Niagara Falls, New York Radioactive Contamination Claims

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Best Lawyer and American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorney, is Committed to Protecting the Rights of Radioactive Waste and Radiation Contamination Victims Across Niagara Falls. If You or a Loved One Has Been Diagnosed with a Serious Medical Condition After Being Exposed to Radioactive Waste at Home, at School, or in the Office, Our Experienced Team of Personal Injury Attorneys Could Help You Build a Compelling, Evidence-Based Case for Compensation.

Niagara Falls residents are raising the alarm after radioactive waste was found in the backyards of at least 120 homes throughout the region.

Earlier this year, in July, New York State Department of Health Commissioner James McDonald issued a statement acknowledging the severity of the impending crisis.

“What we are dealing with here, which I think is very concerning which, is chronic, long-term exposure, because that is really what increases the risk for cancer and other health concerns, so we are taking this very seriously; that is why my team is working this, really, quite frankly, night and day on this thing,” McDonald said.

Prominent local lawmakers have also called attention to the issue, with U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY) saying that the number of affected families has only continued to grow.

“Reports that residents in the Town of Niagara may have been exposed to elevated levels of radioactive contamination on their properties are deeply concerning,” Rep. Kennedy said. “My office has reached out to both the Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to seek answers on the scope of this issue, safety measures for affected residents, any planned remediation efforts, as well as any additional resources that may be needed.”

In the meantime, however, many Niagara Falls homeowners have expressed concern about the adequacy of the testing as well as the transparency of the state’s efforts.

Speaking to Spectrum Local News, one member of the local Sierra Club said that some families have been asked to sign waivers as a precondition for free soil testing waivers that officials say are a mere formality, but which some fear could prevent them from taking legal action later on.

Alarmingly, though, this is not the first time that Buffalo-Niagara Falls homeowners have had to worry about radioactive waste in residential neighborhoods: in 2017, more than 20 families across Niagara Falls, Lewiston, and Grand Island filed suit against companies including Union Carbide and Bayer CropScience Inc., all accused of using Upstate New York as a dumping ground for toxic material.

If you or a loved one has found radioactive waste on your property or had soil tested positive for contamination, you could be entitled to significant compensation. A personal injury lawsuit could help you secure the damages you need to find a new home, pay for medical treatment, and reclaim your financial independence.

A recognized U.S. New & World Report Best Law Firm, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping Niagara Falls families file, fight, and win high-stakes personal injury lawsuits. Since our founding in 2005, we have secured more than $300 million in damages. We could help you, too. Call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 716-839-3939 to speak to a radioactive waste lawyer in Niagara Falls and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Before March 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified multiple sites across Niagara County associated with deposits of radioactive slag. Federally-funded clean-ups have already been completed at locations including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls;
2. Upper Mountain Road in Lewiston;
3. The area around Holy Trinity Cemetery in Lewiston; and
4. The Donovan Head Start on Main Street in Niagara Falls.

The EPA notes that the U.S. Department of Energy conducted aerial surveys of the Niagara region in 1978, finding “low levels of radioactive materials” at the above locations. Much of this previously identified waste was attributed to a glass-like byproduct called slag, which was used as a filler by companies that once did business in Upstate New York.

Between 2023 and 2025, the government conducted another series of flyovers, which identified new sites of contamination centered around Fox Avenue and Chester Road in Niagara Falls. Using a Geiger counter, investigators from News 4 detected unsafe concentrations of radiation both inside and outside of homes in the affected area. Some of this residual radiation has been attributed to the World War II-era Manhattan Project, which culminated with the development of the world’s first nuclear weapon. More than 40 local companies contributed to the effort, with some processing uranium ore under conditions that “would be considered dangerous” today.

Niagara Falls families have a right to safe homes.

You could be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit if you meet the following conditions:

1. You live in a home or on a property that has tested positive for radioactive contamination;
2. You have sustained damages, such as a radiation-related cancer diagnosis, that can be attributed to the presence of radioactive waste; and
3. You have evidence to show that the city or a private company knew, or should have known, that its practices created a foreseeable public health risk yet failed to either warn the public or take other meaningful preventive action.

You may be able to sue even if the company that dumped radioactive waste on your property has gone out of business or is currently operating under another name. Critically, you should avoid signing any and all liability waivers until you have had the opportunity to consult with an attorney. Signing a waiver does not automatically strip you of your rights but, depending on the language used in the form, could make it more difficult, if not impossible, to sue.

Do not take chances with your rights.

For more than 20 years, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect Niagara Falls residents from government overreach and corporate negligence. If you think you could have a case, do not delay: call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 716-839-3939 to speak to a radioactive waste injury lawyer and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Niagara Falls, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!