Learning Objectives Give a brief explanation of the Love Canal

Disaster. Pick two (2) toxins that were released from

the landfill and list their health effects. What are the difference between our

landfills today and the way the landfill was constructed/maintained in the Love Canal Disaster.

Explain CERCLA. How long after a landfill is finished can you

build on it?

It started out as a bid for hydroelectricity…

Back in the 1890’s…

William T. LoveVery ambitious

entrepreneur

Niagara Falls, NYRapidly growing city○ Harness water’s power!

Model City/shipping lane○ Lots of expectations!

Project abandoned Only a few houses and streets built

and a small section of the canal dug before Love ran out of $$1 mile long50 ft wide, 10-40 ft deep

Became local recreation area

Sold, sold, & sold again! Sold to the city in 1920’s

City dump site Hooker Chemicals & Plastics in 1942

Granted permission to use the canalDumped over 21,000 tons of chemical

wastes over 10 years. Niagara Falls Board of Education in

1953Needed land, like BAD.

Hooker Chemicals & Plastics Needed a place to dump their trash. Drained the canal, lined it with clay.

Filled it with 55gal barrels○ Halogenated organics, pesticides,

chlorobenzenes and dioxin, etc…○ Buried 20-25 ft.

Bought the land in 1947 Once full, “covered” with clay and

soil and grass grew.Wanted to sell the land.

Niagara Falls BOE Rapidly growing district

Sought the land next to the canal Hooker Co. wouldn’t sell the land

BOE got dirty (eminent domain) Bought 70+ acres of land for $1

Hooker Corp. made sure to protect themselves in the deed negotiated

Built school over the canal and homes on adjacent land

Elementary school, homes, expressway...

Found barrels during excavation at original school siteMoved location ~85ft to the North

During first year, 25ft area of land crumbled revealing buried barrels

Broke thru the clay barrier when constructing residential sewers

LaSalle Expressway cut off groundwater from reaching Niagara RiverBoth good and bad

The results…Chronology In 1976, two reporters for the Niagara Gazette, David

Pollak and David Russell, tested several sump-pumps near Love Canal and found toxic chemicals in them

The matter went quiet for more than a year and was resurrected by reporter Michael Brown, who then investigated potential health effects by carrying forth an informal door-to-door survey in the early summer of 1978, finding birth defects and many anomalies.

 The New York State Health Department followed suit and found an abnormal incidence of miscarriages.

Government official show little interest in the matter. Love Canal Homeowners' Association was founded

Love Canal Homeowners Association

The results…Chronology The lack of public interest in Love Canal

made matters worse for the homeowners' association, which now battled two organizations who were spending vast amounts of money to disprove negligence.

Following survey of multiple hideous birth defects and reports of cancer, New York State Health Commissioner, Robert Whalen declares a state of emergency exists at the Love Canal and orders closing of 99th Street School and evacuation of pregnant women and children under the age of two. (1978)

President Jimmy Carter approves emergency financial aid for the area

Jimmy Carter

Niagara Falls Mayor Michael O'Laughlin, President Jimmy Carter and New York

Governor Hugh Carey 

The results…Chronology November 10, 1978 200 tons of dioxin, a

lethal chemical are reported buried in the canal and over 200 chemical compounds are identified as being buried in the canal. Residents fears heighten.

Report of this find and refusal to continue evacuation lead to fierce protest

The results…Chronology At first, scientific studies did not conclusively

prove that the chemicals were responsible for the residents' illnesses, and scientists were divided on the issue, even though eleven known or suspected carcinogens had been identified, one of the most prevalent being benzene. There was also dioxin (polychlorinated dibenzodioxins) in the water, a very hazardous substance. Dioxin pollution is usually measured in parts per trillion; at Love Canal, water samples showed dioxin levels of 53 parts per billion

Toxic chemicals

The results…Chronology After a long hard battle, in April 1979 EPA

approves $4 million for remedial work at the Love Canal. City receives $1 million in Federal Disaster Assistance Administration funds

EPA announces creation of a special task force to aid in identification and clean-up of toxic waste sites

The government relocated more than 800 families and reimbursed them for their homes,

EPA @ work, FINALLY

EPA truck in the foreground cleaning the playground of the 99th street school. School can

be seen in background

Abandoned Love Canal home with EPA monitoring

unit

The results…Chronology Congress passed the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or the Superfund Act in 1980, that holds polluters accountable for their damages.

Hooker Chemical was found negligent, but not reckless, in its handling of the waste and sale of the land to the Niagara Falls School Board.

So, What happened? The dumpsite was not properly

covered. Lots of rain. No leachate pool Leachate seep through the soil into

people’s yard, groundwater, basements

First chemical seepage into basement reported in 1959. Evacuation in 1979. 20 YEARS LATER????

You don’t want to live there!

So, What happened? Despite the disclaimer by Hooker

Chemical (not very surprising name), the 99th St. School was built

Upon discovery of the waste during excavation, the site was moved ONLY 80ft North

1955, school completed, playground collapsed, exposing chemicals. Mixed with rainwater, puddle created. Children play in “puddle”.

So, What happened? City tries to build underground sewage system

for rainwater. Construction broke the clay cover

More waste chemical seep Resident unaware of canal history. Not

included in contract. Therefore, no monitoring and further

evaluation Clay crack LaSalle Expressway construction cut off

groundwater from reaching Niagara River. Dump site flooded

Puddle of chemical emerge in yard Everything goes amiss from there

Why It happened? Signs were, for the most part, ignored. Low income, lower class families.

Government ignored their plea Of course, disregard to human life and

future generation Trees were dying, leaves turning black Swimming pool floating away Puddles of chemicals found in people’s

yard. They did little about it The choking smell It wasn’t until 20yrs after the first

signs that the town was evacuated

Barrels rising out of the clay

So, what are the chemicals found Over 80 compounds in total we

isolated, among themCompound Acute Effects Chronic Effectsbenzene Narcosis

Skin irritantAcute leukemiaAplastic anemiaPancytopeniaChronic lymphatic leukemiaLymphomas (probable)

toluene Narcosis (more powerfulthan benzene)

Anemia (possible)Leukopenia (possible)

benzoic acid Skin irritant  lindane Convulsions

High white cell counts 

trichloroethylene Central nervous depressionSkin irritantLiver damage

Paralysis of fingersRespiratory and cardiac arrestVisual defectsDeafness

dibromoethane Skin irritant  benzaldehydes Allergen  methylene chloride Anesthesia (increased carboxy

hemoglobin)Respiratory distressDeath

carbon tetrachloride NarcosisHepatitisRenal damage

Liver tumors (possible)

chloroform Central nervous narcosisSkin irritantRespiratory irritantGastrointestinal symptoms

 

Impact of the ChemicalsMaternal

AgeNumber of Pregnancies

Number ofMiscarriages

Observed

<20 2 020-24 13 025-29 28 330-34 19 635-39 15 8All Ages 77 17

Table II Maternal Age and Number of Miscarriages (Observed and Expected*) Among Residents of the Love Canal

Even though 17 miscarriages don’t seem too much, remember this is a small community. That’s 22% miscarriages in a very short time. Type of Malformation Sex

Date of Birth

Medication,Radiation

duringpregnancy

Cleft palate, deformed ears and teeth, hearing defect, mental retardation, heart defect

F 11/68 No

Abnormalities of renal pelvis and reflux ureters

F 4/75 No

Mental retardation (autistic) F 1/66 NoCongenital deafness M 2/66 NoClub foot M 1/58 No

TABLE IV Documented Congenital Malformations Among Children From the Love Canal

Some of the major birth defects documented at Love Canal

AFTERMATH EPA addressed the Site in 6 stages:

Landfill Containment w/ leachate collection, treatment, and disposal

Excavation & Interim storage of the sewer & creek sediments

Final treatment and disposal of the sewer and creek sediments and other Love Canal waste

Remediation of the 93rd Street School soilsEDA home maintenance and technical

assistance by the Love Canal Area Revitalization Agency (LCARA)

Buyout of homes and other properties in the EDA by LCARA

Dioxins Polychlorinated

dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), or simply dioxins, are a group of polyhalogenated compounds which are significant because they act as environmental pollutants.  They are known mutagens, and suspected human carcinogens

INITIAL ACTIONS 1978

System installed to collect leachate from the site

Landfill area was covered and fencedLeachate treatment plant was

constructed 1981

EPA conducted environmental studies

LANDFILL CONTAINMENTLANDFILL CONTAINMENT 1982

Barrier drain and a leachate collection system constructed by EPA

The temporary clay cap was covered with synthetic material to prevent rainwater from entering landfill

Houses adjacent to landfill and school were demolished

LANDFILL CONTAINMENT 1985

NYSDEC installed 40 acre cap on landfill

Improvements made on the leachate collection and treatment system

New leachate treatment facility constructed

SEWERS & CREEKS 1985-1989

Sewers and the Black Creek culverts were hydraulically cleaned

Removal and dispersal of contaminated sediments from Black Creek and Bergholtz Creek (Dredging)○ 14,000 cubic yards of sediments removed

Sewers inspected for defects that could allow contaminants to migrate

68,200 linear feet of storm and sanitary sewers were cleaned

THERMAL TREATMENT OF SEWER AND CREEK

SEDIMENTS 1987 – EPA addressed the destruction and

disposal of the dioxin-contaminated soil On-site facility to dewater and contain

sediments Separate facility to treat the dewatered

contaminants and leachate treatment facility residuals by high-temperature thermal destruction

All contaminated soil was removed from 93rd Street School property; building was demolished

HOME MAINTENANCE Federal government and State of

New York purchased affected properties in the EDA

EPA provided funds for the rehabilitation of the site

Since rehabilitation program began:Approximately 260 homes soldSenior citizen housing development

CLEANUP PROGRESS 1988

EPA issued Love Canal EDA Habitability Study

Study conclusions:○ Areas 1-3 of the EDA, not suitable for

habitation without remediation, but may be used for commercial and/or industrial purposes

○ Areas 4-7 of the EDA may be used for residential purposes

CLEANUP PROGRESS Quantities of Love Canal waste

materials (2008)Total sewer and creek sediment wastes○ 38,900 cubic yards at 1.6 tons/cubic yard

= 62,240 tonsOther debris and waste○ 21,167 pounds

Spent Carbon Filter Wastes○ 30,080 pounds

CLEANUP PROGRESS Numerous Cleanup

ActivitiesLandfill containmentLechate collection

and treatmentRemoval and

disposition of contaminated sewer and creek sediments

Site is deemed safe for surrounding residents and the environment

CLEANUP PROGRESS Revitalization

New homeowners have repopulated areas of the site deemed habitable

260+ formerly-abandoned homes have been rehabilitated and sold to new residents

September 2008○ 5-year review report issued by EPA

2004○ Love Canal removed from National Priorities

list

PROPER LANDFILL CLOSURE

Plan for eventual site use before landfill is constructed and operated

Critical factors to plan for:Settlement○ Approx. 90% occurs in first 5 years○ May continue for 25 or more years at a

slower rateFoundation characteristicsControl of leachate and gasVegetationFinal grade

SITE CLOSURE CHECKLIST

Pre-planning Prepare site drainage

plan Identify final site

topographic plan 3 months before

closure Schedule closing date Notify regulatory

agencies and site users Closure

Place cover over exposed waste

Post signs indicating site closure and alt. disposal sites

3 months after closureComplete needed

drainage control features

Complete gas collection or venting system, leachate containment facilities, and gas or groundwater monitoring devices

Place earth cover over landfill

Establish vegetative cover

BUILDING ON LANDFILL Major design

considerations:Consolidation-time-

settlement relationships

Load-bearing capacity

Placement of sewer, water, electric, and gas utilities

Gas-venting techniques

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?WHERE ARE THEY NOW? HOOKER CHEMICAL’S & PLASTICS

RENAMED - OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Canal#cite_note-Zuesse-LoveCanal-9 http://www.eoearth.org/article/Love_Canal,_New_York http://www.ucc.org/god-is-still-speaking/images/firsts/love-canal.jpg http://library.buffalo.edu/specialcollections/lovecanal/about/

background.php http://www.wnylegacy.org/cdm4/collection_p15004coll2.php?CISOROOT=/

p15004coll2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occidental_Petroleum#Love_Canal http://www.onlineethics.org/cms/9721.aspx http://www.onlineethics.org/cms/6532.aspx http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/lovecanal/01.htm http://library.buffalo.edu/specialcollections/lovecanal/about/chronology.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Canal http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsair/e/repindex/repi49-50/lesson10/

lesson10.html http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/0201290c.pdf