25 yrs. later, Love Canal toxic waste has spread to Niagara Falls:$113 million lawsuit filed

[Divernan]

300 abandoned homes adjacent to the toxic landfill were refurbished and sold, and an 80 unit senior citizens center was built there. The EPA removed Love Canal from its national list of superfund sites in 2004, saying cleanup was completed and the area was a "thriving community." State and federal officials insist the Love Canal "containment system" is operating "properly and effectively".

But what's that you say, Sparky? There are weird popping and hissing sounds coming from your basement. There's a foul chemical smell filling the house and burning your eyes and nostrils? Your pets have started vomiting? A cap blew off a sewer pipe in the basement? Your neighbor's baby was born with club feet and assorted other birth defects? Is that what's troubling you, Sparky? Well, no worries, Sparky. The local mayor says everything's just fine. And don't read the entire story quoted below - it will just scare the shit out of you.

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130209/CITYANDREGION/130209112

The Herrs and two other families have filed a $113 million state lawsuit, alleging that the chemical landfill at Love Canal is leaking and that people in the nearby neighborhood have become ill from those chemicals.

More than 300 additional families – current or former residents of the repopulated Love Canal neighborhood – are talking about joining the lawsuit, according to the attorneys who filed the legal action.

“We have reason to believe that Love Canal-era chemicals have migrated onto our yards and into our homes. We have suffered property damage and serious ongoing health problems,” the three families wrote in an October 2011 letter to state and federal officials. “The matter is urgent.”

[niyad]

1. ssdd

[Divernan]

5. Exactly

Being an older type person, I had to look up the meaning. For others who may not know, SSDD means Same Shit Different Day.

[L0oniX]

2. Lesson: Don't expect the government to protect us. n/t

[Gravitycollapse]

3. Wrote a story about this in high school. Couldn't get over the fact it's called Love Canal.

[Divernan]

4. The EPA is clueless when it comes to understanding underground migration of toxic substances.

Underground waters seep into every possible opening and carry toxic waste with them. It's not like toxins conveniently lay inert on the surface of either ground or water. This has been amply demonstrated in the oil/tar sands spill in Kalamazoo nearly three years ago which is still not contained, despite all the promises/optimistic forecasts by EPA. And we'll doubtless see the same thing in the current Arkansas mess. Those folks can kiss their homes and neighborhood good-bye.