Ortt Met With EPA Chief on Radiation Waste
New York Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt discussed radioactive waste in Niagara with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Nuclear
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Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin regarding radiation concerns in Western New York. The meeting addressed ongoing contamination in the Town of Niagara and legislative efforts to manage radioactive materials.
Why it matters
The discussion centered on the need for legislative action to address radioactive waste that currently falls outside the scope of existing state programs. Establishing a path for federal cooperation is a critical step for residents concerned about environmental safety in the region.
Senate Bill S.10672 seeks to modify the state Superfund program to explicitly include radioactive waste, which is currently excluded under existing New York state law. The proposal follows confirmed elevated radiation levels detected in the Town of Niagara.
The players
Rob Ortt
Rob Ortt serves as the New York State Senate Minority Leader and is currently spearheading legislative efforts to address environmental contamination.
Lee Zeldin
Lee Zeldin is the current EPA Administrator responsible for overseeing federal environmental policy and response efforts.
The details
Ortt presented the proposal to expand the Superfund program to Lee Zeldin as the EPA continues to coordinate with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health. The EPA has already surged additional resources into the Western New York region to evaluate the extent of the contamination.
Timeline
September 25, 2026: Rob Ortt met with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
In the coming days: Ortt plans to contact affected residents regarding meeting details.
Deeper Dive
This effort seeks to update the New York State Superfund program by expanding its legal authority to encompass radioactive waste sites. The move represents a significant proposed departure from current regulations that exclude radiation from the state's primary cleanup framework.
The proposed expansion of the Superfund program could eventually trigger large-scale federal remediation efforts in Western New York, potentially altering local property safety assessments. Residents can expect direct updates from Senator Ortt in the coming days regarding the meeting's outcomes.
The takeaway
Legislative efforts to bridge the gap between state and federal environmental oversight are becoming a central focus for Western New York representatives. Residents should prepare for further communication as policymakers attempt to integrate radiation cleanup into the existing Superfund framework.
Further reading
For broader context on local environmental efforts, see Nuclear.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Niagara Frontier Publications.
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