: Check out our photo series each morning to see our favorite image of the day.

See more photo galleries here.

Personalize your news: The Buffalo News app allows users to personalize their experience. Your favorite topics can be selected and placed at the top of the app so you can see them first. Download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

Have thoughts on the Good Morning, Buffalo newsletter? Email [email protected].