NIAGARA COUNTY REFUSE
TOWN OF WHEATFIELD, NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the information reviewed, the Niagara County Refuse site, in the Town of
Wheatfield, Niagara County, poses an indeterminate public health hazard. The limited available
data and information do not indicate that humans are being or have been exposed to levels of
contamination that would be expected to cause adverse health effects. However, data or
information are not available for all environmental media to which humans may be exposed.
Potential exposure pathways are:
a) Persons visiting the site may be exposed to surface soil and sediment at the site. There are no
data on general surface soil conditions at the site, but contaminant concentration in soil around
leachate seeps would be expected to have the highest levels of contamination. None of the
contaminants found in soil around leachate seeps exceeded comparison values, so the risks
associated with exposure to these soils are expected to be minimal.
b) Site visitors could be exposed to contaminated surface water in ditches, and leachate by
dermal contact and incidental ingestion. The increased cancer risk for long-term exposure to the
highest concentration on-site would be low.
c) In the past, persons visiting the site may have been exposed to waste or contaminated soil,
surface water, sediments, and air. However, it is unknown if contamination which might have
been a public health concern was present at the surface or if people may have been exposed to it.
d) The area is served by public water and groundwater near the site is not known to be used for
drinking. A well survey will be completed to determine if there are any private wells in the area.
Although unlikely, nearby residents who may use groundwater for household use could be
exposed to site-related contamination by dermal contact, ingestion, and inhalation of volatile
organic compounds.
e) Persons engaged in on-site remedial activities may be exposed to site contaminants through
inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact. However, proper procedures will minimize the risks to
on-site workers and nearby residents.
The Niagara River water or sediments are probably not being significantly affected by
contaminants at the Niagara County Refuse site.
The marshy area north of the site and Black Creek may be affected by contamination at the
NCR site as drainage swales at the landfill discharge to these wetlands.
Landfill gases may be present, but they are unlikely to migrate to nearby structures due to the
type of soils in the area.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The leachate generation and discharge from the landfill needs to be controlled to prevent
exposures through direct contact with leachate and inhalation of volatiles released from the
seeps.
The landfill needs to be properly covered to prevent exposures to contaminated surface soil
near leachate seeps. Any soil "hot-spots" around leachate seeps that will not be covered should
be removed.
A residential well survey should be performed to determine whether any wells do exist in the
area. Public drinking water should continue to be provided and available to area residents.
The remedial actions, as outlined in the ROD for the site, should be completed.
HEALTH ACTIVITIES RECOMMENDATION PANEL (HARP) RECOMMENDATION
The data and information developed in the Public Health Assessment for the Niagara County
Refuse Site, Wheatfield, New York, has been reviewed by ATSDR's Health Activities
Recommendation Panel (HARP) to determine appropriate follow-up actions. The Panel
determined that no follow-up actions are indicated at this time as there are no completed
exposure pathways and any exposure would have been infrequent to casual visitors.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for the Niagara County Refuse Disposal site contains a
description of actions to be taken by the US EPA, ATSDR and/or the New York State
Department of Health (NYS DOH) at and near the site subsequent to the completion of this
public health assessment. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this public health
assessment not only identifies public health hazards, but provides a plan of action designed to
mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous
substances in the environment. Included, is a commitment on the part of the ATSDR/NYS DOH
to follow-up on this plan to ensure that it is implemented. The public health actions to be
implemented are as follows:
The ATSDR and NYS DOH will coordinate with the appropriate agencies regarding actions to
be taken in response to those recommendations provided in this public health assessment for
which no plan of action has yet been developed.
The ATSDR will provide a follow-up to this PHAP, outlining the actions completed and those
in progress. This report will be placed in repositories that contain copies of this Public Health
Assessment, and will be provided to persons who request it.
The US EPA record of decision for the Niagara County Refuse site includes construction of a
permanent landfill cap, a perimeter clay barrier wall, a gas venting system, a leachate collection
system and implementation of deed and site access restrictions. These actions will effectively
eliminate current and potential exposure pathways associated with the site.
The NYS DOH will conduct a well survey of homes near the site to determine if there are any
private wells in the area which may be used for drinking or other household purposes.
ATSDR will reevaluate and expand the PHAP when needed. New environmental, toxicological
or health outcome data or the results of implementing the above proposed actions may determine
the need for additional actions at this site.
CERTIFICATION
The Public Health Assessment for the Niagara County Refuse site was prepared by the New York
State Department of Health under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures
existing at the time the public health assessment was initiated.
Gregory V. Ulirsch
Technical Project Officer, SPS, RPB, DHAC
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation (DHAC), ATSDR, has reviewed this
Public Health Assessment and concurs with its findings.
Robert Williams Division Director, DHAC, ATSDR
PREPARERS OF REPORT
Dawn Hettrick
Assistant Sanitary Engineer
Bureau of Environmental Exposure Investigation
Division of Environmental Health Assessment
ATSDR Regional Representative:
Arthur Block
Regional Operations
Office of the Assistant Director
ATSDR Technical Project Officer:
Greg Ulirsch
Technical Project Officer
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Remedial Programs Branch
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