Board of Directors

Jordan Levy, Chairman

Maureen O. Hurley
David J. Colligan
Michael DiVirgilio
Julie M. Barrett O’Neill
Mindy Rich
Chris Collins, Ex Officio 95 Perry Street, Suite 500
Byron W. Brown, Ex Officio
Buffalo, NY 14203-3030
Historic District Advisory
Board P: (716) 846-8200
Jordan Levy, Chair
Richard G. Berger, Esq.
F: (716) 846-8260
Bruno Cagliostro www.eriecanalharbor.com
Henry Giorino
Mark Goldman
Peter F. Hunt
Kathy Konst
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 10, 2011
Eric Lander
Newel Nussbaumer
CONTACT:
Christel Peacock
Paul Redding
Erich Weyant (ECHDC)
Casmiro Rodriguez
Mike Schmand eweyant@empire.state.ny.us | 716.846.8258
Lynda H. Schneekloth
Catherine Schweitzer
Tim Tielman
Outer Harbor Advisory Board ECHDC Hosts Presentation on Buffalo River Restoration Project
David J. Colligan, Chair
Anthony Anderson, P.E.
Alan Bedenko, Esq.
Vince Connors Unique, pubic-private-nonprofit collaboration will address issues including
Tucker Curtin
Peter Demakos, P.E. water quality, wildlife habitats
John M. Fell, AICP
Don Finkle
Sergio Fornasiero
Mark Goldman
Marti Gorman
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) today hosted a
Erin Heaney
Bill Jones
presentation on the Buffalo River Restoration Project, a unique public-private-
Renata Kraft
Scott McKee
nonprofit partnership to address a number of environmental problems affecting
Laurence McMahon
John Montaque the Buffalo River. The project is being conducted by the U.S. Environmental
Carl Montante, Jr.
William Nowak Protection Agency (USEPA), the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),
Alan Oberst
Marc Odien the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC),
Jud Payne
Anne Perry Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER and Honeywell. This partnership brings together
Alfred Price
David Stebbins diverse resources and expertise and has developed plans for a comprehensive
Pierre Wallinder
Marty Walters cleanup and transformation of the river into a beneficial environmental,
Buffalo River Advisory Board
Julie Barrett O’Neill, Chair economic and community resource.
Justin Booth
William Breeser
Ronald Chapin
Timothy Delaney
Lisa DuBois
“I want to thank Julie Barrett O’Neill for arranging this overview,” said ECHDC
Jessie Fisher
Erin Heaney
President Thomas P. Dee. “The waterfront is going to determine Buffalo’s role to
Leanna Hefferman
Jill Jedlicka
the 21st Century, and this project is an important step in making a key
Laura Kelly
William Novak component, the Buffalo River, safe and accessible for everyone.”
Jackie O’Bannon
Margaret Overdorf
Carl Paladino
Lorraine Pierro The dredging, capping and restoration efforts that are part of this project
Daryl Rasuli
Sam Savarino address the challenges facing the Buffalo River, including contaminated river
Jennifer Sepulveda
Erin Sharkey sediments, lack of safe public access, poor water quality and insufficient fish and
James Simon
Rick Smith III
Steven Stepniak
wildlife habitats.
Gregory Stevens
Gerhardt Yaskow
Greg Wisniewski
These initiatives emerged from the Draft Feasibility Study on Remediating
Cultural Advisory Board
Maureen O. Hurley, Chair
Peter B. Dow, Chair
Contaminated Sediments (FS), which was completed in November 2010 and
Cindy Abbott-Letro
Ted Bickford
evaluated five alternatives for remediating contaminated sediments in the Area
Melissa Brown
Kevin Cottrell
of Concern (AOC). The FS recommends "Enhanced Protectiveness Dredging,"
Donna Fernandes
Dottie Gallagher-Cohen which would include targeted removal and isolated capping of contaminated
Duncan Hay
Paul Hogan sediments, as well as habitat restoration.
Michael Kimmelberg
Barbara Park-Leggett
Thomas Mooney
John S. Montague The proposed alternatives were evaluated based on their potential to
Mark Mortenson
Christopher Schoepflin accomplish four objectives:
Catherine Schweitzer
Art Selection Advisory Board
Jordan Levy, Chair
Molly Donovan
Sandra Q. Firmin
Louis Grachos
Richard Huntington
Jean Knox
  Reduce exposure to humans and wildlife from direct sediment contact or
through fish consumption by reducing the availability and/or
concentration of contaminants in the sediment;

 Reduce exposure of wildlife and aquatic communities to harmful

concentrations of contaminants;

 Reduce the potential for confined disposal of future dredged sediments

(for routine navigational, commercial, and recreational purposes) by
reducing contamination; and

 Implement a remedy that is compatible with the Buffalo River Remedial

Advisory Committee's goal of protecting and restoring habitat and
supporting wildlife.

Two large-scale dredging projects will be conducted over the next two years. The
first dredging project, conducted by the USACE in the Federal navigation
channel, will begin this spring. Funding for this project will be provided by the
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

The second dredging project, scheduled to begin in 2012, will address

contaminated river sediments outside of the navigation channel, mostly along a
6.2 mile stretch of the lower Buffalo River and a 1.4 mile stretch of the City Ship
Canal, which has been designated as an AOC. This second project will be
overseen by the USEPA and will be funded through the Great Lakes Legacy Act
(GLLA).

In addition to advocating for and supporting the GLRI and GLLA which is

delivering federal funding to the Buffalo River, Congressman Brian Higgins, a
member of the Congressional Great Lakes Caucus, secured $435,000 in direct
funding for Buffalo River dredging projects over the last three years. 

These projects will address multiple contaminants that exist in Buffalo River
sediments, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg).

Following the dredging project, habitat restoration will be initiated in key

locations, including Kelly Island, City Ship Canal, Ohio Street shoreline, Katherine
Street peninsula, Buffalo Color peninsula shoreline, and the Riverbed parcel.

The following individuals may be contacted about issues related to the Buffalo
River AOC:
Jill Spisiak-Jedlicka
Director of Ecological Programs and Buffalo River Remedial Action Plan
Coordinator
Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER
1250 Niagara Street
Buffalo, NY 14213
716-852-7483
Jedlicka@BNRiverkeeper.org

Bruce I. Sanders
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
1776 Niagara Street
Buffalo, NY 14207
716-879-4410
bruce.i.sanders@usace.army.mil

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