4 20 101 https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/b8998c3ca25035ee477871489c6ba712.mp4 98dcf175b61625118344326783380a91 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Remembering Van Miller : "The Voice of the Buffalo Bills" Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Writer, Reporter) Swenson, Scott (Photographer, Editor) Description An account of the resource Van Miller (1927 - 2015) is remembered as one of the greatest local broadcasters of the National Football League. As “The Voice of the Buffalo Bills” for thirty-seven years, Miller reflected the unyielding enthusiasm of the Buffalo fans who reveled in their team’s four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. Born in Dunkirk, New York, south of Buffalo, Miller’s career echoed his calls in the booth, building to a crescendo from humble beginnings as a summer replacement announcer at WBEN-TV (now WIVB-TV) in the mid-1950s to the station’s legendary sports anchor. His upbeat delivery was punctuated by humor and wit, which became his trademarks on the air. He retired from WIVB in 1998 after a forty-three year run. In 2004, Van Miller became the first local play-by-play announcer to be honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ten years later his name was added to the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame at the team’s home stadium in Orchard Park, New York. During his final interview with WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg, Miller reflected on his broadcast career in Buffalo, saying, “ That was a great ride. I was the luckiest man in the world.” Miller coined many phrases and catchwords that added to his signature style during Bills games. During the final days of his life, when he was barely able to speak, Van Miller mustered enough energy to raise his hands from his bedsheets and utter a parting word to his Channel 4 colleagues who came to say their final goodbye. It was his word describing the euphoria when the Bills would score a winning touchdown. “Fan-damonium!” Van’s longtime WIVB-TV colleagues who were at his bedside, anchor Jacquie Walker, senior correspondent Rich Newberg, and meteorologist Don Paul, believe Miller wanted Buffalo fans to know they were still number one on his mind. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2015-20-07 Subject The topic of the resource Miller, Van, 1907-2015. Buffalo Bills (Football team) -- History. Radio broadcasting of sports -- New York (State) -- Buffalo -- History Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WIVB (Television Station: Buffalo, N.Y.) Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Relation A related resource Digital Collections of the B&ECPL Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/aad1f0c33ccf43acf9801ddb3d306463.mp4 db163422cda3c7e8b9b37aa371af7589 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 1:00:31 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Right to Know Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1980-2014 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource RIGHT TO KNOW LAWS In 1980, demands by Western New York union workers dealing with toxic chemicals reached a crescendo. They insisted on knowing the nature of the substances to which they were exposed, and the extent of that exposure on the job. Some were suffering from ailments they attributed to toxic exposure. As a result of their efforts and similar demands that were being made around the country, “Right to Know” laws were passed locally, statewide, and nationally, granting workers and citizens access to chemical information critical to their health and safety. The following series of WIVB-TV reports by Rich Newberg documents this critical period of awakening to environmental hazards. They were aired on WIVB-TV in 1980 and ’81. The same issues are surfacing again today. The incoming Biden administration is pledging to make environmental justice a top priority. The opening comment is from Lois Gibbs. In 1980 Ms. Gibbs and the Love Canal Homeowners Association successfully organized the relocation of more than 700 families whose homes were in the toxic Love Canal neighborhood of Niagara Falls, New York. Their efforts led to the creation of the nation’s Superfund, providing relief for toxic neighborhoods around the country. Her comments are provided courtesy of Harvard University, where she was interviewed as part of the “Voices From the Field Leadership Series” on April 10, 2014. [Total Running Time of Reports: 1:00:26] 1. ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST LOIS GIBBS REFLECTS BRIEFLY ON THE RIGHT TO KNOW “Voices from the Field” (series) Harvard University School of Public Health April 10, 2014 “Right to know actually started in the workplace, and then the workers moved it to the city level, then the county level, and then the state level. And then these various states did it, and the industry is going crazy because they’re filling out so many forms. And they said, we need a federal policy. This is insane.” (Runs: :14) 2. WORKERS RIGHT TO KNOW LAW [SERIES] “A Safe Place to Work?” WIVB-TV Impact Series 5 Parts / February 1980 (Runs: 14:40) Chemical and steel workers in the Buffalo-Niagara region demand to know the level of exposure to toxic substances in the workplace. There is increasing evidence that their health and safety are being compromised. Their efforts lead to the New York Right To Know Law, requiring industries to disclose the type of chemicals utilized in the workplace and the level of exposure to workers. Western New York ranks in the top 10% of cancer regions in the country. Cancer experts believe exposure to toxic chemicals in the workplace is largely to blame. This five part series by WIVB-TV reporter Rich Newberg takes viewers into the plants in question and explores the concerns expressed by workers who say they are suffering the consequences of exposure to dangerous chemicals. [Part 1] Workers at the Olin Chemical Plant in Niagara Falls, New York claim they are losing their hair and teeth due to exposure to mercury in a plant that produced chlorine. A year earlier Occupational Health and Safety inspectors find that controls were not implemented to reduce unsafe levels of exposure to mercury. While workers are given urine tests and the plant is making improvements, including a new ventilation system, the manager is unable to promise employees they will remain within federal safety limits of mercury exposure. He says in “certain operations it’s just not technically feasible to reduce the levels below that limit.” (Runs: 3:35) [Part 2] Bethlehem Steel workers in Lackawanna, New York are exposed to suspected lead dust in the 13 Inch Bar. It is described by United Steel Workers Local 2603 president Art Sambuchi as, “A big heavy air, orange in color. You can’t see ten, fifteen feet in front of you.” Workers in the mill staged a wildcat strike believing their safety has been compromised. At the same time, the federal government is investigating concerns that carcinogenic toxins from the coke ovens are exposing workers to dangerous carcinogens. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration finds 22 serious violations, indicating that workers are being exposed up to 13 times beyond the safe level of exposure to poisonous chemical emissions. Stanley Lukasik, a 58 year old retired coke oven supervisor who attributes his weak heart to his 36 years at the steel plant, says he proved in 1970 (ten years earlier) that emissions could be controlled, even without the use of sophisticated equipment, but that Bethlehem Steel ignored his suggestions. Mr. Lukasik dies of a heart attack eight days after being interviewed for the WIVB-TV “Right To Know” series. (Runs: 2:37) [Part 3] Joseph Pillittere of Niagara Falls, New York enters politics after working as a rocket test engineer at Bell Aerospace in Western New York. He believes several of his co-workers died as a result of chemical exposure while on the job. As a freshman Assemblyman-(D), Niagara Falls), Pillittere fights for a law that will give workers the right to know the chemicals they are exposed to in the workplace and the risks involved. Workers from all types of plants and mills in Western New York begin posting stickers demanding to know, “What’s In This Stuff?” Claiming their “safety and health is at stake,” they call for passage of the Right to Know Legislation. Momentum is building as a result of environmental tests conducted around Bloody Run Creek in Niagara Falls. Results show the presence of deadly dioxin dust in some factories upstream. Dioxin is considered one of the most deadly chemicals ever created. On December 20, 1979, the findings are announced to a cross section of workers who meet in Niagara Falls, New York. Assemblyman Pillittere presses federal health officials at the meeting, questioning why they were not aware of the fact that Tam Ceramics Company had closed one of its buildings that had been contaminated by dioxin dust. Pillittere realizes his legislation, if passed, would be costly to industry, but is willing to lose potential re-election support in order to fight for the rights of workers. He says, “It’s more important to be able to live with yourself, and If you can live with yourself and you get re-elected, it’s a plus. If you can live with yourself and you don’t get re-elected because of big money, at least you can say you always say that you did what you thought was right.” (Runs: 3:03) [Part 4] At a state conducted hearing in Niagara Falls, Garath Tubbs of the Worker’s Compensation Reform Coalition tells the story of an industrial painter who developed a condition that led to uncontrollable shaking and great pain. Chemical plant representatives from Niagara Falls also testify. Hooker Chemical Corp. Vice President of Operations Milo Harrison says his company is against new legislation that might lead to burdensome rules and regulations. He says Hooker is already studying workers’ health histories and releasing information to workers about hazardous chemicals. Jeanne Reilly, President of Technical Engineers Union Local 57 at Hooker Chemical testifies that she has yet to see the results of monitoring tests on her fellow workers. This, despite “numerous promises and statements of corporate policy.” (Runs: 2:27) [Part 5] (conclusion) Labor unions representing workers who deal with toxic chemicals call for a central agency that would deal with exposure on the job. Workers’ families, they say, have a right to know what’s being brought home. Western New York’s scientific community also calls on area industries provide more information about hazardous chemicals. Cancer researcher Beverly Paigen says, “Our knowledge is very limited in this area, partly because no records are kept of employee exposure, and no records are kept of occupational disease.” The initial driving political force behind the movement against chemical contamination has its roots in the Love Canal neighborhood. Residents of contaminated communities, along with workers are demanding that the government and industry be more responsive to the hazards of chemical exposure. Workers seek to know not just the trade name of the chemicals in the workplace, but the components as well. They also want to know if these chemicals accumulate in the human body to cause harm. Public awareness and sensitivity to the problems of chemical contamination of the environment, in neighborhoods and the workplace is growing, thanks to grass roots and media efforts to dig deeper into health and safety issues. (Runs: 2:35) 3. HOOKER CHEMICAL FIRES OUTSPOKEN WORKER The President of Technical Engineers Union Local 57 at Hooker Chemical is fired after testifying that she has yet to see the results of monitoring tests on her fellow workers. (Runs: 2:01) 4. NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS PASS WORKERS RIGHT TO KNOW BILL The New York State legislature passes the Workers Right to Know Bill. It gives workers the right to know the nature of hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The bill was first introduced by Niagara Falls Assemblyman Joe Pillittere. Senator John Daly handled the bill in the State Senate. (Runs: :38) 5. BETHLEHEM STEEL WORKERS SHUT DOWN 13” BAR MILL OVER LEAD DUST SAFETY ISSUES A wildcat strike by Bethlehem Steel workers shuts down the 13” bar mill. Workers say thick clouds of steel lead dust make breathing difficult. They have called on the company to install a proper ventilation system and allow studies to be conducted on medical histories of workers in the mill. (Runs: 1:42) 6. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD RULES THAT STEEL WORKERS ARE ENTITLED TO THOUSANDS OF COMPANY FILES DATING BACK FIVE YEARS 1980 The National Labor Relations Board rules that the Steelworkers Union is entitled to thousands of Bethlehem Steel files dating back five years. The files will be used to determine whether exposure to potentially hazardous substances in the workplace may have impacted the health of workers. (Runs: 1:41) 7. BETHLEHEM STEEL COKE OVEN TOUR 1980 Reporters are given a tour of the coke ovens on the Bethlehem Steel site in Lackawanna. A $113 million dollar cleanup effort has cut back on harmful emissions. A year earlier federal health and safety inspectors found harmful emissions thirteen times greater than federal standards allow. (Runs: 1:42) 8. DONNER HANNA COKE EMISSIONS IMPACT QUALITY OF LIFE IN SOUTH BUFFALO NEIGHBORHOOD (2 PARTS) Black dust from the Donner Hanna Coke Company in South Buffalo is raining down on homes near the Bethlehem Steel plant in Lackawanna. The company’s huge ovens turn coal into coke for steel making. Residents, who refer to the pollutants as “the black rain,” learn that they are being exposed to harmful doses that can cause long term health problems. Some are already experiencing respiratory problems. The state says it will meet with Donner Hanna officials to discuss the issue. 1981 (Runs: 3:52) 9. 400 UNION LEADERS TAKE A STAND AGAINST ATTEMPTS TO TAKE POWER AWAY FROM THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (2 PARTS) 1980 Western New York labor unions unite to fight proposed legislation that they claim would strip the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of its power. Congressmen representing the region, including Jack Kemp, come out against the Schweiker Bill. (Runs: 3:00) 10. SICK AND INJURED WORKERS TELL STATE LAWMAKERS THEY CAN BARELY SURVIVE ON CURRENT WORKERS COMPENSATION BENEFITS 1980 Workers injured on the job testify before state lawmakers that the compensation payments they receive have not kept up with the cost of living. Older workers, whose compensation rates were set in stone, do not qualify for increased payments that went into effect years later. Members of the state compensation board agree that the law must change. (Runs: 1:58) 11. FIGHTING CHEMICAL FIRES Special training for firefighters who need to understand the nature of lethal gases and smoke. 1981 (Runs: 1:31) 12. WESTERN NEW YORK CHEMICAL COMPANIES HAVE NO PLACE TO DUMP TOXIC WASTE 1981 Firefighters are trained to deal with toxic chemical blazes. Newer Scott Air Packs ensure against mask leakage. (Runs: 1:48) 13. 500 MILLION GALLONS OF CONTAMINATED WATER ARE BEING DUMPED INTO NIAGARA RIVER EVERY DAY ACCORDING TO NEW YORK PUBLIC INTEREST GROUP STUDY (3 PARTS) 1981 Chemical companies are running out of places to dump their hazardous wastes. Niagara Falls residents are concerned that current hazardous waste burial grounds may be expanding. The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) says chemical companies have been dumping 500 Million gallons of contaminated water into the Niagara River every day. NYPIRG is concerned that the drinking water for 380,000 area residents may be polluted. The Chemical Manufacturers Association questions the NYPIRG findings and accuses the public interest group of putting jobs in jeopardy. The federal government will provide millions of dollars to improve processing at the Niagara Falls Waste Water Treatment Plant. NYPIRG faults the City of Niagara Falls for allowing Hooker Chemical’s S Dump to remain open. NYPIRG says the intake system there is contaminated and that tons of toxic chemicals are leaching into the Niagara Falls Water Filtration Plant. (Runs: 6:26) 14. REPUBLIC STEEL FILTERS OUT HARMFUL CHEMICALS —RETURNING CLEAN WATER TO BUFFALO RIVER 1980 Republic Steel says it has filtered out harmful chemicals and is returning clean wager to the Buffalo River. Reporters and government officials are given a tour of the $11 million dollar filtration system. Republic Steel had been cited in the past for water pollution violations. (Runs: 2:03) 15. RADIATION EXPOSURE DURING DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATOMIC BOMB AT LINDE PLANT TOWN OF TONAWANDA 1980 During the development of the atomic bomb, the Linde Division of Union Carbide in the Town of Tonawanda allowed up to 70 million gallons of radioactive liquid waste to be discharged into waste water wells on its property. The U.S. Department of Energy maintains the uranium concentrations in that waste were not significant enough to pose a health threat. Water samples are continuing around the Linde site. It was revealed that some Linde employees may not have been told they were working on the Manhattan project. Efforts are underway to find these employees and check their health records. (Runs: 1:52) 16. RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL SHIPMENTS FROM CANADA There is growing concern that shipment of radioactive material from Canada are going unreported as they enter Western New York. Buffalo lawmakers move toward initiating regulations that would alert localities when shipments are passing through on their roadways. (2 PARTS) 1981 (Runs: 4:57) 17. “THE PRICE WE PAY FOR LEAD” (2 PARTS) 8/1 - 8/2/1995 Even though lead paint was banned in 1978, Buffalo’s old housing stock makes residents vulnerable to exposure. Even lower levels can be harmful. Children have been poisoned, some suffering irreversible damage, including hyperactivity and learning disabilities. More than 61 percent of children in Erie County, ages 6 months to 5 years, are estimated to exceed the safety limits of lead in the blood. Black children, many from the inner city, make up 78 percent of youngsters treated for lead poisoning in Erie County. Lawsuits are filed against landlords in Buffalo who have failed to remove lead paint from their properties. However, defense attorneys say it is difficult to prove that exposure to lead paint is the cause of certain ailments. (Runs: 10:08) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WIVB (Television Station: Buffalo, N.Y.) Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Relation A related resource Digital Collections of the B&ECPL Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Subject The topic of the resource Love Canal Chemical Waste Landfill (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Radioactive waste sites -- New York (State) Hazardous substances -- Law and legislation. Industrial safety -- Law and legislation. Chemicals -- Safety measures Environmental Pollutants -- Poisoning. Olin Corporation Bethlehem Steel Corporation Hooker Chemical Corporation Lead poisoning Donner-Hanna Coke Corporation Republic Steel Corporation Union Carbide Corporation Chemicals--Fires and fire prevention Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director) Gibbs, Lois (Environmental Activist) Harvard University (School of Public Health) Pillittere, Joseph (New York State Assemblyman) Spatorico, Sal (Chemical Worker) Sambuchi, Art (United Steel Workers Local 2603 President) Lukasik, Stanley (Retired Steel Worker) Reilly, Jeanne (Technical Engineers Local 57 President) New York Public Interest Research Group Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/70bea4881d4cd8e255d3699677b4cd8f.mp4 f0533834a335aea6ae799caa4b636de7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound The loss of a child may be a direct result to the chemicals. Please don't allow this to happen to anyone else before you get them out "Scream and holler and be heard" This is what Love Canal looks like today, a vast and desolate fenced in area. Those of us who covered the Love Canal disaster for our western New York television viewers knew the story would have a ripple effect because of what it revealed about toxic contamination. It became what prosecutors called a national symbol for corporate irresponsibility. Long before TV news cameras were around an entrepreneur named Lillian love broke ground for a canal in 1894. It was about seven miles from Niagara Falls. He plan to divert water from the mighty Niagara River to help power a modern industrial city that he and his investors hope to create the project never have. The giant ditch that Mr. Love created became a dumping ground for 20,000 tons of toxic chemical waste from the pucker chemical and plastics Corporation and the US military. In 1953, poker sold the property to the Niagara Falls School District for $1. homes and schools were built on the side of the toxic barrier and then chemicals began surfacing into people's homes and the property around them and there was a terrible human price to be paid. I lost obviously the one externally has stillborn. Her son is sick, this person is sick. How many more kids have to be sick haven't been done. We're not gonna let... Michael Brown rookie reporter for the Niagara Gazette wrote his story after going door to door in the Love Canal neighbor in 1978. In case after case door after door house after house I you know people were telling me litany of different problems whether it's was miscarriages or, or, or cancers that they thought were peculiar. So this became a journalistic obsession of mine. Like well, when he started talking about 99 Straight Elementary School is when it clicked for me because my son who was perfectly healthy is one years old when we moved into our Love Canal home. What since the time we moved there, kept getting sicker and sicker and sicker. What do you do for my kid? What are you gonna do? A leader of the homeowners emerged. Lois Gibbs. Anything going on in the state of New York it is more important as these people lie. The state of New York initially announced it would evacuate only pregnant women and children under two who lived closest to the dump site. Back now When Niagara County lawmakers would not support the relocation of residents. Lois Gibbs lashed out as our cameras were rolling The media especially television is so important that it is the platform the bully pulpit, if you will, in which you can not only get your message out, but you can also provide the pressure on those who need to be pressured to do the right thing. Discovery of dioxin one of the most lethal chemicals ever created by humans and use to defoliate the jungles of Vietnam during the war, raised fears to a new level the United States only knew what was in that canal and still they let their children go to that school. They let citizens build homes over here because I remember being in the White House where the army came in full dress and said no sir, we did not dump there. And they lied to the White House representatives. It was fascinating to me was the fact that when they dropped a drum in there and they would open up there's like a machine that you know you know the flames fire, everything went in here. So it just created a fantastic uproar and a lot more national publicity. On October 4 1979, actress and activist Jane Fonda and husband Tom Hayden, hate a visit to the Love Canal neighborhood to lend their support This is a tragedy of such immense human proportions that it's very difficult to talk we've had a short bus ride while we have an opportunity to talk to some of the people in some detail about what they've gone through the children they've lost the miscarriages, the husbands, they've lost. Their lives have been torn up. It's unbelievable. That this happens in America today. Jane Fonda coming brought that media attention in which we could say the president card you got to do the right thing With buffalo television news cameras rolling. Lois Gibbs made it clear that Love Canal residents were making their case directly to the White House. They have to keep the pressure on President Carter. We had to create more pressure than the Cubans coming in and Florida. Than the ... they demanded of federal buyers of their homes. I'm 65 years old, almost second, third up in a yo yo all this way. All the other way. Why don't you get a hold on where you're pulling me down the road? Oh my God, I don't want to be relocated. All I want is my 28th Five and given to me tonight. And I'll never look back at Love Canal again. May 16 1980. Rare chromosomal damage is found in a sampling of Love Canal residents. We found two particular characteristics in this study, which are ominous. I just want to get my kids away from here from the factories are under pressure or maybe they can have a decent life. I don't know. My son's probably already permanently damaged. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. The fact that we now know that the chemicals are in the home that they got into the people and they caused chromosome damage in the people indicates that the miscarriages and the birth defects and cancer is a result of living in this neighborhood. We have got abnormalities in our chromosomes and we've known it all along. On our street alone. There has been already eight cases of cancer on the 15th House street may 19 1982. EPA officials are held hostage for six hours If we do not have a disaster declaration Wednesday by now what they have seen here today is just a Sesame Street picnic. Two days later, President Jimmy Carter declared the Love Canal neighborhood a national emergency and agreed to evacuate all Love Canal. And on October 1 1980 President Carter came to Niagara Falls to announce that all the Love Canal families who wish to leave their homes would be provided the money to permanently relocate. There's really no way to make adequate restitution for that kind of stuff. But this agreement will at least give the founders of the area some 750 of the financial freedom to pack up and leave if they choose to do so. The President singled out the woman who called the grassroots leader of the Love Canal residents lowest gear for special recognition Without her impassioned advocacy and dedication. That might have never been a Love Canal emergency declaration. And this agreement might never have come the time. There must never be in our country. Another Love Canal. A Love Canal. Mr. President, what can I say? New York love you today. When people are right in people peacefully demonstrate and speak truth to power. That's how democracy works. And then we got what we need. I believe that every American has a fundamental right to breathe clean air and drink clean water. I know that we haven't filled that filling this basic obligation to all Americans, especially low income, white, black, brown and Native American communities. It's not going to be easy. But it's absolutely necessary. Transcribed by https://otter.ai Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 1] Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host) Vetter, Tom (Producer, Editor) Description An account of the resource More than forty years after covering the Love Canal disaster in Niagara Falls, former WIVB-TV senior correspondent Rich Newberg returns to the site where 20,000 thousand tons of buried industrial chemicals took a terrible toll on families living on top of the toxic dumpsite. Hooker Chemical had once sold the property to the Niagara Falls School District for a dollar. The cries of families ravaged by chemical exposure in their own homes had initially been ignored by lawmakers who were in a position to offer meaningful support. The grassroots struggle of these homeowners and their ultimate victory in winning federal support offers powerful lessons to a nation still troubled by environmental injustice. Mr. Newberg tracked down the former Niagara Gazette rookie reporter who broke the story in 1978. In a rare interview, Michael Brown recalls his "journalistic obsession" after going door-to-door in the Love Canal neighborhood and establishing a pattern of still births and cancer. Lois Gibbs, the stay-at-home mom who rose to national prominence in her fight to be heard, tells Mr. Newberg that local broadcast journalists played a major role in getting the word out. “When people are right and people peacefully demonstrate and speak truth to power,” she said, “that’s how democracy works, and then we got what we needed.” The story ends with President Joe Biden bemoaning the fact that the right of every American to breathe clean air and drink clean water has yet to be fulfilled. “A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening” received a New York Emmy Award in the category of Science/Environment. It also won a national Telly Award. In addition, Rich Newberg and co-producer Tom Vetter took first place “Enterprise Reporting” honors from the Journalists Association of New York. The piece appeared as a featured segment of the Buffalo primetime special, “The Buffalo Story: History Happens Here,” which won a New York Emmy Award for “Public Service.” Originally aired on WIVB-TV and WNLO-TV / Buffalo, New York. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Walker, Jacquie (Co-producer) Murphy, Kurt (Co-producer) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021-06-07 2021-06-19 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Subject The topic of the resource Love Canal Chemical Waste Landfill (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Chemical plants -- Waste disposal -- Environmental aspects -- New York (State) -- Niagara Falls Relation A related resource <span><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2176">Love Canal: Neighborhood of Fear [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 2]</a> </span> <span><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2177">Turning Anger Into Action [The Story of Love Canal Pt.3]</a></span> <a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2178">What Have We Learned? [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 4]</a> <a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2347">An Interview with Michael Brown</a> <a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2350">An Interview with Lois Gibbs [Her battle and victory on behalf of Love Canal homeowners]</a> Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/6aeab44ccacbb0a77403e468bdf54400.mp4 4da38c0ae37be94a17be62737b965829 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Hi my name is Lois Murray Gibbs. It's February 15 2021. And I'm at home in Falls Church, Virginia. Lois, let's start from the beginning. That's always a good place to start. How did you get wind of the fact that you were living in a toxic neighborhood? And what was your reaction and the impact when you first found out? It was really scary. I did not know when I moved in, but I was living in a toxic area. I found out through a series of articles that were in the neighborhoods because that that were written by Michael Brown. And he was talking about the toxic site he's talking about. Now you're talking about 99th Street 97th Street in the United States Elementary School, and it's like, well, when he started talking about 99 Straight elementary school, is when it clicked for me, because my son was perfectly healthy as one years old when we moved into our home since the time we moved there, kept getting sicker and sicker and sicker. And by when he went to kindergarten at 993 school, he got really sick and he developed epilepsy and, and these weird things that are not in either one of our family's history, and that's when it's like, I know what's wrong with Michael my pediatrician couldn't tell me but I knew when I read Michael's article, Michael Browns article and it said, school 20,000 tons of chemicals, chemicals that cause these diseases. It click and it was terrifying. As a mother it was terrifying. What then so you're terrified? Where do you go from there? Yeah, I didn't you know, I'm a high school graduate. And, you know, science was not my strength. And so I was trying to figure out where to go and I went to talk to my brother in law who taught biology at the University of Buffalo and said, This is the problem. What do I do about this? He said, This is a problem. And and so I went where most people do like in the whole world, every issue people do this. You go to your government officials because they tell you if you play by the rules, and you you know, work hard and data, and there's a problem, but your elected officials and they will fix it for you. And so I went to the 99th Street School Board superintendent, Dr. Long, I went to City Hall Michael Laughlin was the mayor. I went to my state senators, my state representatives, I went to everybody in anybody I could think of you know, you get this little voter guide things in the library. And I called everyone who said we have this problem. Can you help me and every single one of them said, No. What did Michael Laughlin say? Michael Laughlin said, I should go home and take care of my child like I was a dumb little girl who had no clue what she was doing. And it just sort of passively pushed me away like no, this is just crazy. I don't know what you're talking about go away. Michael Brown was a troublemaker In footage that I've looked at, there's confrontational footage outside of Michael Laughlin's office. And there's a very telling interview that Fran Luca did where micro Laughlin Mayor of Auckland said you know, the city could be sued for a lot of money. We have to be careful about what we say we can be held liable. And you know, I have all this responsibility. Is that what you were getting? Or were you getting any answers? I wasn't getting any answers. I later figured that out. On my own or with the help of others. It's like every single person felt that way. You know, this, this school board said, Well, we're not going to move. You know Michael Gibbs, because he's sick and because of one irate, hysterical housewife because if we do that for you, we have to do for all 407 children who attend the school. So it's like, oh, wow, there's all this liability where these children are gonna go they have to open another school. You know, Michael Lachlan was worried that just about Occidental Petroleum. He was worried about Goodyear, he's worried about Asheville trollee and Ellen street the City of Niagara Falls was owned and operated by the chemical industries. There was like 40 Some industries in downtown Niagara Falls that controlled everything happened in the city. You go to the legislators as well, asking to help you at least relocate, right? What happened there. Legislators, the legislators come on saying prove to us that you were harmed as a result of these chemicals. It's like it's not our job to prove to you that we are harmed. Are you our legislators, you have a whole health department. You have David Axelrod, the health commissioner or Whelan you know, and they all come and say, well, we'll show us demonstrate to us. And it's even true today and in the world I work in now, which is it's always a victim who has to prove that they are a victim, as opposed to the health department coming forward and saying, Well, let's, let's check this out. Let's see what's happening. Let's let's test your hypotheses and see if it's true. So you go through some blood tests, right? Blood tests are given. What was the feeling at this point? Among the homeowners? Well, let me ask you this first. You wanted to organize, you felt the need to organize the homeowners. At that point, there was no organization Am I right? It was kind of every neighbor learning something but how did you how did you how did you attack that? Yeah, there was no organization in the community. I mean, that your normal PTAs and stuff like that there was no kind of organization to deal with this issue. And so we went out to organize around the school so a lot of people think we organized around getting evacuation from the get go, that was not so we began to organize to close the 99th Street School, seeing the City of Niagara Falls and and the school board refused to close it. We actually did a petition and took it to Albany, New York, actually, on August 2 1978, the day in which they made the emergency declaration, but we had no clue about that. We got this petition, went door to door had people sign it and you know what's really interesting is that people often talk about those who work in the industry and how it's, it's the environmentalists versus the workers and it's, you know, this versus that. Do you know that only one door of the 853 doors that we we collectively knocked on was slammed in our face? That the people who worked in the industry knew the dangers that were in a backyard, they understood and one worker said one family said the chemical in my backyard is a chemical I get paid extra to work within the plant. So we knew it was dangerous, but we didn't we didn't really realize our homes were dangerous at the time. So we organized the parents movement to close the 99th Street School. And there was another school as well. There was a 93rd Street School but we didn't think at that time that the 93rd Street School was at risk as I didn't think my home which is three blocks from the center of the canal was at risk. I believe that the people in the first two rings of homes as they were later called 99 Straight 97 were at risk. You could talk to them. You could see their children or were sick there was rashes everywhere people were just you know, it was just horrible to do they would tell you stories about miscarriages and birth defects and children and cancers and, and deaths in their family crib deaths every year just all these horrible things in this tiny little two blocks of homes. So we all understood it was probably the school and later we came to understand there's probably the first two rings of homes. What we weren't there thinking it was my home on a 101st street or 100 and second, or 100 and third. At the beginning we really just thought it was a school in those first homes. And initially, the evacuation was just for the people closest to the Epi Center, right? Close the first two rings and that meeting where people got quite emotional about your children who were over the age of two, because it was two and under. I might correct. Right you had if you were pregnant or had a child under the age of two, you could be evacuated. It was like oh my gosh, it's like the canaries in the mine. What he told me and what what happened? What happened to the child who's two years and six months? Were more importantly, what happened to my pregnancy because I'm eight months pregnant. Now you're telling me it's dangerous if I'm pregnant there. I'm eight months pregnant. I lived there for eight months carrying my baby What is wrong with my baby? There was panic everywhere and justifiable because not only not only did they make that announcement, but there was nobody there to talk to the families about what that means my job. Most of us are high school graduates working in the chemical industry and listening to chemical propaganda everyday for work and the newsletter. And suddenly this happens in like, what is this mean? What does it mean for me? What does it mean for my unborn child? Was it mean for my child who's now three and a half years old and live there for that? What does it mean and there was nothing I think one of the things that Love Canal that was just demonstrated the wrongdoing by government was the fact that they would never bring people there to explain why these decisions. Why this and what happened to the others. The blood tests you mentioned, all these children are coming for blood tests. What are we looking for? No one would tell us are we looking for cancer? Are we looking for chemicals? Are we looking for disease? What are we looking for? We're we're checking the blood. What are we looking for? No one would tell us it was a huge mystery. They had a plan. They knew what they were looking for. They knew look they're doing but they chose not to inform us to keep us in the dark. And then Family Start moving into motels. This must have been disconcerting for these families. What was that like to suddenly have to move into a motel and not know the future? Yeah, it was it was again another sort of terrifying thing because I one hand it was a relief so you're out of your home. You're in a hotel your children are breathing safe air. Oh, so you believe and and you're in a safer environment. But the flip side to that is, oh my gosh, we got moved out. We're in a hotel. It's so dangerous, right? That we cannot live in the house. And then by the way, we had to move back to the community. Not everybody went to the hotel and stayed out of the neighborhood. So it was a catch 22 On one hand, it was sort of validation that what we were saying is right, that there was danger there. And on the other hand, you know, it was like, it was sort of scary and awful. Most of our families, by the way, work swing shifts. So for my husband work, three to 1111 to seven in the morning, seven in the morning to three in the afternoon. And so when you're in a hotel and you do swing sets, you can't sleep you have one room for all of you. You can't eat you can't pack a lunch, right? If you're if your shift is three to 11 step to bed but a loving the seven. You know how do you do that? How do you get food? How do you have milk around for the babies? And so you know, it was it was on one hand it was really fun the other hand it was just horrible. Where did your husband work? Lois? I never asked him. My husband worked a good year. He was a chemical operator at the plant on 56th Street. That was one of the plants by the way that came out with a high level of vinyl chloride and liver damage in both workers and the surrounding community. Well I don't know if you want to get into the marriage thing but I know that you you divorced Right. Was it love canal that that caused it and when when you became immersed in this movement? It kind of took over your life. It definitely took over my life. And and yeah, and to a certain extent it was. But But what what it was was that Harry my husband Harry was the same. You know he was just the same the same day and I'm the one who changed so you know after looking at all during look Cannella have been saying well don't you know as soon as is over and and tobacco be full time mom I'm gonna do all the things we need to do. You don't have to help with laundry anymore shopping or childcare or whatever. And then after the finale, I was like, you know, I can't go back to to being a full time mom. I really feel like I have this this new knowledge and understanding that I need to share with other moms across the country. Because everywhere you were looking then in the media, you were hearing about new love canals here and there and across the country. And so I felt like you know, I really needed to do that so essentially outgrew each other and ended up getting divorced as a result of that. I want to get into your move to Washington a little bit later but let's let's jump ahead to dioxin. Dioxin from what I understand is probably the most lethal chemical created by humankind used to defoliate the jungles in Vietnam It's that powerful and then it's detected in Love Canal. This change pretty much changed the way people began nationally looking at Love Canal No, it was interesting. So it it did change to the point where we knew it was dangerous. We heard it was dangerous. We read it was dangerous. We have Google and all that stuff we have today right? So we actually had a library and pick up a book and read it. But when the national media and national scientists and national groups like the Vietnam vets started saying oh my gosh, you guys you really should be worried about this. There was panic. I mean, especially in people like Debbie Cirillo. She looked at 97th Street, and she had the highest level of dioxin in her backyard right next to her swimming pool, aboveground swimming pool. And so yeah, it was frightening because you know a lot. A lot of people our age served in Vietnam, they understood what Agent Orange did, again, sort of like in our community. We had workers who worked in the plant with the same chemicals that their children are breathing this this whole dioxin thing in Agent Orange it was just frightening as all hat and and we really thought that you know it was traveling throughout the community and one of the discoveries they made it Love Canal about dioxin, by the way is that it does travels through the dirt. Originally, they said it doesn't it adheres to dirt and sticks there and so you don't have to worry. And we said no, no, no, you're finding it here, here, here and here. And there's a pathway there. So why don't you test that and so what they found is that dioxin actually does travel when it's mixed with a solvent like an oily chemical or substance. And so it was throughout the community and it was frightening. It was very frightening. And then comes the chromosome announcement that there's chromosome damage. This was another element that added to national interest and began really attracting national attention. How important was that announcement from the EPA? Oh, it was the straw that broke the camel's back. That at Love Canal by that time, which was May of 1980 when we began organizing in the spring of 1978. By that time, we were told that we would not go with our best we would not go in our yard. If you're pregnant or have a child under the age of two, you need to leave and of course you can return when your pregnancy terminates. Or your child reaches the age of two. We were told not to eat vegetables out of our gardens. We were told not to go in our basements we were told all this stuff. And then we were told it was perfectly fine to live in luck. That was no problem with living in Love Canal as long as you obeyed all these rules and then it was all of a sudden we have this chromosome damage and like what does that mean? And we found out that what it meant is like, not only do we have a high number of these particular breaks, but it means we're going to have more miscarriages and more stillborn babies and more birth defects of children. But the most important thing the straw that broke the camel's back, is when they said that genetic damage created by Love Canal chemicals that broke these chromosomes in this particular way would be passed down to our children, meaning my daughter and my son may have chromosome damage. And if they have children, their children could be born deformed or stillborn or whatever, because of Love Canal and that was it was just terrified. It's like how can you how can you say that and walk away? How can you say this and that you're not going to do anything and it really was it was about holding your child in your arm looking in that child's eyes and saying you might have been damaged and every child you have if its genetic will be passed on to that child and then next child and the next child that we just that was the straw that broke the camel's back and that's when people really lost it in ways that were frightening to me, personally and then you have to a EPA representatives coming in, who suddenly find themselves held hostage because the people outside the homeowners headquarters pretty aggravated. That was a moment that really was a moment. What do you remember about that? That was a moment that that was? So it goes back to when we were talking earlier that the health department makes these announcements and then they never send anybody to talk to the people. And this was yet another example these two EPA officials were hiding out in a motel. There was no public meeting to tell people what this chromosome breakage means. They were only meeting one on one with people who had their blood tested on an individual basis. And so I'm like you come down here and talk to these people. You come and tell people tell them they're going to be perfectly okay if that's what you think. And we call them down and then it literally was not a planned event. It happened spontaneously. People in the front lawn saw them come in circled them to come into the house. And that's where they stayed until we released them. And the truth was, by the way, Marie rice I told this to her 1000 times is that we were really detaining them for their own safety. We weren't holding them against their will but we so we held these guys for five hours and it was frightening. It was frightening at a number of levels. On a personal level. Am I going to jail? Am I ever going to see my children again, this is a federal offense. On a personal level across the street, on the roof, from our homeowners office, on sharpshooters with guns we could see that they were pointed out to us and and frankness Paul, who was one of the hostages he was a public relations guy. He he said Let's see this. You know they can shoot you and kill you dead and never split a hair on my head. And I'm like Oh, no. What am I doing? And then and then we got what do you do? Your whole house like what do you do? There's no manual for this, right? There's no you can't google What do you do? And trying to figure out how, you know how do we manage this? How do we do this in a way that that really makes sense and and everybody's safe in the front yard. There were all of these people who were coming out. People I didn't know people I didn't recognize picking beer. It was getting dark it was that was sort of another level of being scared because I didn't know who those people were what they will do. It was a new story. People were there live on the same all day long reporting out and so strangers were coming to see the action just like you know, Rubberneckers everywhere and yeah, so so it was it was very frightening at many different levels. And and, and then you added that if the White House isn't looking now, the better look because this could be a Sesame Street picnic compared to what could follow. Yeah, we did. You know, I had we had to let them go. Who and the reason we have learned go with the crowd is just getting just too loud and too it looked like it was going to explode and good reason. By the way. These are not evil people. These are not disruptive people either. These are mine apple pie kind of folk. But they've had all they can make. And so I had to go out and somehow get the crowd. Free to let go. And so that is what we did is I went out there and talked about how our congressmen were false was meeting with the President and that he would talk to them about this issue. And we wouldn't give them so this was Saturday. We would give them Wednesday, noon, to evacuate us and if we didn't get an evacuation then it would look like a Sesame Street picnic at noon to what we're doing today. So that was sort of a shot across the bow and a way for people to say yes, and then to get the hostages out before anybody got hurt, including the hostages, And helping the cause your cause was actually an actress Jane Fonda and her husband, Tom ate there on the scene. How important was that and anticipate anything like that happened? You know, it was very important. I did not anticipate it that they were coming with Ralph Nader to to Buffalo for an event and they swung by Love Canal and agreed to come and help us. And here's what was really important about and first of all, Jane and I are still friends today. We got we got arrested together on Friday. In December of last year. We that was her prior fire drill Fridays here in DC. But like, what was important about Jane is she brought the national media with her and the national media because right now we had to put pressure on the President of the United States who was running for office again for his second term and it was very iffy. And so we needed to get his attention. We need his people to say oh my gosh, these homemakers in Love Canal are making you look really bad and so we have to go and appease them. And so Jane Fonda coming brought that media attention in which we should say, President card you got to do the right thing. I mean, even even with the hospitality. We said President Carter, you have Wednesday till noon. We we we always put in and that was one of the important things about the media. Is that we always put the person's name out there that we needed to pressure who could make the decision to change the outcome, whether it was governor Hugh Carey, whether it was Cuomo later whether it was Carter, you know, that that was the only way we could get enough people to say, Oh, well, why is he doing that or why? When they're all he's actually did You recall President Carter's earlier visit at the airport when the signs were being held up and Governor Kerry said, Okay, lower the signs, he sees the signs. And then and then President Jimmy Carter admitted that, that the governor was was taking more of an initiative than the White House and kind of admitted that he wasn't quite, you know, maybe not doing enough. Yeah, well, that was the that was true. And what I discovered later, was that the state did not want the federal government involved, did not want EPA involved, did not want Health and Human Services, the ones who helped with the chromosome study was part of the EPA did not want anybody at the federal level involved. They wanted to hold the thing themselves. And in fact, at one point, I went to David Axelrod's office. He was the commissioner of health and I asked him in Albany, I asked him in his office, why is David roll for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, not here, and it's a federal as a federal health agency that we've been wanting. And he said, I don't know I invited him and he just hasn't come. And I'm like, Well, I talked to him. He told me he never received an invitation. So here's what we're going to do. We're going to pick up your phone right here on this desk. And we're going to call David, and we're going to personally invite them both you and me to come to Love Canal. And he's Oh, that won't be necessary. I forced them to call David. And all of a sudden, then we had EPA involved. That's where the chromosome study came from. That put a number of other things happen. The New York State did not share with President Carter, the White House, the EPA anything except for what they had to. They wanted to keep it all in house. And the reason for that is a chemical industry. I mean, New York and if you look at Rochester, I mean it's not just Niagara Falls, in which the chemical industry controls an awful lot. Of New York, New York's economy outside of New York City. And so they were beholding to the chemical industry and Love Canal was gonna set all of those nasty precedents. That is going to change the way they do business. Change the way lawsuits happen, change the way people look at health and environment. It was going to change things and they wanted to change as little as possible. You know, you mentioned when we rise earlier, before we get to the President's big visit where we covered so many aspects of love. Library in mind, which you know, Where we rice earlier, before we get to the President's big visit where we covered so many aspects of Love Canal and there's one story that sticks in my mind which actually reminded me that about a week ago is that house that was moved out of there. And Marie was standing right in front as the as the House passed by her. And why would somebody want to move their house when the house might have been infected? Yeah, well, you know, that's what America is really good at letting people just be stupid if that's what they want to do. That's what democracy is about. I don't know why he moved his house. He was convinced that it wasn't in this house that the chemicals had not seeped through the woods and then the furniture and stuff like that. And so he hadn't picked up and literally moved in. And by the way, sadly to say he moved it by another dump that he didn't know was a dump went out there and bought the land, but actually would wind up to another, but you know, people I mean, that's the thing that we have to embrace as a society you know, I wouldn't ever do that. In fact, I didn't even think my furniture and I was like, I don't want anything. You know, I went to Goodwill and bought my first sofa after I moved. But, you know, people are different and they think differently and they don't feel the same urgency or the same level of risk. And, and that's what makes us work so much harder. It's like, you know, it's like people believe that a tiny little bit of chemicals that you maybe can smell but certainly can't say can no way harm you like dioxin, for example. It really can't create those kinds. of problems. And it's a real hard, hard, hard thing to try to educate people about. To watch so I can go up from the podium and stay on top. More than 12,000 communities we've helped folks out tell you, what's in your community, what's in the air, what's in the water was buried, what's being transported through to manage all of this information that people can now use and organize around like they did in Philadelphia to stop the trains from coming through. There were, you know, bomb trains, I literally bombed trains that if they crash, they were going to blow up and half the building was going to go with it. So you know, I've just watched people, you know, just do some amazing things and it's just been extraordinarily rewarding over the years. And a lot of that right to know legislation started in Western New York, I owe in chemical from steel job, Assemblyman Joe Pelletier at the time was leading that fight. And you mentioned the strong union movement in western New York was responsible for bringing this to the public light that teeth were being loosened in the chemical plants and there was lead dust I believe in the government steel. The right to know really, this is all hitting at the same time Love Canal, the right to know legislation and, and West Valley, West Valley which you know, today is also still a very big issue. But I also wanted to ask you your what do you think? What are your concerns now? We have a new administration. President Biden, what are your hopes climate control he's made as a really major, major issue. Are you concerned that perhaps the, the toxic communities may take a second seat to to the issue of global warming and climate change? Well, they often do. I will say one thing that President Biden before he was President, and I shared a podium in Delaware together, in which I didn't have a watch and he lent me his watch. So I could go up to the podium and say on time, and he really does understand toxics environment. He he gets it. He's dealt with it in Delaware. The question the question is always the same though, and he's made a promise that he is that these things are connected climate and environmental justice and toxics in the community. However, nine out of 10 times what happens is in this happens in all government, so it's not just white is that they look at the bigger picture. How can we save the most people or protect the most people and that's when climate always Trump's a community, like West Valley or a community, like the one in Delaware or or Baton Rouge or you know, somewhere else, that those are contained problems and that's what we've been struggling with for an awful long time. And I'm hoping the Biden camp will will address this, that that, you know, in Port Arthur, Texas, they're making the fossil fuels that are creating the climate change problem. And underneath those fossil fuel plants are low income brown and black families who cannot believe because of the chemicals and was a pandemic this year. They're much more susceptible and they're dying at a huge rate because it's a respiratory irritant. The chemicals and the pandemic of COVID 19 is a respiratory attacker and and it's just an they have to shelter in place. It's just insane. So I am hoping that he's he says he's connecting climate, fossil fuels and environmental justice brown and black people living in these toxic communities together. I'm hoping he does that. But historically, it's always been since since 1990, it has always been how do we protect the most people? And that is like a climate change issue. And it's true and it's not the takeaway from that. I think fettucine incredibly important. We need to do and, and we are working on it. But we we also know the smaller numbers of people who are dying in these communities because they're, they're really 53 million people. So it's a smaller number in reference to the population with a world population that's impacted by climate. But 53 million people it's a lot of people that need protection today, so I'm hoping you will You know, most so many years after Love Canal, we went back together. I know you paid us a visit. And there was another problem people would move back into the Love Canal neighborhood. And I just remember you couldn't you were just beside yourself. I mean, how we you know, the warning signs were out there and everything was out there. This This was the first super fun, you know, this was the first and yet people move back now. How did how could that have happened? And there were lawsuits now. Yeah, I mean, I think it was twofold. One it was the it was the lies and the rhetoric we know what lies do when especially when they're repeated over and over again by people in power and authority. The lies who say that the northern end of look and I was perfectly okay to live in. That was a lie. And but it was, you know, the City of Niagara Falls revitalization committee, the state of New York that the you know, Niagara County Health Department, you know, all of them. They all repeated this line over and over and over again, and people believed it. And part of the reason they believe that is because they got a $250,000 house for $70,000 The City of Niagara Falls revitalization committee, the state of New York, you know, Niagara County Health Department, you know, all of them. They all repeated this line over and over and over again. And people believed it. And part of the reason they believed it is because they got a $250,000 house for $70,000. It was it's a good deal right? And many of them thought they would just live there. It was homesteaded. So they had to live there for five years as their primary residence, but they were going to live there for the five years, sell the home and go buy a home somewhere else where it was cleaner and safer and at least there was less questions. But what happened was people move in they started getting sick, and they couldn't move out. And you know, when they were discovering the chemicals in the backyards in their basements, just as it was before, then nobody's gonna buy their home, right? Like it's no longer $270,000 home or a $300,000 home. It's now worthless, just the same as ours were and so people got caught in this trap and that was unfortunate. And I think the other thing is that it was affordable housing. That was the other it was really cheap housing. And they were lovely homes and and so people were sort of this one woman I spoke to had two little girls and she said she could buy the house there and and she you know, she was asking me not to pass judgment, but she said how dangerous dangerous is it really miss Gibbs because we're living now it's drugs and crime and other things. And you know, I could get that house in love for now. And you know, removed my two daughters from all of this other dangers. And so it's waiting, you know, in the richest country of the world. We shouldn't have our people moms moms have two little girls single mom, two little girls had to make a decision between living where there's crime and drugs and raising their daughter verses where there's toxic poison, but the rest of it's okay. That's that's the society we live in today. It's really kind of sad. So, in closing, Lois, how How are your kids doing? How are your children? My kids are doing fabulous. My son in just ran a 50k marathon yesterday in the snow in the ice and rain and he's healthy as a horse and doing really well. And my daughter is in Austin, Texas. Who got three inches of snow yesterday. And she has she has three beautiful grandchildren that are all perfectly healthy. So I've been truly blessed. Wonderful. Well, we're expecting maybe nine to nine inches to a foot coming our way again in the live in Texas. That's you know, that's just a dusting here in Western New York. You know that. Thank you so much Lois, for taking time with us. Tom, did I leave anything out? I'm gonna unmute myself. But can I ask one question, would you mind? Am I unmuted? I can hear you. Okay, good. First off, fascinating. Thank you so much. I just love sitting here listening to this. I teach a class in journalism. And I showed them I showed a lot of the kids the Love Canal stuff, file footage, and they were fascinated and here's my concern and I want to ask you this question if you could pass along some advice to these kids, because I think a lot of them as freshmen reporters, make the same mistake that the mayor made with you thinking just a mom, what does she know? What did these people know? The government says it's safe, it's fine, and they blow off the story. If you're a freshman reporter and you come across the lowest gifts of 1978 in the NL situation, Mo What do you tell them? What's your advice to them? I have two pieces of advice. One you could you could be a hero like Mike Brown. If you were to look at closer at some of these situations, and you could you too could break open this whole new arena of reporting. I mean, he did laying waste and he did all that he was the dude right for a long time. And that's because he talked to Karen Schroeder and you believe Karen Schroeder and he took it step 234 And five, everybody else blue Karen showed her up she was a mom was sickly kids and whining about it and her pool popped out of the ground. I mean, what kind of weird woman is this? So So really to look look beyond? Don't Don't assume what you see and what you think is real, I think is really, really, really important. And I think the other thing is that if you look at what has changed and when we're looking at social justice, so whether it's a civil rights or the women's rights or the peace movement, whatever, or environmental, almost all of them came from nobody's raising a flag about something. You know, a whistleblower, a woman who started organizing a newbie campus because she wasn't getting paid the same amount of money for the same work as a man. Right and and these are these are, these are the opportunities the Rosa Parks of the of the world, right, that these are the opportunities to really tell a story in society that is so important for people to hear, understand, and hopefully take some steps to change down the road. But it almost never comes from the governor or the mayor. It almost never comes from corporate executives. It generally comes from you know, a teacher at the University of homemaker who smell something weird. A worker who blows a whistle in a way we're seeing this in a pandemic with the vaccines and what's going on with that right. So so those are the people who are more likely to make your career then choosing to ignore them and go interview the governor was just going to give you whatever talking points is a communications person gave me this morning. Great if I thank you so much. You're welcome. Let me just say, let me just say on camera, just to close out the interview, Lois, thank you Lois, thank you so much. For sharing so much of your life with us and the influence you've had on Western New Yorkers and the country and what you're continuing to do with your life in such an amazing way, bringing about all these changes. It's just really an amazing story. Thanks for everything. Thank you. Talk to you later. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource An Interview with Lois Gibbs [Her battle and victory on behalf of Love Canal homeowners] Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Interviewer) Description An account of the resource Lois Gibbs, a stay-at-home mom who whose family moved into the Love Canal neighborhood when her son was one year old, was never told she would be living on top of a dumpsite where 20 thousand tons of toxic chemicals had been buried. She says that her son, who had been “perfectly healthy,” suddenly got “sicker and sicker and sicker.” He developed epilepsy. Lois began reading articles by Michael Brown in the Niagara Gazette, questioning whether a disproportionate number of health issues in the community could be attributed to toxic chemical exposure. Mrs. Gibbs, who said it was “terrifying,” began her search for answers by going to the Niagara Falls school board, City Hall, and the offices of state senators and other representatives. She says no one offered to help. She says Mayor Michael O’Laughlin told her Michael Brown was a “troublemaker,” and that she should “go home and take care of my child.” In her interview with Rich Newberg, Lois Gibbs reflects on the strategies employed to finally get the president of the United States to come to Niagara Falls and sign legislation benefitting Love Canal families wishing to move out of the neighborhood. It also created a Superfund to assist other communities across the country dealing with the hazards of toxic chemical exposure. Portions of the Lois Gibbs interview appear in the 2021 documentary, “The Buffalo Story: History Happens Here.” It is part of the Rich Newberg Reports Collection. The Love Canal segment entitled “A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening,” won a New York Emmy award in 2022 in the category of Science/Environment. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gibbs, Lois (Interviewee) Vetter, Tom (Producer) Terranova, Michael (Editor) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021-02-15 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by Moments In Time Video, Inc. & TVRE Productions, Inc. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Relation A related resource <div class="element-text"><span><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/items/show/2175">A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 1]</a> </span></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2176"><span>Love Canal: Neighborhood of Fear [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 2]</span></a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2177">Turning Anger Into Action [The Story of Love Canal Pt.3]</a><br /><span></span></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2178">What Have We Learned? [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 4]</a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2347">An Interview with Michael Brown</a></div> <div class="element-text"></div> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving image Subject The topic of the resource Chemical plants -- Waste disposal -- Environmental aspects -- New York (State) -- Niagara Falls Love Canal Chemical Waste Landfill (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/a24515c332ef28395d779a7b85d9212d.mp4 3a0685720bb241b5a355fc739c441712 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Okay, so let's just Mike Michael, why don't you start just by giving me your name and the date? It's the 23rd. Right November. And let's start from there. And then I'll ask you, Michael Brown, it's November 23 2020. Michael. It's been well recorded that you were the first journalist to become aware of problems in the Love Canal neighborhood. Can you bring us back to that moment? What is your discovery what who contacted you? What was your discovery and what were the what were your first thoughts? Okay, well, first of all, I like to make clear that a couple of years before two other reporters at the Gazette had written a story on on the fact that there was a sump pump problem and it had an odor and there was some chemicals in there, they did testing. Then it was kind of, you know, set set aside. I that was 7619 76. I came aboard in 1977. And, and there were two. There were two reasons I went after the story. It was not in the news, and it had been a couple articles. More than a year before. And then it was a question it was very quiet and I I had been, I started to cover Chem droll, a company that was dumping highly toxic chemicals and Louis to New York. And I really got on to the toxic waste issue in Niagara County. And when I did that, in one meeting, it started up a lot of activism in the area. It started up controversy the articles did. Toxic Waste became an issue in Niagara County in a big way. I was writing about it every day. And at one of the meetings I on control, a public meeting in which people were complaining about the dump site there. There was a young girl who got up to speak and she started weeping. She was crying that you know, this place Love Canal in Niagara Falls, New York, this old dump was was leaking all over the place and harming, possibly harming her family and neighbors and so forth. And that certainly caught my attention. How all what was she crying about? Michael? What what? It's a child or birth defects or? No, she was she was very young. She was she was 21 or younger. And she was just scared because of the odors, the the odors that were coming off in the Love Canal. And, you know, at this point, no one knew that it was a danger to human health. whatsoever. I mean, no one's concerned about the environmental aspect from the sump pumps and so forth that I mentioned. And there were studies that the city had initiated an assessment of it, and I attended one of the meetings. And when I was coming down an elevator for the meeting. I spoke to an engineer they were talking about the dump and covering it up with some clay and I asked him I said is this really a serious situation? He said, If we don't do something about this, our children or our children's children are going to suffer. And that also got my attention from that time. On that was in 77. I started to watch the situation very closely. I kept monitoring it. I kept calling the County Health Department. There was no news for the longest time. And one day in in 19 I was trying to keep it I was trying to make it an item in the news. And I was the city hall reporter Niagara Falls I was in charge of the city. i One day I was sitting at my desk at the Niagara does that and something prompted me I guess you'd call it intuition to go out there. And to you know, take a look around. Ask neighbors how they were doing when and when I did. I was shocked at what I found. I the first person I visited was a family called the Schroeder's Timothy and Karen Schroeder. They had a young daughter who was suffering more than a dozen birth defects and some severe ones. And I started they were all other illnesses in the family including with Tim and and another child. I began to canvass the neighborhood and I went door to door up there st 99 Straight what they later called the first ring of Love Canal. And in case after case door after door house after house. I people were telling me litany of different problems, whether it's was miscarriages or, or, or cancers that they thought were peculiar. And so this, you know, this became a journalistic obsession of mine. And I began to follow up closely and write anything I could on it. I ended up writing, oh 100 news stories and news items about it. And possibly, most importantly, other dumps in the area that could have posed even more of a threat but that when I call the state health department, and I mentioned I remember was a Friday I mentioned that. It seemed like there were illnesses out there. You could tell there was nearly an electrical reaction to that and shortly after that the state announced rather quickly that they were going to hold the health survey there and take blood samplings and a found miscarriages and indications of liver abnormalities and and this and they took some that was from some blood tests the the liver abnormalities and this ended up eventually leading to the declaration of an emergency. Not on August 2 1978. Michael, what kind of resistance did you need? As you were covering this story? And what let's start with the head but also what was government's reaction and big business reaction when you first when when this issue surfaced at Philip Knapp? Well, you gotta remember and I'm sure you know that the hooker Chemical Company was the biggest employer in Niagara Falls foul with some people. It's also one of the larger chemical companies in the world owned by Occidental Petroleum, a large entity based in Los Angeles. And so it was extremely important economically the city government the mayor, I knew the mayor very well. I used to talk to him every morning is City Hall reporter that was Michael Lachlan. And this the city manager Don O'Hara they were they were nice guys. We got along fine until this point because they really did not want much publicity on the situation. And I was being assured that it was no big deal that we're going to just cover it with some clay and maybe drain the periphery and that would be that and this is before the declaration of an emergency. I also because I was writing about it at any opportunity. I received a phone call from a state senator who, who told me he asked me says when you're going to go back to being a reporter, instead of an activist this there's no issue here. And when he tried to basically tell me to stop writing about it, and I remember even like it was Senator Lloyd patters. God bless God rest his soul and also there was a health commissioner Niagara County. I don't like I really don't like to cast aspersions on people, especially ones who have passed on as most of these have, but just being a reporter here with the facts. I'm not necessarily blaming them for anything. There was also a health commissioner County Health Commissioner who became very angry at me for questioning whether or not this could be a health hazard. And he was a medical doctor and he said to me, you know, are you a medical doctor and when you're going to be, again, kind of when are you going to go back to being a reporter and I was being a reporter. It's just that I wasn't taking answers that at face value. I knew that there was a problem there. I knew that there were possible health ramifications big time. And in fact, when a state started to sample, not just some pumps, which they had done in a couple of cases, but the air of the homes the basements along 99 Street and South 97th street. They found chlorine they found volatile organic chemicals in the air of those homes including benzene and MS caused a special alarm with me because I happen to know I happen to have read recently that benzene was the the only totally proven human carcinogen from synthetic industrial chemicals back that and as well and there were a host of dozens of other chemicals volatize and evaporating into the atmosphere of their homes. So I knew that this was a big story. I told one I told the councilmen I said this is gonna end up being the biggest story in Niagara Falls history and they simply they simply don't believe that later on. One of the councilmen told me he said, You know, I wish I had listened that was kind of a prophecy if you will, and you know, it was wasn't a prophecy, which is based on what you saw when you went out there. When did you meet Lois Gibbs and what was your first impression? Well, again, I had been writing a lot about this and dealing with Karen Schroeder, who would organize the citizens she was for a petition to try to get out of there. This is don't forget at this point. It was it was a problem only they thought for a few homes and only at the southern end in what they call the first ring of homes where Karen Schroeder lived and her mother lived in some other people. So she was organizing Karen was people to sign a petition about the getting out of there. I think there were like 30 homes involved. And so I was writing about that and I was out there a lot and one day and I don't know exactly what the date would have been and I got a phone call from a woman who didn't live as close as Karen she lived a few blocks farther away. And her name was Lois Gibbs and she asked if she could come and see me and talk about the Love Canal. And I said sure. And she came to the office and I gave her a technical report from engineers on what we're going to try to remediate the southern end was some clay and I basically I think I gave her more news clip she had been reading my stories, but I think I gave her more news clips and I just talked to her about the circumstance there. And that was about about the extent of it. I didn't see or hear from her again until August 2, the day it was declared a an emergency by the State Health Commissioner, And what year are we talking about? 1978. So did you sense that this woman who described herself as a housewife and a mother and was trying to do the best for her family? Did you have any idea that she would grow into what you know, grow this movement into one of the most incredible grass movements this country has ever seen as far as the environment goes, leading to the super fun Well I knew that the circumstance that Love Canal was going to lead to that because it was huge news. I mean, it was massive news. It was on Walter Cronkite, it was all over the place. It was the front page of The New York Times just before August 2, a New York Times reporter named Donald McNeil came to Niagara Falls and he called me and he came to my house and had dinner at my house and and I told him about Love Canal and and he was very young reporter and so it's I have the time and I just gave him a box of my of the stuff I had accumulated and I sit here. I didn't care about journalistic competition. At this point. I wanted to see those people get out of there, and he took the material. And then on August 2 He he followed up on the same day of the emergency with a front page article in The New York Times that that that created a firestorm across America, and in an end it was a continual one. And along with the so that was the, you know, that was there was a lot of there was international publicity. There was a deluge it was it was astonishing, and it continued. Up to there. Lois had a tremendous involvement in the second evacuation in 1982 years later, later. But I know by this time I was in New York City I had left Niagara Falls to write a book about Love Canal and other toxic dumps. around America. And and she was they had evacuated the first two rings that Love Canal, but not Lois Gibbs area which, like I said, was farther out and was not as contaminated as a man a matter of fact they the state argued it wasn't contaminated at all. It was a lot of controversy over that. But anyway, she soaked up a lot of grassroots movement for for that to be likewise evacuated. And in 1980 there was they found out there was possibility of some genetic DNA abnormalities with people who did live a little farther away than then that first ring and a second ring that were evacuated. And, and this led to that, along with their grassroots effort keeping it in the news every day. Lois did with her group, gray smoke cloth and another woman, Marie Pozniak. They they constantly kept it in the nose, and especially in in front of the buffalo TV cameras and so this, these forces were to create that second evacuation which also call caused a national Firestorm. So how important was the visual element here when you mentioned television, which is my medium and Tommy's medium? How important was television coverage? In bringing this in and up close and personal way to the eyes of the public? Well, back then it possible it was important locally especially, it was important nationally to I mean, this was something that starting in August of 78 was like I said on network news back then, and three major networks dominated there was no cable news, and it was on all three of those major networks as well as PBS, the public stations. So it was important. Back then, newspapers were far more important than the air today, and it was probably more of a newspaper story across the country than a TV story. And also the same was was true of other circumstances. So it was certainly a big TV story and and it was important to have the television stations there for certain like I said there was somewhat of a different environment as far as media back then. And of course no internet and how just today to have his archives, where we can actually see events unfold as they did in that era. Well, I think it's important especially if we apply it to what's going on today. I mean, after Love Canal, like I said I wrote a book about it called laying waste the poisoning of America that generated a lot of attention around the country. I did hundreds of radio and TV shows about it, including the Today Show Nightline and so forth, traveled twice on national publicity tours. And and I went on a college lecture circuit to speak about Love Canal in about 100 universities and colleges around America during the ensuing years and the reason for that the reason I'm saying all this is because I thought Love Canal would spur this country would spur this country to take a look at the chemicals it was producing and use it and realize that you should not be allowed to use or manufacture at compound unless you can disassemble it in its natural components, not in toxic form. I thought that Love Canal would have a tremendous impact on the production of plastic and we certainly know it hasn't. So I mean, that was the I think that that was the real calling of Love Canal and I I'd love this to materialize that sometime in the future because you know, I'm looking at the problem. We're we're creating more plastic than ever before and toxic chemicals are very much with us. You recall when dioxin surfaced and people actually said they had seen the military dumping that that I guess that's probably the most toxic, isn't it? I call the most toxic substance created by humans. It was the finding of dioxin in the conformation of it in December of 1978 that probably caused the biggest single reaction of any single day was Love Canal. I remember very distinctly the health commissioner quietly he called me up and he said I'm gonna have some big news for you and he was gonna you know, and and then he actually at the time he was laboratory director, he later on became Health Commissioner David Axelrod, an excellent human being an unsung hero of Love Canal behind the scenes in Albany, and he tipped me off to the dioxin and I confirm that there was something called trike for if at all in the canal, which always carries dioxin as an unwanted byproduct. And at the time, it may still hold true today. I don't know, dioxin or what they call TCDD was the most toxic synthetic compounds ever tested by by by humans. So this like I said, this created a fantastic uproar and a lot more national publicity In human terms, did you see the children who had birth defects Did you see the results the human misery that these chemicals created in Love Canal? And what? What was your reaction to fellow human being when you actually saw the results of this? Well, you take care of Schroeder's daughter Sherry I just wanted them out of there. And I didn't care if I did become an activist. I wanted these people out of there, and I, you know, I was a journalist through it, but yes, the motive was to get these people out because I did see these results. I did see the suffering. I did see the pools of chemicals in the backyard the chemicals that would come and push a fool out of the out of the ground. There was a case across the canal to 90 Southern street in a janiece family was the name and you had black sludge that came up through the drain in their spinner in ground swimming pool and I remember Mrs. janiece telling me that she had gone she didn't know what it was she went down and cleaned up this black gunk this this slurry or sludge and afterwards became very sick first of all, with a tremendous skin rash. And then a litany of panoply of other ailments. At well her ailments you can never prove these things. Her ailments perfectly matched those that are caused by contact with dioxin. I even called up her doctor dermatologist because he had diagnosed her as having lupus and I said to a doctor, and I explained that she was probably in contact with dioxins and and again I heard from him What are you a doctor? You know, why don't you just be a reporter and you know, I was very concerned for her health she ended up dying it at a at a young age. I can't prove it was from chemicals. You can you never can. But it certainly was suspect so I saw that suffering and I certainly other cases up and down 99/97 Street, and soon I found out that the Love Canal was three times the size that the government thought it was and then I started to I was doing some testing of sump pumps with a chemical laboratory and found that the spread of chemicals was farther than the government thought including into neighborhoods that were approaching, for instance, Lois Gibbs neighborhood and others in that area. And again, these type of findings would did not offer comfort to the people there and certainly energize the circumstance and Lois Gibson and grace and Murray. You know, they really kept edit to to try to get those other people out of there and they eventually succeeded. I call you ever threatened by any special interest groups and that that stood to lose a lot of money and you ever actually threatened? When I when I was riding, laying waste, and I would return to Niagara Falls, I'd be tailed. There were my one and I'm not blaming anyone in particular, any company in particular but when I went and paperback version of my book laying waste came out the publisher which was Pocket Books was concerned because somehow the My Schedule had had had gotten out. I would go to a city let's say Chicago, and I'd be doing the big morning show their TV show. And there would be a representative of a chemical company in the lobby. Demanding loudly that that he or they be allowed in and and then just basically just disrupting things. Well, they couldn't figure out how the industry had gotten my schedule, my precise schedule and and I even I remember even going down to the basement of the apartment buildings I lived on an East 76th Street in Manhattan and checking to see if there were any devices on on the phone panel down in the basement. You know, for the for the apartments in that in that building. Never proved that that was the case. legal threats, Luis nizer, who at the time was the most famous, the most prominent litigant as far as is suing newspapers for for whatever slander and so forth, threatened my publisher of the heart cover laneways which was a pantheon they're owned by Random House threatened to sue them out of basically out of existence if they published my book. So there was a legal threat. And, and during this time, I don't know I mean, that again, I'm not including a a particular company or politician or whomever but there was a rather suspect, circumstance in which I returned to Niagara Falls to attend a wedding and was briefly arrested. And all charges dropped just so that they can get a little bit of a headline and, and a lawyer that came, you know, it was outraged by what they did. To me. came and made them not just dropped charges, but destroy the fact that the arrest even ever occurred. What were the charges on that? They were trying to claim I assaulted two police officers who I had been coming out of a place to Niagara Falls and they grabbed me and and holding me off for no reason and and then claiming that I was resisting them assaulting them and so forth. One of them I again, I don't like to be too specific because I can't prove it again. But one of them was a close relative of a politician who was very disturbed at my reporting on Love Canal and in fact, who when one of the councilmen proposed having a Michael Brown day for Love Canal, his response publicly was over my dead body so I don't know why that happened. It didn't deter me. And but you know, it may get back I remember doing a radio show with a guy named Shavon Otto I think you remember him relationship. And during our show, the phones went blank. And when he called me back after it came on, he said to me off year he said, Michael, are you okay? Are you safe? And I said why? And he said I've never heard a phone act. like that before. I've never had that happen before. Be careful. He was he was concerned. But other than that, no, no, I was I can't say somebody called me up and said, We're going to kill you. I got threat threats elsewhere and other situations to toxic ways, including kind of a mob associate in New Jersey, but that was not a good chemical that was not Love Canal and had nothing to do with Niagara Falls or any competency. We got to wrap up pretty soon. Let me ask you this. What would you like your legacy to be number one. Number two, what, as a society have we learned as a result of your work and the work of those who covered that nightmare? I guess I'm disappointed with the results so far. I mean, actually Love Canal there was a superfund which I'm sure you're familiar with that caused a lot of the most acute circumstances with these dumps to be remediated as far as putting clay covers on him and draining, draining the lead shape but we were still dumping this stuff for incinerating it in a way that could be hazardous to people. We still have a lot of chemical companies belching stuff out in poor neighborhoods very possibly causing the same type of things that happen Love Canal I don't think Love Canal was the most dangerous situation I saw in America. There was just the one that that was the first one and got a lot of publicity of thanks to being the first one thanks to the activism of people there and so forth. But you know, at least dozens of dumps around America were stopped from from major leakage of seepage I should say and, and, you know, it made the industry look at better means of disposal no question about that. But we but matters have been reversed in recent years the EPA has been got it really and and toxic and so now, once more being allowed into the air and water in a way that that is of major concern. So there's a lot of work to be done, and lessons still to be learned from Love Canal and the many other dumps around America. Transcribed by https://otter.ai Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Moving Image Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 33:51 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource An Interview with Michael Brown Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Interviewer) Description An account of the resource As a young journalist at the Niagara Gazette in 1977, Michael Brown took a special interest in stories by two fellow reporters at the paper involving sump pump issues in the Love Canal neighborhood. Reported problems included odors and chemicals surfacing in homes. Those articles, published in 1976, did not get much traction at the time. Mr. Brown had begun covering toxic waste dumpsites in Niagara County. That became his journalistic focus. He managed to stir up a lot of controversy in the process. While covering a public hearing, a woman in her early 20s from the Love Canal neighborhood broke down in tears when describing her concerns about potential health issues associated with chemicals believed to be leaking into her and her neighbors’ homes. The city of Niagara Falls had initiated an assessment of the issue and considered covering the old dumpsite with clay. In 1977, Mr. Brown talked with a city engineer who felt the situation was very serious and could effect future generations if not properly addressed. A period of silence by the city followed. Brown decided to follow up but said he got no answers from the County Health Department. He had become the Niagara Falls City Hall reporter for the Gazette. His journalistic intuition prompted him to go door-to-door, talking with Love Canal families. His goal was to determine whether the presence of toxic chemicals may have been having an effect on their health. Rich Newberg’s interview with Michael Brown takes us back to that initial period of discovery and what followed next. At the time of the interview, more than four decades had passed since the Love Canal disaster became a “journalistic obsession” for Mr. Brown. Viewers will learn of the obstacles he faced and how his reporting for the Niagara Gazette led to the rise of Lois Gibbs, leader of the Love Canal Homeowners Association, whose tireless efforts not only ended in victory for her neighbors, but served as the beginning of the environmental justice movement for people exposed to toxic chemicals in their communities. Portions of the Brown and Gibbs interviews appear in the 2021 documentary, “The Buffalo Story: History Happens Here.” The segment entitled “A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening,” won a New York Emmy award in 2022 in the category of Science/Environment. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Brown, Michael (Interviewee) Vetter, Tom (Producer) Terranova, Michael (Editor) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020-11-23 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by Moments In Time Video, Inc. & TVRE Productions, Inc. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Subject The topic of the resource Chemical plants -- Waste disposal -- Environmental aspects -- New York (State) -- Niagara Falls Love Canal Chemical Waste Landfill (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Relation A related resource <div class="element-text"><span><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/items/show/2175">A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 1]</a> </span></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2176"><span>Love Canal: Neighborhood of Fear [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 2]</span></a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2177">Turning Anger Into Action [The Story of Love Canal Pt.3]</a><br /><span></span></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2178">What Have We Learned? [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 4]</a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2350">An Interview with Lois Gibbs [Her Battle and Victory on Behalf of Love Canal Homeowners]</a></div> Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/11d7981639ff7d02e7284149ea6851d6.mp4 ca1ef3b2ddb75168048a916e2261364e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Good evening, everybody. I'm John Beard. And I'm Marie Rice. The frustration and helplessness of two years of living a nightmare for over a 700 Love Canal family erupted Tuesday night and overflow crowd packed the Niagara County legislative chambers in hopes of persuading their elected officials to join the proposed Love Canal. Revitalization authority. The proposal had been rejected before and emotion filled the air as residents pleaded with the legislators before the vote carried a child for nine months. Or little Julie was still born. The loss of our child may be a direct result of the chemicals. Please don't allow this to happen to anyone else before you get them out. Don't let it happen yourself. The proposal was turned down by a 16 to 15 vote and once again the Love Canal residents had their cause rejected but this was one rejection too many people were mad and they wanted answers. Representatives are supposed to support as well. The nation is looking at you you're like damn fools and murder because also do wrong pay sweetie. pay you. Pay what you had this past weekend you got to sit there and both residents once again rallied around Love Canal homeowners President Lois Gibbs the legislators were cheered and shouted at and finally sheriff's deputies were ordered to escort Mrs. Gibbs outside. Please tell us why I am not moving until I get an answer why. Residents decided they had done all they could went home to prepare for Wednesday's announcement from Washington. That announcement from President Carter was the Triumph presidents had fought too long years for President Carter today declare an emergency to permit the federal government and the state of New York to undertake the temporary relocation of approximately 700 families in the Love Canal area of Niagara Falls The good news was also mixed with feelings of uncertainty and sadness as residents wondered where they would go and if they would ever see any of their friends and neighbors again, Love Canal residents will be relocated, but the scars will never disappear. We'll take a look back at the last two years when Love Canal neighborhood and fear continues. The tragedy of the Love Canal has been a two year long story. Let's go back to the summer of 1978. The Love Canal the most infamous chemical dump in the nation. A distinction earned because the eyes of the country have been riveted on that small patch of land in Niagara Falls since 239. Families were moved at state expense two years ago, finally declared a federal emergency. It's the only hazardous waste site to be identified as such. The dream of William love turn nightmare. In 1894 the entrepreneur had a scheme or a giant model city and water canal to provide industrial power. The plan was aborted but for chemicals then use the dead canal as a dumping ground for industrial waste. From above it looked harmless enough, but only a few feet below the surface deadly chemicals were gurgling their way to the top finding their way into the basements of nearby residents. The prognosis was grim birth defects kidney ailments respiratory problems, possibly even death accompanied the path of the migrating toxins. August 2 1978, state health commissioner Dr. Robert Whalen declared a state of emergency at the Love Canal and advise pregnant women and children under two years old to be evacuated immediately. Well, how dangerous is it for a person just standing there right now? You have to take into consideration three or four variables. The first variable are the levels of air pollution in the individual homes, too. You have to take into consideration the relative risk for a particular individual children and unborn children being the highest risk three you have to take into consideration the duration of risk. And these are the issues that we tried to balance out among around scientific staff and with the nationwide expert panel and arrived at the conclusions that resulted in my honor. Well what is the ultimate status of this area going to be is it going to be leveled? Do you think ultimately, I think that what we're trying to do here is deal with First things first, the concerns of the people have to leave I think is our first concern. The second the question of trying to do something to reduce the immediate problems that the construction is the second one. The task force set up by Governor Kerry will continue to meet and we'll try to meet and determine other more long range suggestions and proposals as time goes on. One of my three year old child where is the difference? What about the seven discriminate? Families with children under the age of two should be evacuated. I think that's a double standard and I don't believe that that's fair to anybody. I think any family that fears for their lives and that of their family should be given the same opportunity to be moved into quarters. That gives her family protection while the work continues of cleaning up this mess one off. basis. Spend a return preserve backing this agree and I think you will be rad at this that the state pursue the polluters. We wanted most was security in our home and we don't have it. So I had Dr. Whelan suggested I picked up my wife and my two sons and I took them away from here. So what presumably safely I hope. August 5 1978 William Wilcox administrator for the US federal disaster aid administration arrives from Washington to tour the contaminated area where they make it a state. It's not in the paper anything about a remedial work. They weren't the funds for the remedial work but just forgetting about the people. We've suffered enough medically do have to die while they're cleaned it up. The police take that back to Washington. Wilcox was ordered here by the White House. He was to report directly to the President on how bad the situation really was. He was personally escorted across the decades old chemical landfill. The Federal official wearing only shoes as he brings boots when he visits blood sites, but didn't know he would need them here today. A hole where waste had risen to the surface was pointed out. He went inside the residence homes to see and smell more waste that had entered through basements. Wilcox said he was most anxious to hear from the residents. None was bashful. Everything started dying out here. Let me ask you this question. I should have asked some of the others. Maybe you too if, if you were to leave this area for some period of time six months or something and the houses were boarded up and then this was all cleaned up. And you got assurances that there wasn't a problem. Would you come back? No. That's not what we're looking for. We're looking for to be moved out of the area permanently. I don't care 10 years from now if they clean that back up, clean our property up. We're still no value to our homes, but the reputation is still here. Many people. Mr. Wilcox, what's your impression of what you've seen so far this morning? Well, I think both in scientific terms and in human terms, it's a very troublesome situation. And that's really about all I can say at the present time. I think that people are living here under very difficult circumstances. We'll be preparing a report pulling together all the information providing report to the White House tomorrow. What chance do you think there is that these people might get federal aid? Well, I think that there's going to be federal assistance in one form or another. The only question is, what is the best form of assistance and we'll want to be working closely with Governor Kerry and Mr. Hardy, his staff and others in formulating any federal program. That seems appropriate for the situation. August 10 1978, the state of New York makes history it announces it will permanently relocate 239 families left behind, however, are more than 700 families. For some then there's jubilation for others despair. Still others clung to the belief that eventually they'd be moved stinks at nighttime Robin. And did you see the all the oils and stuff that are coming up? It's really sickening. And um, you know, when I wake up in the morning, I have asthma real bad and I can't breathe. My eyes are all swollen. And you know, when I wake up in the morning and stuff like that, are you worried about your baby? Yes, because I don't want to deform baby or something wrong with it or something like that, you know, February 8 1979. Another unsettling announcement from the New York State Health Department. New Health Commissioner David Axelrod recommends the temporary relocation of all pregnant women and children under two who lived within a six block area of the contaminated landfill. When we examined all of the data and compared the effects which I've already enumerated on the wet areas with the dry areas, we found that there was indeed an increase in risk for the fetus that is that there was a small but significant risk higher than would be anticipated for those living in the wet areas. And these risks were manifested by increases of approximately two fold in congenital malformations in spontaneous abortions. And in an increase in low birth weight infants. The decision or recommendation that the panel made to the New York State Department of Health at a meeting held yesterday was that based on this information, we should recommend that the fetus in effect be removed from the source of exposure. That defines itself as meaning that pregnant women living in the so called wet areas should be removed from the canal areas. In August two children two and under people from 99 to 97. To children that were a few months over two years old. They were advised to be because it houses their children. My daughter was only two that she's two years and four months now. Why does she have no importance now? I wasn't as much danger in August with my baby as I am now. Why was I forced to stay here all this time? My baby soon almost a year and a half and myself started and now she's concerned about my three year old as I am on this baby are carrying. Can he answer the question Please, ma'am? What I what I said was at the age of two represented a reasonable assertion as to a point when the maximum impact from these chemicals would be diminished. This was the first time the health department had given serious consideration to research gathered by the homeowners association. The women told us the state office had dismissed their studies connecting the pathways of OLED screen beds and increased health problems as useless housewife data. I'm not a scientist. I am a housewife is as important in the paper many times. My date is not useless. It is not pointless. It is not valid. Every one of these people in this audience last gave me that say they don't like what you're doing in the house pocket. is going to take six months, eight months, 10 months you prove that pregnant women are in danger. You prove and children under two are in danger. I know my own family experience that there are other children in this area that are not even in danger, but I'm damn right I died. And if we sit and wait for six more or less the the blue ribbon panel with Laura Lee knows who they are, meet and decide on this. We're going to have dead children. October 26 1979 New York announced agreement on legislation to remove and additional 550 families the details of that plan have yet to be carried out December 20 1979. The federal government's use over chemicals for $117 million. And on April 28 1980, the state of New York's use over chemicals or $635 million. From the beginning hooker disavowed any legal responsibility. The company says the property was deeded to the City Board of Education in 1953 for $1 and the school system was warned about the site. Hooker says it was contractually agreed that the board could make no claim against Hooker when it took possession. May 16 1980 rarer chromosomal damage is found in a sampling of Love Canal residents. We found two particular characteristics in this study which are ominous one that there were more ring chromosomes than one would expect to find. But secondly, and more disturbing was the presence of what we call extra fragments. And that is a very rare observation in any population. We have got abnormalities in our chromosomes and we've known it all along that on our street alone, there has been already eight cases of cancer on a 15 How Street and it's really had me scared all along but they told me it was a national average. And now I have found proof that probably I will even get it again. May 1919 82. EPA officials are held hostage for six hours If we do not have a disaster declaration Wednesday by new then what they have seen here today is just a Sesame Street picnic. Homeowners President Lois Gibbs has fought for relocation long and hard over the last two years. She's with us tonight. This is give 700 families can now be relocated. How far away from the canal do they live? Well they live on this map you can see buffalo Avenue to the south vertical Street to the north 93rd Street on the west and 130 on the east side. And how wide are blocking areas that Exactly that's a 10 block area. This is good. You said the federal government said it would take them from six to nine months to buy up the homes. I'd love canal residents now. And the last two years you've done some pretty good sources of your own in Washington. How long do you think it might take? I think it's just a matter of days. I don't think it's going to take 120 160 days that they're quoting. You're dealing with EPA officials and Health Studies. The politics are mainly what's controlling Washington and the relocation of Love Canal residence. What if there is no federal aid coming? Well, then the entity will take over and purchase the home so regardless, we have a backup for the purchase. It's not like there's nothing there. There's something on the side that the federal government does fall through. But what do we do that about Niagara County because they decided again the other night that they wouldn't join the authority. That's true, but they can still form the authority with the city and the town of Wakefield alone without the county. Why do you feel the federal government took so long to make this declaration this emergency declaration? Do you feel it was a political decision because they were afraid it might be precedent setting? And it might have to move many, many other people from around the country at various dump sites. Definitely a political decision. That's one reason and the reason I decided now I think is more because of the presidential election this year. And President Carter and Neil take votes and one way to do it is pleased New York State residents and the governor. How's the relocation coming right now? Are people happy with the people we talked to yesterday? Not many of them were very jubilant. I know you figured that it was a victory. But many of them told us they were very disappointed because it was temporary and not permanent. Yes, that's true. And because many of them had to give up in Canada by the hotel room themselves tonight. And then have them wanting to do so. And because it was temporary and they they've seen temporary time and time again and they're tired of moving on the short term and moving back to the contaminant houses. They want to move somewhere for once a clean environment and stay put and raise their family somewhat normally for change. Are we gonna see trouble if they move into another location and then they're told that they have to move back? You are definitely going to see trouble. Yes, the residents are going to move back. They're fearful for their lives. What do you think may happen? Anything's possible, Marie, anything. All right. Mrs. Gibbs, thank you very much for joining us. If there's a hero or a heroine to come out of this, you're certainly Rihanna. We'll be back with closing comments from when we turn with Love Canal neighborhood and feed. From a quiet unassuming residential neighborhood to a chemical Ghost Town normal everyday people over the last two years have come out fighting when their lives and the lives of their loved ones are endangered. By a silent unseen chemical threats. The fight for the Love Canal homeowners isn't over yet. The federally ordered relocation is only temporary. The families want to move someplace permanently, where they can live without fear. of chemical poisoning. House I want to know the answer to your first question is can you go back and live in your parents house? Yeah, yeah, the answer? The answer is yes. You can go back to your parents number the second question that you get. The second question you asked me was are you what are the chances that you'll grow up to be a normal man? Not much. The answer to that question is that you have as much likelihood as growing up to be a normal man. Is someone living on 100/10 Street Transcribed by https://otter.ai Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Love Canal: Neighborhood of Fear [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 2] Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rice, Marie (Producer, Writer, Host) News 4 Buffalo (WIVB-TV Newsroom) Description An account of the resource Two years into the battle for environmental justice in the Love Canal neighborhood of Niagara Falls, WIVB-TV presented a news special. The disaster had reached a crisis stage with homeowners demanding action by all levels of government. They had unknowingly moved into a neighborhood developed on top of a toxic dumpsite and were now suffering the consequences of harmful chemicals making their way into their homes and schools. The half hour presentation, was written, produced and reported by Marie Rice, who co-anchored the special with WIVB anchor John Beard. It featured some of the most emotional testimony from Love Canal family members whose loved ones were sick and dying due to chemical exposure. More than seven hundred families were demanding that they be relocated and that their grievances be properly addressed. Tests determined that residents had suffered “ominous” rare chromosomal damage. Lois Gibbs, who ultimately led the Love Canal Homeowners Association to victory, later attributed Buffalo news coverage to the successful outcome. The grassroots crusade has been credited with launching the environmental justice movement in the United States. President Jimmy Carter came to Niagara Falls to sign legislation that met homeowners demands and led to the creation of the Superfund. Formerly known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, the program is designed to provide emergency responses to sites contaminated by hazardous substances. By one count there are 40,000 federal Superfund sites across the United States. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Beard, John (Co-host) Swan, Ray (Editor) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1980 Subject The topic of the resource Love Canal Chemical Waste Landfill (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Chemical plants -- Waste disposal -- Environmental aspects -- New York (State) -- Niagara Falls Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Relation A related resource <div class="element-text"><span><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/items/show/2175">A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 1]</a> </span></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2177">Turning Anger Into Action [The Story of Love Canal Pt.3]</a><br /><span></span></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2178">What Have We Learned? [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 4]</a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2347">An Interview with Michael Brown</a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2350">An Interview with Lois Gibbs [Her Battle and Victory on Behalf of Love Canal Homeowners]</a></div> Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/fc8b5ecc92784a2ea8ce2f0be512bb17.mp4 a8cd124c80783cf288be5eabffe9f64e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Under any other circumstances could be fun. Moving when you're forced to is painful. I love my house and this is tearing me up. I'm leaving this here on the street. Line Oh, somehow, some way. Maybe they'll just move her home. There's so many people here they feel like we do we don't know just leave her here. The families who have been forced to evacuate are being asked to throw away perishable food. The CO owners of the pine Plaza superduper are donating $1,000 to help replace some of those items. We're concentrating mainly on milk and cheese and bread and butter items that may have been contaminated. And we're giving $30 gift certificates to all those that are moving to the first 39 that are being relocated. The names of families with pregnant women and young children living outside the borders of the Love Canal have also been taken. Their situations will be reviewed later for a possible evacuation help. This has created resentment among some families living with a loved canal in their backyards, but whose children are older. I don't want to be here. I don't want to breathe all that air. I'm sick, and I don't think it's fair. I've got it in my backyard. What about my three children? Anyone and everyone however, is eligible for blood testing the lines were long today, tests are looking for possible leukemias, anemias and liver disorders. In the meantime, workmen were also busy today putting up a snow fence around the contaminated 99th Street School. A chain link fence will be installed later. A chain link fence will also be installed here around the Love Canal area. These warning signs apparently haven't been doing much good as evidenced by numerous footprints seen across the field on the other side of this fence last week. And that was way in advance of the tour over the weekend by state and federal officials here are we Bryce news for Niagara Falls We like the home so well. So we decided we're going to take it with us. The groans and squeaks today we're coming from this house workman methodically What about their task of jacking it up and pulling it apart? At its seams? Are you convinced it's safe for your children? Yes, yes. We've had three tests taken on it as far as you know being contaminated. And it is clean. There's no contamination at all as far as the chemicals go. It represents a lot of hard work money and there's a lot of fond memories here and we didn't want to get out of Love Canal. We've got to settle for something less and financially we had to do it. The highest earners are one of several 100 families whose houses sat adjacent to the canal. The state bought it for $33,000 They bought it back for salvage at $2,500. The two halves will be made whole again blocks away in an area considered safe. Tom Eisner took one final look today at the chemicals which had seeped into his basement. For days more crew had their job cut out for them tedious work. Each move was carefully calculated and then carried out. The result? Mission accomplished. News Four Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls and school officials are quietly gathering information to prepare for expected lawsuits and news for is learned that city manager Donald O'Hara has written a letter to state officials expressing his concern about the lack of speed in getting on with the cleanup. Another person who is concerned is Maria Pozniak, who lives just 100 yards outside the designated danger area. Her eight year old asthmatic daughter has been taken from the area to stay in a hotel with her mother and her condition once away from the canal area is improved, Mrs. Pozniak says but the cost of living away from their home is being borne by the positive acts and attempts to get help from the state and but nothing but red tape. And still today, homeowners association president Lois Gibbs was talking about her displeasure with a lack of anything new and last night's meeting. I think it was basically just a rehash again, they didn't even go into the safety plan to any extent which I thought they were going to do. But we still stand the same. I don't think they'll start. I know they won't start to work on October because of if they avoid us as far as letting us okay the plans then we have a lawyer who will back us up and put an injunction on the work Well, you might approve the plan that would allow it to start October 10? Not until we get a lot of answers to a lot of questions that they've been avoiding giving us like the contents of the canal, the perimeters of the canal. The governor has said that your group will have the right to veto if you do not approve the safety plan that is finally presented. That's right. He's assured us of that twice. And we're holding him to it. Mr. Urban has severe malformation in his leg and he has severe eye problems with one eye and we believe this is a result of contamination by chemicals. How many people do you represent? I really don't want to get into the number of people I represent there-- I'm more than Mr. Irvin the purpose of selecting Mr. Irvin was just to have one person go through a multitude of preliminary hearings. Do all your clients, however, allegedly basically the same thing, some type of physical ailment? That's right not that they are all the same. There are different physical injuries that we've claimed that are related to it, but they're not all the same by any stretch of the imagination. There are women that have had miscarriages or people with renal problems. They're varied. I think that my charge now should go right to the country and this by this I mean, that the United States Army knew what was in that canal and still they let them children go to that school. They let citizens build homes over here. And now that we have a problem? That we do have acts and I think that we should have immediately I think the people of the City of Niagara Falls to support the situation in a crisis of toxic chemicals around a 93rd street and work our way right up town. That's how I feel about it. We nervous wrecks we had and I have nightmares. We are afraidto go back to our homes. We don't know what's going to happen to us. The kids are blaming us Why are you keeping us here in this contaminated hell? We want to move out and we keep saying it will be soon just have patience. And something's going to happen pretty soon. And they're angry and mad and they they just can't take it no more. The cruel and inhumane treatment of the Love Canal residents have to be addressed now by a massive outpouring of sympathy for the people there and expressions to their legislators and in particular to Governor Hugh Carey. We've invited Hugh Carey to be with us to join the legislators and the families to go to the tour. Of the Love Canal with Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden. It's important day we expect the community to rally in support of the families there. On October 4 1979, actress and activist Jane Fonda and husband Tom hate, hate a visit to the Love Canal neighbor to lend their support. This is a tragedy of such immense human proportions that it's very difficult to talk we've had a short bus ride while we have an opportunity to talk to some of the people in some detail about what they've gone through. The children they've lost the miscarriages, the husbands, they lost, how their lives have been torn off. It's unbelievable. That this happens in America today. But I think it'll help us a lot. When I go to Washington tomorrow. I'm going to see those same people I'm going to see EPA and other federal people. And I'll say here's another one of your agency who has an agreement now let's do something get up and move these people immediately. Don't wait for the state to do it. It's up to you to do it now. From Western New York's first news station here News Four's update. Good evening. I'm Rich Newberg Lois Gibbs has called for a boycott of the Federal Health Studies at the Love Canal. The boycott was the first of several issues I discussed tonight with the president of the Love Canal Homeowners Association. We are calling for a boycott of the EPA studies and we're calling for a boycott at the EPA meetings. The reason we're asking this is because they have not given us their design or protocols. We don't know they're gonna be done might they plan on eliminating people because of economic background likely cell development? Or because they have health problems like sugar diabetes, we feel everybody should be tested who want to be The burning of the first family in effigy. When you were in Washington? What do you think this accomplished? I think it explained to the nation the plight of the people and how they felt about the White House. They've ignored us and Stonewall us and they've turned a deaf ear to Love Canal. And this is how not only Love Canal people feel but Western New York and across the nation. We've had many people respond the same way. Had you had a face to face confrontation with the President? What do you think this might have accomplished? I think he would have regained some confidence in government that Love Canal people have lost and if nothing else, I could give him the real story of Love Canal the personal story from the families. Hooker says a review of its records finds no evidence of US military dumping. How do you react to this finding? I don't understand. I don't understand why Hooker would say that. If nothing else, they would say they did dumb so they could share in the cost. Many residents have verified have seen this happen back in the 40s in the 50s. And I just plain don't understand it. The testifying of Love Canal residents before Senator Kennedy's committee. What do you think this accomplished? Well, it brought it to national attention. Barbara Quimby and Phyllis were great and they they got across the point that we have mentally retired children we have broken chromosomes and nobody is doing anything. As a result of this. We have received sympathy, telegrams and things nationwide and everybody's more aware now than they were before. Good afternoon. I'm Gary Gunter. Governor Carey flew into Buffalo late this morning and we're fortunate to have him right here with us live. Here's the governor with news four's Rich Newberg, Rich? Governor, thank you for joining us this morning but the venue. There was a reported impasse and they love canal loan negotiations. The state has rejected the $15 million loan concept. Now there's an impasse what is going to happen in Love Canal? We'll work it out. First of all, state rejection is based upon the fact that the way they gave us the money we'd have to go to a referendum, a constitutional amendment to get into the people. There is an amendment which was passed by the Senate in the house, the Javits Moynihan amendment, which shows the appropriate way to get the money to the Love Canal families so we can get permanent relocation. I'll be meeting with White House people tomorrow. I'll bring this up and we'll break the impasse. Federal government is very concerned about the precedent setting Love Canal situation, what makes you think they're going to bend and give us for example, $50 million outright, They're not going to give us 15 million outright, they're gonna make credit available so we can help the families get the mortgage they need for permanent resettlement. It's no no big deal by the federal government. They're simply acknowledging some of the responsibility they have, because they contributed heavily to the trauma at Love Canal. Can we turn for a moment to the national scene? Yes, sir. Are you going to actively campaign for Jimmy Carter? I'm going to campaign for every Democrat across New York state or anywhere else that can be helpful, but I can always campaign better if I feel solidly about the issues, and I'm trying to get the message through to the White House, you can't take New York for granted. Air Force One taxied in about 10:30 This morning, under flattening Buffalo area skies. Security was extremely tight with Secret Service agents and local police keeping a close watch on the airport crowd. The President was all smiles as he greeted the governor, Senator Patrick Moynihan and Erie County Democratic Chairman Joseph Clangor. The President's awareness of Buffalo's problems was sharpened during the blizzard of 1977 when the federal government came to the aid of a snowed in city. Today when the President set foot on the podium. It began to rain. But the Carter smile was against sparkling when Cheektowaga supervisor Kenneth Myers presented him with the town flag. The only disruption occurred when Governor Kerry became distracted by a group of dissatisfied Love Canal residents while he was introducing the president. Please lower those signs a president has seen them so the others behind you can see the President's gotten your message. He's seen them. We'll respond to you and please lower the side like button neighbors now so the people behind you can see. The signs and the President was warmly received. He in turn acknowledged problems in the Love Canal District and said Governor Kerry was doing a better job than he was of meeting the needs of Canal residents. And I have to tell you, that he's done a lot more at the state level than I and my people have done at the federal level and I will express my thanks to him for dealing with your problem. Reacting to White House refusal to buy their homes angry residents have chemically polluted Love Canal dragged out dummies in the street and burned the Carter family in effigy. Niagara Falls police made no effort to stop the demonstration. They were shouting for FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Team dispatched to Niagara Falls to assist residents in temporary relocation. Finally, a spokesman for FEMA emerged from headquarters to speak with the group. They're not offering to buy your homes. They're not offering to reimburse the people whose homes were destroyed by Mount Helens, they are offering you the same thing. How can you stand there and say these things to us when you're right in the city and see what's going on? What EPA they're just what they've given us about chromosome damage? Love Canal residents are threatening to boycott medical tests the government may need in its lawsuit against Hooker Chemical. The government hopes to recover the millions it will spend in temporary relocation costs. Residents hope and medical boycott will pressure the government into buying their homes if not, they say the demonstrations will continue. Rich Newberg, News Four update This church turned into a pressure cooker, more steam being led out by angry homeowners and more cries for answers. The church was packed with Love Canal residents EPA Regional Chief Jim Marshall was there to listen as homeowners expressed two years of frustration and immediate demands for a settlement on their homes. I'm 65 years old, almost. I'm sick and tired of being a yo yo pulled this way. All the other way. Why don't you get a hold where you're pulling me down the road. All I want, all I want I don't want to be relocated. All I want is my 28 five and give it to me tonight. And I'll never look back on Love Canal now again. 1500 supportive telegrams have reportedly poured into President Carter's office from unions and environmental groups across the country. But Lois Gibbs told the group only they could keep the momentum going for permanent relocation and government purchase of their homes. We have to keep the pressure on President Carter. We have to create more pressure than the Cubans coming in on Florida. Then the fall people in order to do that we're gonna have such telegrams, scream and holler and be heard. It could be two or three days before the government fully coordinates a relocation program. Meanwhile, the search for hotel and motel rooms gets tougher. We want out! The tour guide was sent from the state attorney general's office in New York, the sightseers viewing house after boarded up house inside the Love Canal included State Supreme Court judges as well as lawyers for former Love Canal homeowners and for Hooker chemical company. On your right, you're gonna see the 99th Street School Slowly they passed landmarks of a deserted community whose former residents are now locked in court battles with hooker over claims of personal injury. This state now owns these homes and plans on tearing down 237 of them. The tour was designed to give the legal opponents judges one last close up look. If you wish to go into the homes we'll show you how to don the protective equipment that you would need so No one was permitted to enter the houses until they were fully protected from chemical exposure boots, gowns, gloves and even a respirator if you want to total protection then there was this observation from attorney Richard Lepus, who represents the former homeowners Of course it's interesting that we're all donning the suits and our clients have lived in these homes for years without any of these suits on including the children. Though we were all shielded from any chemical contamination. There was no protection from the eerie feelings of emptiness and desolation that the absence of life here creates. The attorneys representing the homeowners want the houses demolished mostly for health reasons. One Hooker attorney said the company takes no position on the question of demolition for the people who moved out of here and for the country as a whole the questions raised by the Love Canal disaster will continue to be raised long after the last house is demolished. Rich, Newberg News Four Niagara Falls. May 16th 1980 Rare chromosomal damage was found in a sampling of Love Canal residents. We found two particular characteristics in this study, which are ominous. I just want to get my kids away from your weapon to factories on the first year or maybe they can have a decent life. I don't know. My son's probably already permanently damaged. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. The fact that we now know that the chemicals are in the home that they got into the people and caused chromosome damage in the people indicates that the miscarriages and the birth defects and cancer is a result of living in this neighborhood. We have got abnormalities in our chromosomes and we've known it all along that on our street alone there has been already eight cases of cancer on the 15th House street May 19 1982. EPA officials are held hostage for six hours. If we do not have a disaster declaration, Wednesday by noon then what they have seen here today is just a Sesame Street picnic in comparison.. Two days later, President Jimmy Carter declared the Love Canal neighborhood a national emergency and agreed to evacuate all Love Canal families. And on October 1 1980 President Carter came to Niagara Falls to announce that all the Love Canal families who wish to leave their homes would be provided the money to permanently relocate. There's really no way to make adequate restitution for that kind of suffering. But this agreement will at least give the families of the area some 750 of them the financial freedom to pack up and leave if they choose to do so. The President singled out the woman he called the grassroots leader of the Love Canal residents, Lois Gibbs for special recognition Without her impassioned advocacy and dedication. There might have never been a love canal emergency declaration and that's a great one might never have come to pass. There must never be in our country another Love Canal. I love you now, Mr. President. What can I say? New York loves you today. Lois Gibbs and her two children have moved to the nation's capitol, where Mrs. Gibbs has begun to organize a national citizens clearinghouse for hazardous waste problems. She already has enough mail to keep her busy for the next couple of years. What I have here is 1000s of people who have written us from 13 Other countries and these people want information and this is what I'm going to provide what is chloroform me what does it do to humans? What is the safe level? How do I get the state to test and what should I test for and at what level? How do I do a house survey? I want to provide all this information to these individuals to help them evaluate the problems and eventually resolve. Now a single parent, Mrs. Gibbs will attempt to take care of her two children Michael, eight, and Missy, five, while spending the rest of her time asking private foundations for grant money. She says she'll be making a minimum wage for a while but he's willing to make the sacrifice for the cause She believes in. There are family suffering financially, psychologically and health wise, tapping across the country to people in the United States. Don't band together now, don't identify their problems and clean them up. Then God only knows what generations has to come. Mrs. Gibbs earned the reputation as a fighter for victims of chemical contamination. She is credited for having President Carter declare the Love Canal area of Niagara Falls a national emergency, which led to the permanent relocation of hundreds of Love Canal families. She is convinced her struggle will determine the kind of life her children and her children's children will lead. I want my children you know, I want them to grow up in a place where they can plant their gardens, eat the food and have normal children and not be concerned. It's not going to happen unless we do this Rich Newberg News Four, Washington. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Turning Anger Into Action [The Story of Love Canal Pt.3] Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Reporter) Description An account of the resource These selected reports beginning in 1978 provide insight into how Love Canal homeowners were able to channel their fears and anger into action in terms of personal injury lawsuits against the Hooker Chemical Corporation and pressure applied to their local, state and federal government representatives. Beginning in the summer of 1978, when blood tests were first administered and only a selected number of households were ordered to evacuate their contaminated homes, Lois Gibbs and her Love Canal Homeowners Association demanded that arrangements be made to move out more families for permanent relocation. After strong lobbying efforts, president Jimmy Carter took initial action in approving enough funds for New York State to buy 236 Love Canal homes. Families were relocated at a cost of $10 million dollars. Three months later it was revealed that 200 tons of dioxin, one of the most lethal chemicals produced by humans, were buried in the canal. Residents said they witnessed the military also using the canal as a dumpsite. In May 1980 the Environmental Protection Agency determined that some residents suffered from chromosome damage. Four days later President Carter declared Love Canal a national emergency. Eventually another 710 Love Canal families were relocated. Love Canal families had originally sought $15 billion dollars in damages from Hooker Chemical’s parent company Occidental Chemical Corporation. In 1983, about 1,330 families got a settlement of $20 million dollars. In addition, a one million dollar medical trust fund was created. In 1995, Occidental Chemical Corporation and Occidental Petroleum agreed to pay the federal government $129 million dollars as reimbursement for clean-up costs of the Love Canal landfill. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Rice, Marie (Reporter) Beard, John (Co-host) Gunter, Gary (Reporter) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1970-1980 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Video/mp3 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Rich Newberg Reports Collection Subject The topic of the resource Love Canal Chemical Waste Landfill (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Chemical plants -- Waste disposal -- Environmental aspects -- New York (State) -- Niagara Falls Relation A related resource <div class="element-text"><span><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/items/show/2175">A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 1]</a> </span></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2176"><span>Love Canal: Neighborhood of Fear [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 2]</span></a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2177">Turning Anger Into Action [The Story of Love Canal Pt.3]</a><br /><span></span></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2178">What Have We Learned? [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 4]</a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2347">An Interview with Michael Brown</a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2350">An Interview with Lois Gibbs [Her Battle and Victory on Behalf of Love Canal Homeowners]</a></div> Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/4f698df16a9f528f548625d0e1bba4cf.mp4 69204acfd594705b69ee066998d76eec Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound 10 years ago, August 2 1978, the lives of Love Canal residents would never be the same. When Health Commissioner Robert Whelan advised pregnant women and children under two to be evacuated immediately panic kit. Why not my three year old?.. It was a new crisis one society knew little about and even less on how to handle it. The administrator for the US disaster aid administration arrives from Washington and sees chemicals bubbling to the surface. New York State makes history deciding to evacuate everyone, all 239 families who live next to the old Booker chemical dump site. The story of Love Canal began nearly a century earlier. When entrepreneur William Love had a dream of building a canal connecting the upper and lower Niagara River for cheap hydroelectric power. The project was abandoned, the canal was used by bunker chemical in the 40s and 50s to dump 22 tons of industrial waste. In the mid 70s, heavy rainfall melting snow and rusting drums brought the buried chemicals to the surface and into backyards and basements. After the first evacuations, Love Canal homeowners President Lois Gibbs led the residents left behind a two year battle with government, even at one point holed into Washington officials hostage to bring attention to their cause. What they have seen here today is just a Sesame Street picnic. President Carter decided to allow 700 More families to move. CBS Television told the story of a Love Canal struggle in a two hour Docu-drama, starring actress Marcia Mason as Lois Gibbs. It's historic weather we want to be or not. We're just historic you know, just like the falls. Luella Kenny's little boy died from a rare kidney disease she believes is linked to chemical contamination. You have to look back with with so much sadness and just just a very difficult day for me to remember. Here at home they're asking, Has the Love Canal sprung a serious leak? News Four's Michelle McClintock reports nervous neighbors are waiting for answers in Niagara Falls. I can't remain silent. I'm not I'm not. Joanne Avila Radley has lived in the LaSalle area of Niagara Falls all her life, say Love Canal and she can rattle off a list of people she knows directly affected by that environmental disaster. These are the images that can haunt anyone who calls the Cataract City home. Now because of the sensitivity about one canal the problem that we have is that anytime anyone goes to fix a pothole or do any routine sewer work in the neighborhood, people are getting concerned. And that's why many residents off Colvin Boulevard were concerned when a foul smelling substance was discovered during routine work on a sewer line. Department of Environmental Conservation officials tested the material at first and found it was tri-chlorobenzene substance found at the occidental chemical site. This is the corner of 96 and Colvin. It's the exact spot where the substance was found a month ago by a contractor who was working on the sewers. It is quite literally a stone's throw from the Love Canal containment facility. The Bradley's live blocks away from that site, but they're still concerned because hazardous waste workers have been in their neighborhood. They've been snapping photos of the work as it gets closer to their home, even at the end of their street. Who knows even back 35 years ago. Do we get all the truth? 96 Ben Coleman Boulevard is the only location where the substance was found. According to the DC officials are expected to release the findings as soon as the lab results come in. Stay with news for as we continue to follow this story. Reporting live Michelle McClintock for the 10 o'clock news. One of the worst environmental disasters in American history and it happened right here in our own backyard. It's now been 35 years since the emergency declaration at Love Canal the infamous neighborhood in Niagara Falls became the center of a crusade against toxic waste. And the housewife who you see here who spearheaded this nationwide mission has returned to where those homes once stood. News for senior correspondent rich Newberg joins us live from Niagara Falls. Good afternoon, Rich Good afternoon. And you know, it's not quite over yet. This is a rather bizarre situation. 35 years later, I remember covering it 35 years ago, after the disaster, people were told that the chemicals were contained. It was safe to move back here and hundreds of families did just that. Well that brings us to this morning. This morning. Lois Gibbs, who led the three year fight to have residents evacuated from the Love Canal neighborhood returned for a walking tour of the area where 20,000 tons of toxic waste were buried 35 years ago was a battle that led to a state of emergency here at Love Canal and the eventual evacuation of over 800 families. Many residents had health disorders back then and they attributed that to chemicals seeping into their homes and their neighborhood. Well now families that moved into this same neighborhood, they were told that it was safe to say that they are suffering from major health disorders like the family of Keith Boos. They're my they're my family because every day is contaminated and life threatening. Our family has been affected by the contaminants in our home, emotionally, physically and mentally. We said it so many times, don't bring people back here. Just don't bring them back here. And they did and they bamboozle them into believing it was safe and gave them the data and god knows what else these folks got. And and they innocently went in and bought what I bought 35 years ago, the American dream. So now there's $113 million lawsuit filed claiming that Love Canal may be leaking and harming people here. We're gonna have to relive what happened 35 years ago and bring you back up to date with many more details. Tonight at five and six and on our website@wivb.com reporting live in the falls. Rich Newberg news four news. Love Canal remains one of the most talked about chemical catastrophes in this country. Dozens of groups toured the site every year helping to better understand how it happened and hoping History doesn't repeat itself And I just don't want to do I'm disgusted. I don't want to be here. I don't want to read all that air. Memories of the pain and the panic of the late 70s haunt this neighborhood nearly 40 years later, it was leaking into their. Their sump pumps. There were smells people were complaining of skin irritation and rashes. Mike Messio was a young employee at the time working at the nearby Niagara Falls airbase. He remembers stories from people like Bonnie Schneider I had some physical problems that I hope is not related to anything here but if they are I want to know about it. What are those physical problems? I have in the rheumatoid arthritis and I have severe headaches others complained of miscarriages and urinary and kidney problems. Our concern was to was to relocate these people. We wanted them out of harm's way it took it took some years to relocate 900 families and buy them out And there was no precedent for this. There was no we were we were we were kind of flying by the seat of our pants today. Today Massio is the EPA is regional spokesperson. He helps share the story of one of America's worst environmental disasters, a disaster that decimated this neighborhood. Only the streets, sidewalks and streetlights remain This is the east side of the canal yet we count only a handful of homes left families who for whatever reason refuse the EPA spy on offers. This was a big black eye on the City of Niagara Falls Massio says there's still enormous interest in Love Canal you get requests for tours of Love Canal all the time, all the time. Probably I have to say that. This year alone probably 40 tours, People from all over the world. The actual canal was only 16 acres in length was about 18 feet wide. It was like a bathtub. A canal Dug as a dream for entrepreneur William love in the late 1890s and then abandoned This was shot in 1938. Prior to disposal hooker chemical bought it and started burying barrels of chemicals 21,000 tons of toxins. Sold to the school board for $1 and words of warning they said don't build the school right over the top of the 16 acre landfill. The blizzard of 77 accelerated the nightmare that followed. What do you gonna do for my kid? What are you gonna do? The EPA eventually allowed hundreds of families to move back into the homes north of Colton Boulevard. Those families today are some of the ones involved in the lawsuits. We said it so many times. Don't bring people back here. Just don't bring them back here. Louis Gibbs, who led the Love Canal relocation fight returned in 2013. This was one of the areas that was most contaminated. Gibbs has long argued families should never have returned. We fought very hard to stop the resettlement of Love Canal. We lost that battle. Our family has been affected by the contaminants in our home emotionally, physically and mentally. Keith Boos spoke with news Four in 2013 he and other families can't talk to us now. Their lawyer has ordered them to stay quiet. The government told us it was safe to come back And they innocently went in and bought what I bought 35 years ago. The American dream Today the area looks more like a golf course just a chain link fence. That's all we've got. Oh yeah, but seal insist it would even be safe to walk on the site. All that debris from those homes in the school Sit, sit make up the 70 acre cap More than 200 monitoring wells dot the area offering the only real clues to the trouble it's buried below. How do you respond to people who say why didn't the EPA move any of this stuff? It didn't make much sense to excavate 21,000 tons of waste where it's located now and transport someplace else to put it back in the ground again, Massio says the area is among the safest in western New York because of constant monitoring. Paid for by Occidental Petroleum, a company that bought Hooker chemical runoff from the site gets treated here before it's pumped underground to the city's wastewater facility. They did not clean up canal at best. They put a trench around it. There was there's still 20,000 tons of chemicals in the center of that site. That's a sentiment shared by many of this dissection of the falls families who fear the toxic waste isn't entirely contained. And that one day it may seep back into their lives. These new lawsuits may take years to get resolved. I sat through a hearing last week and State Supreme Court and Niagara County depositions haven't even been scheduled in the 18 lawsuits. And we would like to hear from you if you have a story to share about Love Canal. You can email us investigates a wivb.com Trent Williams News Four. It was 40 years ago this week that a working class neighborhood in Niagara Falls became the center of a national health crisis. Toxic chemical waste seeped into backyards and playgrounds the Love Canal neighborhood news for us Jen Sean spoke to residents who say even decades letter later these wounds still feel fresh. Jackie hundreds of families were eventually evacuated from the Love Canal area. After it was discovered the waste dumped there by hook or chemical was toxic. If you ask dozens of people who grew up or raised their kids there they'll tell you the company's actions lead to long term health disasters. 40 years later, they are still fighting for answers. He was a sweet little boy, who I think would have contributed so much to society and yet he was cut down at seven John Allen Kenny was a victim of his own backyard, His mother says. Doctors in the late 70s said the seven year old boy died from kidney disease. Well, Kenny always thought there was something more that turned out that the chemical had been coming down the storm sores and empty out into the backyard. Where the children played. That backyard she says made her son's sick. The Kennys lived on 96th Street and Niagara Falls the Love Canal neighborhood years before they moved in Hooker chemical dumped 22,000 tons of toxic waste in the canal. You're talking about organic compounds the reactions there's a lot of pesticide products hooker chemical, was using this site as a permanent landfill to deposit drums and lamp packs. It was black was a deep black with like blue and purple colors that kind of ran through it. Patricia Grimsey used to play near the dump site. If you drop something in that it bubbled up and then disappeared, so we call it a quicksand By the late 1970s. The toxic chemicals Grimsey and our friends were mesmerized by started getting national attention. People were getting sick residents wanted answers Our little Julie was stillborn At one point then the head of the Love Canal homeowners association Louis Gibbs wouldn't let an EPA representative leave her office without action from the federal government. I was asked to come out to talk with a group of citizens about their medical test results. Now you've been taken hostage once quiet housewives became members of an organized play when people were burning their deeds and their mortgages as it was like a movie scene In 1978, President Carter declared Love Canal a federal health emergency. Eventually the neighborhood was evacuated and there was a federal buyout. Many families including the Kenny's and the Grenzies settled with a chemical company out of court after spending months living in motels. This is the Love Canal neighborhood now 70 acres of emptiness. A school and 239 homes were demolished. It's an emotional graveyard for Luella Kenny seen here at the site in the 80s We took every precaution I mean we wouldn't let him go swimming. We wouldn't let him do all these things. But we did not know about chemicals. After John died she joined the fight alongside other mothers demanding justice. I really never had a chance to grieve because all of a sudden I was thrust into this whole arena of trying to get out of Love Canal trying to protect the rest of my family. They did get out of Love Canal but closure never came and the settlement did little to comfort Kenny. We have over 100 mandatory wells not only on the site and off the site in the community. According to the EPA, the toxic waste is now capped and contain You don't believe that? No. Grenzey and her family are battling long term illnesses, illnesses she's convinced our courtesy of the Love Canal no doctor has ever confirmed so with certainty right across from the toxic wasteland is a neighborhood Black Creek. What would you say to those families who don't buy that this is Captain contained? Well, everything that we do at the agency is based on science. Our monitoring continues to show us today that the remedy is in place and continues to be protective. of human health and the environment. 40 years after a sitting president admitted this place was toxic Louella Kenny, now in her 80s says she's not done fighting. I thought well, you know maybe it's time to stop but I can't do it. I can't bring John back. That's for sure. But I worry about all the other children. For more than 30 years now. Louella Kenny has helped distribute money to families of the original Love Canal lawsuit through the Love Canal medical fund. Keep in mind there are still more than a dozen civil suits in litigation connected to the Love Canal, Jen Schanz, News Four. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource What Have We Learned? [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 4] Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Reporter) Description An account of the resource During the decades that followed the Love Canal disaster, WIVB-TV reporters have sought to gain a big picture perspective of the disaster that laid the groundwork for the environmental justice movement in the United States. In this series of reports presented ten to forty years after the evacuation of an entire Niagara Falls community due to toxic chemical exposure, a sad truth emerges. History appears to be repeating itself. Viewers learn that the losses of life and property that received international attention beginning in the late 1970s failed to prevent others from establishing homes in close proximity to where 20,000 thousand tons of toxic chemicals remain buried in the ground. The industrial and military waste was capped and continues to be monitored by the federal government, which has insisted the area is safe. However, new lawsuits have been filed claiming that chemicals have migrated from the site, again taking a toll on human health. Lois Gibbs, the environmental rights crusader who organized fellow homeowners when the Love Canal story first broke, revisited the neighborhood in 2013. She couldn’t understand how anyone could move anywhere near the Love Canal site. “We said it so many times, don’t bring people back here,” exclaimed Mrs. Gibbs during a walking tour of the site. She added, “they bamboozled them into believing it was safe…and they innocently went in and bought what I bought thirty-five years ago, ‘the American dream.’” Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Rice, Marie (Reporter) McClintick, Michelle (Reporter) Newberg, Rich (Reporter) Williams, Jordan (Reporter) Schanz, Jenn (Reporter) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1980-2020 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Subject The topic of the resource Chemical plants -- Waste disposal -- Environmental aspects -- New York (State) -- Niagara Falls Love Canal Chemical Waste Landfill (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Relation A related resource <div class="element-text"><span><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/items/show/2175">A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 1]</a> </span></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2176"><span>Love Canal: Neighborhood of Fear [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 2]</span></a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2177">Turning Anger Into Action [The Story of Love Canal Pt.3]</a><br /><span></span></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2347">An Interview with Michael Brown</a></div> <div class="element-text"><a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/admin/items/show/2350">An Interview with Lois Gibbs [Her Battle and Victory on Behalf of Love Canal Homeowners]</a></div> Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/e36cecc7f3a26e1bf056971cd986dbbc.mp4 114701f8a3560b236509020ecb7455a2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Crisis at West Valley 1 : Overview Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Reporter) Description An account of the resource This series of reports deals with the challenges involved in cleaning up one of Western New York’s most toxic hot spots, located in West Valley, about thirty miles south of Buffalo. <br /><br />Initial projections for the cleanup of radioactive waste pegged costs at $235 million dollars. The project, it was thought, would take seventeen years to complete. By 2018 the amount spent totaled $2.3 billion dollars. The full cleanup price tag could be in the range of $10 billion dollars, according to earlier estimates by the U.S. Department of Energy.  <br /><br />In 2020, forty years after the site was declared a National Demonstration Project, efforts were still underway to dismantle and remove the remaining contaminated buildings still standing on the site. Other efforts were focused on either dismantling and removing radioactive waste material from burial and storage areas or making them more secure. Environmental watchdog groups continue to raise serious questions about public safety and health.<br /><br />WIVB-TV, the CBS affiliate in Buffalo, closely covered the West Valley story and presented many reports that focused on the grassroots efforts that helped shape the massive cleanup project. The movement grew in intensity as New York State and the federal government considered proposals to accept more nuclear waste at the site. <br /><br />This overview is the first of five groups of television news reports, videos, and films documenting the political, economic, and social processes that led to a forty-year cleanup effort that is still in progress. The multi-billion-dollar undertaking continues to serve as a national demonstration project. <br /><br />The reports and summaries that follow are compiled by WIVB-TV senior correspondent (ret.) Rich Newberg. He played a major role in covering initial events as they unfolded in the early 1980s. <br /><br /><strong>Overview Summary: (1979 - 2020) </strong>                <br /><br />1. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Nuclear Waste Challenge </span><br /><em>CBS report by Robert Schackne lays out the challenge: 1979</em><br />“Some 600,000 gallons of lethally radioactive liquid waste that must be disposed of by a technology that has never been developed.” <br /><br />2. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Migrating Radioactive Waste</span><br /><em>WIVB-TV report by Rich Newberg: 1982</em><br />Sand “lenses” in trenches containing low level nuclear waste provide paths for migration of contaminated rain water. Sierra Club issues a warning that the “flaky” bedrock is not a suitable barrier.  <br /><br />3. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Lessons Learned the Hard Way</span><br /><em>Reports by WIS-TV, Columbia South Carolina: 1983 </em><br />Problems at West Valley lead to a rethinking of plans to activate a similar privately-owed nuclear reprocessing plant in Barnwell, South Carolina.<br /><br />4. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Who Would Accept Radioactive Waste?</span><br /><em>CBS report by Bill Curtis: 1982</em><br />The small Texas Town of Tulia considers accepting radioactive waste from sites such as West Valley. Tulia sits on top of one of the biggest salt beds in the country. Salt beds are one of three geological formations deemed suitable by the federal government to store radioactive waste. <br /><br />5. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">West Valley Chosen for a National Demonstration Project (1980)</span><br /><em>WIVB-TV Report by Allen Costantini: 1982</em><br />Ten years after Nuclear Fuel Services stopped operations at West Valley, control of the site is turned over to the state and federal governments and the Westinghouse Corporation. Westinghouse is the primary contractor hired to clean up the site at West Valley. The 600,000 gallons of high-level liquid waste is to be solidified into a glasslike substance and then moved to a secure storage outside of the region.<br />            <br />6. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Entering the First Radioactive Cell for Testing</span> <br /><em>WIVB-TV Report by Rich Newberg: 1983</em><br />Rich Newberg and photographer Jay Lauder cover the first tests conducted by Westinghouse experts inside a radioactive cell where uranium was extracted from spent fuel rods. The tests would help establish the best techniques for preparing the facility for the task of solidifying the high-level liquid radioactive waste. <br /><br />7. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Storing the High Level Radioactive Waste</span><br /><em>Video by CHBWV West Valley Decommissioning Team: 2015</em><br />The West Valley Demonstration project becomes the first site in U.S. history to place high level radioactive waste into long term outdoor storage. This video traces the history of the nation’s first and only commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing plant and the enormous task of cleaning up the waste it generated during its six year run, from 1966 to 1972. (see West Valley File 5 of 5 in this collection for present and future safety concerns.)<br /><br /><strong>Background</strong><br />West Valley is located In the Cattaraugus County Town of Ashford. It is here where Nuclear Fuel Services once served as the nation’s only commercial plant that reprocessed spent nuclear fuel rods used to produce atomic energy. The rods contained plutonium and uranium which could be recovered for reuse. The first rods were delivered to the plant in 1966, but when federal regulations toughened, the costs were deemed too much to bare. The plant closed in 1972.<br /><br />The entire site initially became the responsibility of the state of New York. In 1961 the state had bought and leased 3,300 acres of West Valley land for atomic industrial use. The plant was first owned by a subsidiary of the W.R. Grace Company, which later sold the operation to Getty Oil. <br /><br /><strong>The Cleanup Challenge</strong><br />Hundreds of thousands of gallons of high-level radioactive liquid waste needed to be removed from underground steel storage tanks located on an eight-acre burial ground site. Another fifteen acres of burial land is also of major concern because it served as one of the nation’s six commercial burial grounds for radioactive waste. The material was buried in unlined soil trenches and included at least fourteen pounds of plutonium. Yet another burial site contained waste from the reprocessing operations at West Valley, including damaged irradiated fuel. This waste was buried in fifty-foot-deep holes.  <br /><br />Environmental activists, scientists from the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and professors from the University at Buffalo pointed out that the trenches were geologically unstable, and that ground water could be contaminated and migrate from the site. In addition, the area is situated on a fault line and is potentially susceptible to earthquakes. <br /><br />A group called The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes was formed in 1974. Some of its members specialized in technical aspects of radioactive waste disposal and health effects of radiation. The Coalition began putting pressure on the state and federal governments to have the West Valley site stabilized and cleaned up. It also fought against proposals to have additional nuclear waste material brought to the site for burial, incineration, other waste processing, or disposal. <br /><br />The Coalition played a major role in the creation of the West Valley Demonstration Project Act which was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1980. It gave the U.S. Department of Energy the responsibility to solidify the high-level waste. It also granted the D.O.E.  the authority to address the issues involved in decontaminating and decommissioning the facilities. West Valley is believed to be the only radioactive waste site in the country with its own act of Congress.  <br /><br />In 1982, the federal government took control of two hundred acres at the West Valley site, including the underground high level radioactive waste tanks, the high level waste burial grounds, and the contaminated buildings where nuclear fuel rods had been reprocessed. <br /><br />In 1985 Congress required states to assume responsibility for the storage and management of what it termed “low level” radioactive waste generated within their borders. Watchdog groups say much of this waste is “high level” and dangerous. At West Valley, New York State maintains control over the fifteen acres of “low level” burial grounds mentioned above. This area had closed in 1975 after radioactive water had filtered through an inadequate landfill cap and found its way into surrounding streams that eventually drain into Lake Erie.<br /><br />The greatest challenge to the federal government was finding a company that was capable of turning the liquid high level waste into a solid and more stable material for storage. Between 1996 and 2002, Westinghouse removed most of the high level liquid waste from the underground tanks and converted it into glass logs. It used a process known as vitrification. 275 intensely radioactive logs were formed and initially stored deep in the bowels of the reprocessing building, which helped provide shielding from the radioactivity.<br /><br />In 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy selected the company that goes by the name CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC as its contractor. Its tasks were to secure the storage of the high-level waste and to demolish the closed radioactive buildings and the underground piping. <br /><br />In order to secure the storage of what came out of the underground tanks, 275 stainless steel canisters containing the vitrified waste were placed in steel-lined giant concrete storage casks, each weighing 87 1/2 tons.<br /><br />A 16,000 square foot reinforced concrete storage pad now holds 56 casks for what is termed “long term passive storage.” The casks are certified to hold the high-level waste for fifty years. Since there is no designated national repository for high level nuclear waste, the material must remain on the grounds of the West Valley site, at least for now.<br /><br />A coalition of radioactive waste experts and concerned citizens prevented more waste from coming into West Valley and has been providing oversight of cleanup efforts since the late 1970s. As final decisions for the site are expected to be made by 2022 or 2023, critical issues of health and safety continue to be raised by these citizen watchdogs. (See File 5 of 5 in this collection for detailed concerns involving air and water contamination.)<br /> <br />In May 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy said its Office of Environmental Management “is continuing to make safe and steady progress with decommissioning activities at the West Valley Demonstration Project. <br /><br />With regard to ongoing concerns by citizen watchdog groups, the DOE statement reads, “The goal of the extensive demolition activity air and radiation monitoring program is to detect any change in radiological conditions, so that work can be slowed, modified, or even stopped to protect employees, general public and the environment.  The work is carefully planned and carried out such that all contamination is controlled within the boundaries of the demolition area. (See File 5 of 5 in this collection for the full statement by the U.S. Department of Energy.) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (WIVB-TV Graphic Arts Director)  Vetter, Tom (Editor) Schackne, Robert (CBS News Correspondent) Roberts, John (WIS-TV Columbia, South Carolina) Curtis, Bill (CBS News Morning Anchor) Costantini, Allen (WIVB-TV Reporter) Newberg, Rich (WIVB-TV Reporter) Lauder, Jay (WIVB-TV Photographer) D’Arrigo, Diane (Nuclear Information and Resource Service) Resnikoff, Marvin (Nuclear Physicist)  Hameister, Joanne (The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes)  Vaughan, Ray (The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes) Shepp, Amanda (Coordinator of Special Collections & Archives, SUNY Fredonia)  Pillittere, Joe (Communications Manager for West Valley contractor) Bower, Brian (DOE Director for West Valley Demonstration Project) Bembia, Paul (NYSERDA Director at West Valley) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1979 - 2020 Subject The topic of the resource Radioactive waste disposal in the ground -- New York (State) -- West Valley Radioactive waste sites -- New York (State) -- West Valley Reactor fuel reprocessing -- New York (State) -- West Valley Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WIVB (Television Station: Buffalo, N.Y.) Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Relation A related resource Digital Collections of the B&ECPL Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/25b67f46c79cb5e2e7b2c4203a9d68db.mp4 d4914e2194b65c4ac88c83932071fc79 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Crisis at West Valley 2 : the Community Responds Description An account of the resource <strong>1.</strong> This video file begins with a film entitled “The Story of Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing.” It was produced by Nuclear Fuel Services and describes the operation of the plant at West Valley. It describes the benefits of “unlocking the power of the atom” which “promises almost unlimited energy sources.” The plant’s mission is to reclaim the uranium and plutonium inside spent nuclear fuel rods used by atomic power plants, researchers, and test reactors throughout the United States. The material is shipped to West Valley in “ruggedly built trucks and special railroad cars.” The plant is capable of the processing of up to one ton a day of spent fuel elements.<br /><em>(Runs: 11 minutes)</em><br /><br /><strong>2.</strong> Reporter John Beard’s story of a recommendation by the New York State Department of Energy that the plant reopen as a storage facility for more spent nuclear fuel. Beard’s report includes a warning by environmentalists who say that “West Valley is a time bomb threatening to leak radioactive liquid into the soil and eventually into the waterways of Western New York.” Some local residents are in favor of the reopening, saying it would be beneficial for tax purposes and jobs. <br /><br />Dr. Marvin Resnikoff, a nuclear physicist and staff scientist to the Radioactive Waste Campaign, emerges as a major voice of opposition.<br />Those against reopening the facility as a repository call for a ban against spent fuel moving through Cattaraugus County. Congressman Stanley Lundine (D-Jamestown) says it there is “a remote possibility that the site could reopen as a federal nuclear waste storage facility. Lundine points out there is limited storage space and “seismic or environmental problems.” Researchers have determined that West Valley sits in a seismic fault zone. <br /><em>(Runs: 3:05)</em><br /><br /><strong>3.</strong> Reporter Rich Newberg’s story on more safety questions raised by area environmentalists. A former lab supervisor at Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) says there had been problems with the crane that moved the radioactive rods in the pool of water that stored them. David Pyles says there were problems stopping the crane, causing rods to “slam” into other canisters. A spokesman for NFS says he knew of no crane problems while the plant was in operation.<br /> <br />Another concern is raised about the potential for a leak in a portion of a containing wall, as described in a study commissioned by the Federal Energy Commission. The report says this could occur if there were a seismic occurrence in the area. NFS terms that a “minor” defect. Environmental scientist Ray Vaughan says it’s “absurd to talk about bringing in more fuel.”<br /><em>(Runs: 2:07)</em><br /><br /><strong>4.</strong> Reporter Rich Newberg’s story showing a petition by area residents calling for a ban on any further nuclear waste to West Valley, as well as the removal of all present nuclear waste stored at the site. <br /><br />Dairy farmer Emil Zimmerman, who owns 7 cows and 175 acres of land in West Valley, expresses his concerns. He can see the site from his farm. <br /><em>(Runs: 1:55)</em><br /><br /><strong>5.</strong> Reporter Rich Newberg’s story showing deer heading toward the low level nuclear burial site.<br />They are then seen eating grass twenty feet above radioactive waste. The New York State Department of Conservation (DEC) says its samples of deer in the area shows the animals safe for human consumption. <br /><br />However, in the early 1970s when the plant was active, state environmental officials became concerned when high levels of radioactive strontium 90 and cesium 137 were found in deer and fish. Even then, the levels were deemed not to pose an imminent danger to humans. <br /><br />Since the plant’s closing, leaks were detected in the low level burial ground area. <br /><br />Dr. Marvin Resnikoff, a nuclear physicist and staff scientist to the Radioactive Waste Campaign, says the grass where the deer were grazing is contaminated. <br /><br />Newberg reports that contaminated water will soon be drained from the site and placed in a holding pond, but that there are no plans to fence off the pond from area animals. <br /><em>(Runs: 1:47)</em><br /><br /><strong>6.</strong> Rich Newberg’s report on concerned citizens meeting to map out a strategy to fight a proposal to reopen the nuclear waste storage facility at West Valley. 82 communities in 10 states have banned the transportation of nuclear waste within their borders. The citizens against the proposal express concerns that a major accident involving a vehicle transporting nuclear waste, or an accident at the plant, could threatened the entire region. They say the environmental risks would outweigh the economic gains if the plant facility were to reopen as a storage site. <br /><em>(Runs: 1:32)</em><br /><br /><strong>7.</strong> Rich Newberg’s story on concerns by the Buffalo nuclear medical and research communities about a lack of storage space for low level nuclear waste. They support the reopening of the West Valley burial site for this type of waste. Only South Carolina and the state of Washington are accepting radioactive waste from Buffalo and other hospitals and research labs around the country. <br /><br />Dr. Monte Blau, PhD., the chairmen of the University at Buffalo Department of Nuclear Medicine (1976 - 1983) believes low level nuclear waste should be stored in the regions where they are generated. <br /><br />The use of radioactive isotopes injected into patients are able to help identify tumors in the body. Radioactive tracers have been powerful tools in fundamental studies of the nature of cancer.  <br />With South Carolina and Washington having second thoughts about accepting waste from other states,  there is a growing concern that the practice of nuclear medicine might be forced to come to a halt. <br /><em>(Runs: 1:57)</em><br /><br /><strong>8.</strong> Rich Newberg’s story on the Department of Energy assuring New York Governor Hugh Carey that the federal government will manage and pay for cleanup efforts at West Valley. However, in order for that to happen, Congress must pass a bill that environmentalists warn could lead to a reopening of the site as a nuclear storage facility. <br /><em>(Runs: 1:19)</em><br /><br /><strong>9.</strong> Rich Newberg’s story on environmentalists warning that the West Valley low level nuclear burial site has serious issues that should rule it out as a repository for future nuclear waste. They say plutonium is buried there, even though that practice was prohibited in 1977. <br /><br />They also point to leaks in the burial ground in 1975. Water, they say infiltrated the ditches where radioactive waste is stored. They say strontium 90 and plutonium should be unearthed and put in bins above ground.<br /><br />Another issue brought to light focuses on sand “lenses” discovered in a clay burial ground area.<br />Radioactive tritium was said to have migrated from the sides of trenches in 1977. <br /><br />Activists say there is inadequate monitoring of the soil composition.<br /><br />Those who favor reopening the burial grounds say it is becoming more difficult to dispose of waste from nuclear medicine. <br /><em>(Runs: 2:23)</em><br /><br /><strong>10.</strong> Rich Newberg’s story on the federal General Accounting Office (GAO) proposal for full funding of the West Valley cleanup in exchange for a reopening of the site for more nuclear waste. <br />Judith McConnell of the Sierra Club Radioactive Waste Campaign says, “that’s like sweeping up a pile of dirt and then turning around and dumping another one on the floor.”<br /><br />Governor Hugh Carey’s office says the GAO proposal carries little weight. <br /><em>(Runs: 1:58)</em><br /><br /><strong>11.</strong> Rich Newberg’s story on New York Governor Hugh Cary’s signing of a bill that sets up a five member siting board for future burial of radioactive waste. <br /><br />While he assures the public there will be no future burial of high level radioactive waste at the West Valley site, he leaves the door open for future nuclear medical waste disposal at the low level radioactive burial grounds. <br /><br />Carol Mongerson of the Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes reacts by saying, “that will never be acceptable to the people of the area.”<br /><em>(Runs: 1:47)</em><br /><br /><strong>12.</strong> WIVB-TV’s Washington D.C reporter Bob Patrick’s story on New York Governor Hugh Carey’s support of a bill sponsored by Congressman Stanley Lundine (D-Jamestown). The bill would separate the federal government’s willingness to clean up the high level nuclear waste at West Valley from the insistence by some federal energy officials that the site remain open for the disposal of more radioactive waste.  <br /><em>(Runs: 1:33)</em><br /><br /><strong>13.</strong> Rich Newberg’s report on Cattaraugus County lawmakers hearing from area residents opposed to reopening West Valley for the storage of nuclear waste. <br /><br />Dairy farmer Emil Zimmerman testifies that conditions exist where contaminated water could leak from radioactive trenches where waste is buried. He cites one such case. <br /><br />There is a speaker in favor of burying solid, low level nuclear waste at the site. He is Kenneth Dufrane, a former worker at Nuclear Fuel Services who now represents Chem-Nuclear Systems, a company interested in the site. He says the radioactive leaks are “very minor…and did not cause any kind of a problem to anyone at any time.” <br /><br />Twelve thousand petitions are signed by citizens against future burial at the site. <br /><em>(Runs: 2:00)</em><br /><br /><strong>14.</strong> Aerial and ground video of West Valley site<br /><em>(Runs: 3:29)</em> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director) Newberg, Rich (WIVB-TV Reporter) Beard, John (Reporter) Petrick, Bob (Reporter) D’Arrigo, Diane (Nuclear Information and Resource Service) Resnikoff, Marvin (Nuclear Physicist)  Ameister, Joanne (The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes)  Vaughan, Ray (The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes) Shepp, Amanda (Coordinator of Special Collections & Archives, SUNY Fredonia) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1980 Subject The topic of the resource Radioactive waste disposal in the ground -- New York (State) -- West Valley Radioactive waste sites -- New York (State) Reactor fuel reprocessing -- New York (State) -- West Valley Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WIVB (Television Station: Buffalo, N.Y.) Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource opyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Relation A related resource Digital Collections of the B&ECPL Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/2432f31c8c8e48858bf03431a0560c46.mp4 04a47842c8ea488bae013456f4632e39 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Crisis at West Valley 3 : Working Toward a Solution Description An account of the resource <strong>1.</strong> WIVB-TV reporter Bob Petrick’s interview with Rep. Stan Lundine of Jamestown. The lawmaker says three important committees in the House of Representatives have approved some sort of West Valley project. <br /><br />Now one bill has to be crafted that will be passed by the House and then the Senate. <br /><em>(Runs: 2:01) </em><br /><br /><strong>2.</strong> Shots of artwork and tee shirts representing the cause of environmentalists who are opposed to reopening West Valley for more nuclear waste. One graphic by those who are against nuclear power and weapons states, “JOIN US…FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN." A tee shirt worn by an environmental activist reads, “DON’T DUMP ON US” “MAKE THE POLLUTERS PAY.” Another tee shirt put out by the Sierra Club Radioactive Waste Campaign reads, “YOU CAN’T RUN FROM RADIOACTIVE WASTES!”<br /><br />The visuals are followed by reporter Sandy White’s interview with Judith McDonnell, a volunteer who works in the Sierra Club’s Radioactive Waste Campaign. She says thirty people are going to Washington D.C. to lobby against the McCormick bill, which calls for the siting of four high level nuclear waste repositories by the end of 1984. West Valley and the Finger Lakes region are under consideration. The bill calls for funding to come from the federal government and not the nuclear industry. <br /><br />In fighting against the bill, McDonnell says there are no provisions for local community input on where the repositories are placed. She claims it is a federal “preemption of state’s rights.” She adds the West Valley site has a history of leakage and sits on “an earthquake fault…” She says the site should “be cleaned up and closed and that nothing else should be dumped there at all.” McDonnell says two weeks earlier, nineteen people went to the nation’s capital and lobbied more than seventy congressmen. The new lobbying effort seeks to reach at least one hundred twenty congressional offices. She says, “We feel that the government should take more time, there should be more study put into the siting of a high level repository, and we also feel that the state should have something to say about where this is going to be put and how it’s going to be done.”<br /><em>(video then shows volunteers leaving for Washington)</em><br /><em>(Runs: 2:08)</em><br /><br /><strong>3.</strong> Reporter Marie Rice’s story on a radioactive spill at West Valley. Rain water had to be pumped out from a radioactive waste trench. A coupling that connected a plastic hose carrying the water from the trench to a nearby lagoon broke. About a thousand gallons of the liquid spilled onto the clay soil. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officials termed it a minor accident. <br /><br />John Spagnole, the Regional Director of the DEC says the quantity was small and the contaminated concentrations were “miniscule.” He calls it “lightly dirty water or dusty water…”<br /><br />Dr. Marvin Resnikoff, a nuclear physicist and staff scientist to the Radioactive Waste Campaign says “a large amount of radioactive material” has entered the Cattaraugus Creek watershed since 1975. He says the most recent spill is “not one isolated event…” <br /><br />The Sierra Club wants to know what has previously made its way into Edman Brook, Buttermilk Creek and Cattaraugus Creek, whose water eventually flows into Lake Erie. Water samples have been sent to Albany for analysis. <br /><em>(Runs: 1:52)</em><br /><br /><strong>4.</strong> Rich Newberg’s story on the price we pay for advanced nuclear medical technology. While nuclear medicine provides the means to help fight cancerous tumors and scan the innermost parts of the brain and other organs, the radioactive waste it generates requires special storage sites that most states don’t want to host. <br /><br />New York State Energy Commissioner James Larocca announces that the low level burial ground at West Valley “has had too many problems and is too closely identified with the rest of the facility to really be a viable option for us at this time.” <br /><em>(Runs: 1:43)</em><br /><br /><strong>5.</strong> Rich Newberg’s second story on the news conference featuring New York State Energy Commissioner James Larocca. The commissioner declares that the state will no longer consider West Valley as a site for the burial of low level nuclear waste. The decision poses a problem for Buffalo area hospitals with departments of nuclear medicine. <br /><br />Larocca also addresses the massive cleanup effort soon to take shape at West Valley, where 600,000 gallons of high level radioactive waste sits in underground steel storage tanks. He says cleanup work at West Valley will meet all state and national environmental policies and will involve the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 90% of the project, which at this time is projected to be $285 million dollars, will come from the federal government. 10% of the funding will come from the state. The federal Department of Energy is slated to take possession of the property no later than October 1, 1981. The project could last as long as 17 years according to first estimates. <br />The high level radioactive waste would be solidified into a glass like substance and ultimately removed from the site to a federal repository for permanent disposal. <br /><br />At his news conference, Larocca states, “The agreement precludes the use of West Valley for any other purpose but the solidification removal of these wastes during the conduct of this project.”<br /><em>(Runs: 1:37)</em><br /><br /><strong>6.</strong> Rich Newberg’s interview with Monte Blau, PhD, chair of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University at Buffalo (1976 - 1983). He warns that nuclear medicine and research in Buffalo might be in jeopardy if there is not a place to store its radioactive waste. He says West Valley is a “reasonable place” to put radioactive medical waste. He says nuclear medicine and research are threatened with a shut-down “within three or four months” should there be no place to deposit the radioactive waste generated by these institutions. This includes cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment. He says, “Almost every patient that comes into a hospital in the state of New York receives one radio-isotope diagnostic procedure or another.”<br /><br />In response, Dr. Marvin Resnikoff, a nuclear physicist and staff scientist to the Radioactive Waste Campaign, says the nuclear burial ground at West Valley is not in good condition. He says, “It has leaked radioactive materials…” He says over 3 million gallons of water has been pumped out of the trenches that hold low level radioactive waste. He says radioactive tritium is released into Cattaraugus Creek “and into the water intakes, in effect, for the Southtowns and from Buffalo.”<br /><br />Environmentalists have suggested that the radioactive waste be put in above-ground bunkers or buildings rather than in the ground.<br /><em>(Runs: 2:19)</em><br /><br /><strong>7.</strong> Rich Newberg’s interview with Dr. J. Steinbeck, Chief of Nuclear Medicine at the V.A. Hospital in Buffalo. He  demonstrates the use of a gamma camera on a cardiac patient. It is a procedure that relies on nuclear medicine. A radio tracer is injected into the patient, allowing the heart to be photographed during dilation and contraction. This allows a study of the heart while avoiding surgical procedures. Catheterization into the heart through an artery is not necessary. Nuclear medicine enables doctors to diagnose the presence of cancer at a much earlier stage. <br /><em>(Runs: 2:33)</em><br /><br /><strong>8.</strong> Rich Newberg’s story on a proposal by federal energy officials to reduce a $35 Million dollar cash credit to New York State to $12 Million for the cleanup of 600,000 thousand gallons of nuclear waste buried at West Valley. Jamestown Congressman Stanley Lundine, along with congressman Jack Kemp and U.S. Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Alfonse D’Amato are telling U.S. Energy Secretary James Edwards that the proposal goes against an earlier commitment he made to New York. New York State Energy Commissioner James Larocca called the reduction proposal “…another double-cross in what now seems to be a series of double-crosses.” In October 1980, President Jimmy Carter had come to Western New York to sign the federal agreement with New York to clean up West Valley.<br /><em>(Runs: 1:56)</em><br /><br /><strong>9.</strong> Rich Newberg’s second story on a proposal by federal energy officials to reduce the cash credit to New York State for the cleanup of the West Valley nuclear waste storage site. Congressman Stanley Lundine calls the situation at West Valley, “A real and present danger.” He urges the Reagan administration not to charge New York State $23 Million dollars more for the cleanup project.<br /><em>(Runs: 1:25)</em><br /><br /><strong>10.</strong> Rich Newberg’s overview of high and low level nuclear waste storage issues at West Valley. Photos include receptacles containing radioactive waste that are placed in trenches on the West Valley property. Mina Hamilton, executive director of the Sierra Club’s Radioactive Waste Campaign, says eight pounds of plutonium are buried here. Another photo includes a trench where sand lenses could be providing underground migration paths for some of the radioactive waste. Hamilton says the flaky composition of the bedrock and the sand lenses pose a major threat of migration of radioactive material. There was also a filter blowout in the stacks in 1968, two years after the plant began reprocessing spent nuclear fuel rods. <br /><br />The Sierra Club says there has been a noted increase in small amounts of radiation around the nuclear storage site. It is questionable whether the amount of radiation poses an immediate health threat to the area. State officials say they will review any new evidence gathered by the Sierra Club.<br /><em>(Runs: 1:46)</em><br /><br /><strong>11.</strong> Bill Curtis, reporting for CBS News presents the story of the small Texas town of Tulia, which is considering accepting radioactive waste from sites such as West Valley. Tulia is located on top of one of the biggest salt beds in the country. A site in Tulia is one of several being considered by the U.S. Department of Energy. Salt beds, and the volcanic rock formations of basalt and tuff are believed to be suitable for the storage of nuclear waste. Besides Tulia, the federal government is examining sites in Louisiana, Mississippi, Utah, Nevada, and Washington State. In Tulia, those in favor of accepting radioactive waste say it would create jobs. Those against say there are very real dangers attached to putting this kind of waste in an agricultural area.<br /><em>(Runs: 5:24)</em><br /><br /><strong>12.</strong> Rich Newberg’s story on federal officials addressing local residents, about five days before the U.S. government takes possession of the portion of the West Valley site that contains the reprocessing building and the burial ground licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The state continues to possess of most of the 3,300 acre site. <br /><br />Energy Department representative James Turi assures an audience of concerned citizens that, “We want to be good neighbors and we want to work with you.”<br /><br />The high level radioactive waste cleanup project will take an estimated 16 years to complete. The federal government and Westinghouse Electric Corporation will attempt to turn 600,000 gallons of radioactive liquid waste into a glass like substance which would possibly be shipped off to a federal repository still to be designated.<br /><br />Citizens Committee Chairman Peter Skinner calls for “…careful planning and public involvement from start to finish.” Westinghouse representative Ray Maison promises to keep the community “fully informed of what we’re doing and what we plan to do every step of the way.”  <br /><em>(Runs: 2:33)</em><br /><br /><strong>13.</strong> Exterior video of the West Valley facility and property.<br /><em>(Runs: 2:05)</em> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director) Newberg, Rich (WIVB-TV Reporter) Rice, Marie (WIVB-TV Reporter) Petrick, Bob (Reporter) Curtis, Bill (CBS News Reporter) D’Arrigo, Diane (Nuclear Information and Resource Service) Resnikoff, Marvin (Nuclear Physicist)  Hameister, Joanne (The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes)  Shepp, Amanda (Coordinator of Special Collections & Archives, SUNY Fredonia) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1982 Subject The topic of the resource Radioactive waste disposal in the ground -- New York (State) -- West Valley Radioactive waste sites -- New York (State) -- West Valley Reactor fuel reprocessing -- New York (State) -- West Valley Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WIVB (Television Station: Buffalo, N.Y.) Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Relation A related resource Digital Collections of the B&ECPL Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/1ecdf843efd901fd9b2f359ba5e69841.mp4 eff6b692b2733efa47bb56c367843e19 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Crisis at West Valley 4 : Cleanup Plans Take Shape Description An account of the resource <strong>1.</strong> Rich Newberg’s story documenting top U.S. energy officials assuring West Valley residents that the massive cleanup effort will be safely conducted with citizen input. The federal government takes possession of the high level nuclear waste burial grounds and the facilities there in about five days. <br />A citizens panel led by Peter Skinner is aware of “the technological difficulties of the project, the public sensitivity of the facility, and the hazards of the undertaking…” Westinghouse representative Ray Maison promises to keep the community “fully informed of what we’re doing and what we plan to do every step of the way.” <br /><br />However, dairy farmer Emil Zimmerman questions what would happen if the milk from his cows is contaminated with strontium 90. He is concerned about the livelihood of the people in the area. He wants to also know about liability should there be an accident. He says this issue should be considered as a priority as cleanup plans progress.<br /><br />There is also concern about the Reagan administration’s plans to possibly dissolve the U.S. Department of Energy. The department’s representative,Sheldon Meyers, says if there is “dismantlement,” he believes that “the various functions in the department which are mandated by law or are necessary to do, will be either distributed to other agencies or a new independent agency will be set up.”<br /><em>(Runs: 3:33)</em><br /><br /><strong>2.</strong> Reporter Rich Newberg questions Jim Duckworth, who ran the Nuclear Fuel Services plant for Getty Oil. Getty purchased the reprocessing facility from W.R. Grace Company in 1969. The first shipments of spent nuclear fuel rods at arrived in 1965, with reprocessing beginning 1966.<br /><br />A steel storage tank containing 600,000 gallons of high level liquid radioactive must be emptied and converted into a solidified, glass like substance for permanent storage.<br /><br />During an informational briefing featuring a scale model of the tank, Duckworth explains how the original safety system for high level radioactive waste was compromised. He confirms that the catch basin that sits under the steel tank has a hole in it.<br /><br />Newberg asks: “Is there a crack in the pan?”<br /><br />Answer:  “There is a hole in the pan between the pan and the vault.”<br /><br />He says there is no radioactivity outside the tank. The ‘saucer’ is supposed to be a catch basin for the tank, should there be a spill. Duckworth says “Since that system was compromised, we have put in more sensitive systems that have been approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission…”<br /><br />At the beginning of the briefing, the model is shown to be on a scale of 3/8th“ to a foot. The actual tank measures 70 feet in diameter and is 27 feet high. It sits in a “partial tank” (catch basin) about 5 feet high. It is a “cup and saucer” design. The cup and saucer are sitting in a one-foot thick concrete vault. <br /><br />The entire vault is underground sitting on four feet of gravel which is covered with 8 feet of dirt. Outside the vault, water is injected so that the entire area is saturated with liquid. If the vault should crack, Duckworth says the water would leak in. He explains that liquid level detectors are installed inside the vault and inside the pan (saucer). <br /><br />Duckworth says there is a 24 inch pipe that extends from the center of the tank up above grade. He says there is an empty spare tank beside the tank containing the waste. If a leak were detected, he says the contents would be pumped into the spare tank. <br /><br />Duckworth points out that this was the design technology in 1963. The criteria for the tank’s construction was given to the original reprocessing company by the Atomic Energy Commission.<br /><br />The tank is described as “mild steel,” which has a high resistance to breakage. Duckworth says the waste put in the tank is neutralized with “caustic” (he says it is the same chemical as oven cleaner). Caustic will not dissolve mild steel. The tank was to be replaced every 50 years. Duckworth says a  test on a piece of pipe from the tank was made in 1977 or ’78 on how much corrosion had taken place. He says it was determined that the tank could last another 400 years if the corrosion rate stayed the same. The maximum temperature of the tank was 240 degrees Fahrenheit. It is now held at 185 degrees F. He says the corrosion rate has been reduced by a factor of two. <br /><br />The principle radioactive isotopes in the tank are strontium 90 and cesium 137. They have half-lives of about 30 years. Duckworth notes the scale model is not entirely accurate regarding the piping at the base. <br /><br />Video then includes exterior shots of where the tank is stored underground as well as shots of the buildings on the site. <br /><em>(Runs: 12:55)</em><br /><br /><strong>3.</strong> Rich Newberg’s overview report on terms of the cleanup agreement at West Valley. New York State Energy Commissioner James LaRocca says the agreement “marks a new era for the federal government in assuming its responsibilities for dealing with this very very difficult problem of nuclear waste disposal.” <br /><br />90 percent of the projected $285 million dollar cost for the project will be paid by the federal government. 10 percent will be the state’s responsibility. The site is slated to be turned over to the federal government no later than October 1, 1981. The cleanup effort is projected to take 17 years. The high level liquid waste is to be turned into a glass like substance and ultimately removed to a yet unnamed federal repository for permanent storage. <br /><br />Commissioner LaRocca says “the agreement precludes the use of West Valley for any other purpose but the solidification removal of these wastes during the conduct of this project.”<br /><em>(Runs: 1:25) (November, 1980)</em><br /><br /><em>[Note: Since the original projections, the cost to clean up nuclear waste at West Valley is estimated in 2020 to be between $5 billion and $10 billion dollars. The hopes of developing a lucrative nuclear fuel reprocessing plant were dashed when the operation shut down in 1972, six years after it began. The State of New York had originally provided a loan of $32 million in 1963 to build the plant. During the course of its operation it brought in $22 million in sales.]</em><br /><br /><strong>4.</strong> The clean-up agreement at West Valley calls for Getty Oil’s Nuclear Fuel Services company to transfer ownership of the high level radioactive site to the federal government. <br /><em>(Runs: 0:37)</em><br /><br /><strong>5.</strong> Allen Costantini’s story on the transfer of the West Valley site to the federal government. U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-New York) says the high level waste cleanup effort will serve as a demonstration project for the nation. While the 600,000 gallons of high level radioactive waste will be solidified and removed from the site, there is still a question about the future placement of the highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel rods contained in canisters submerged in a pool of water. New York State Energy Commissioner James LaRocca says that issue will be addressed when a national spent fuel program is put in place.<br /><em>(Runs: 2:13)</em><br /><br /><strong>6.</strong> Rich Newberg’s story on the U.S. Senate’s vote to consider West Valleys as one of three future sites for the storage of spent nuclear fuel rods. There are 162 metric tons of those rods from nuclear power plants stored at West Valley. The bill would allow trucks to deliver radioactive waste to West Valley or the other sites under consideration in South Carolina and Illinois. U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato (R-New York) is concerned that there would be “incidents” as atomic waste is carried over the nation’s roadways. The Senate bill does not allow radioactive waste to be stored on the property of the nuclear power plants that generated the waste. <br /><em>(Runs: 1:53)</em><br /><br /><strong>7.</strong> Emil Jablonski’s story on a public relations effort by Westinghouse to educate citizens about the project to clean up and remove high level radioactive waste from the West Valley site. Ray Maison of Westinghouse gives assurances that the 600,000 thousands of high level liquid waste that will be turned into a glass like substance will not be permanently stored at the site. “No chance at all,” he says. “This is not considered a suitable site for a federal repository.” The public learns that old fuel reprocessing equipment will be decontaminated and removed, so machinery to solidify radioactive waste can be moved in.<br /><em>(Runs: 2:15)</em><br /><br /><strong>8.</strong> The final federal report on long-term management of liquid high-level radioactive wastes stored at West Valley recommends that the waste be shipped to a federal repository for permanent storage. The federal government, however, still does not have a permanent disposal sight designated. <br /><em>(Runs: 0:45)</em><br /><br /><strong>9.</strong> The future of the West Valley site is again in question when the House Energy Committee fails to stop the U.S. Department of Energy from creating radioactive waste storage sites away from nuclear power plants.<br /><br />Representative Stanley Lundine (D-Jamestown) is concerned that the Senate will view West Valley as “the most convenient dumping ground.” Representative Jack Kemp (R-Hamburg) says that he and Lundine will work to “remove any possibility of West Valley being used either temporarily or permanently as a storage ground for nuclear waste.”<br /><em>(Runs: 1:14)</em><br /><br /><strong>10.</strong> WIS-TV (Columbia, South Carolina) interview with U.S. Energy Secretary James Edwards, who serves in the Reagan administration. The interview is conducted as a facility in Barnwell, South Carolina is considering opening a privately owned nuclear reprocessing plant. It would be similar to what was once the West Valley operation. <br />Edwards says the plant at West Valley had operated successfully for four or five years and then closed down in order to upgrade the operation. He explains that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission changed the rules “in the middle of the stream on them, and they started adding more requirements and more regulations…” <br />As a result he says the company said it couldn’t afford what was being required and went out of business. Edwards adds that defense work had been done at West Valley which justifies taxpayers covering cleanup costs.<br /> <br />He said “these weapons helped keep us safe and free.” He calls sites like West Valley “little places that are thorns in our sides and thorns into the future development of nuclear energy…” He says he has “put a lot of emphasis in cleaning those up.” He goes on to say that the country will learn from West Valley because of methods that will be employed to clean up the high level radioactive waste there. <br /><em>(Runs: 3:03)</em><br /><br /><em>[Note: Dr. Marvin Resnikoff, a nuclear physicist and staff scientist to the Radioactive Waste Campaign, which fought proposals to reopen West Valley for more nuclear waste, has said upgrades to the plant in 1972 would have cost about $600 million dollars. “In the Sierra Club’s extensive petition to intervene in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s proceeding to expand the plant,” says Resnikoff, “we argued that the plant could not withstand a potential earthquake.” The new conditions that were going to be imposed on the plant required safeguards, should an earthquake occur. West Valley sits on a geological fault line. </em><br /><em>The cost to upgrade was prohibitive and Getty Oil never re-opened the nation’s only commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing plant.] </em><br /><br /><strong>11.</strong> WIS-TV (Columbia, South Carolina) reporter John Roberts series on lesson learned from the problems at the West Valley nuclear storage site. <em>(This same piece appears in the Crisis at West Valley 1 : Overview report.)</em><br /><br />Atomic power plants and the Department of Energy want to open an already built reprocessing plant for spent nuclear fuel rods in Barnwell, South Carolina. The $350 million dollar plant was built in 1976 (about six years before these reports aired). Uranium and plutonium would be extracted from the fuel rods used in nuclear reactors, and then used again. <br /><br />Critics of opening the plant point to problems at West Valley as a good reason not to allow the plant to open. <br /><br />Reporter Roberts points out that the West Valley plant closed in 1972 after operating for six years. He says the reprocessing plant had suffered $42 million dollars in losses. The costs of removing 600,000 gallons of highly radioactive liquid and sludge will cost a lot more, reports Roberts. He also shows the 163 metric tons of radioactive fuel assemblies stored at the bottom of cooling tanks at West Valley. The tanks hold 615 canisters filled with spent fuel rods. Utility companies that had sent the rods refuse to take them back. The water in the tank must be recirculated, cooled and purified in order to prevent the rods from heating the tank to 185 degrees. <br /><br />Using footage provided by WIVB-TV and gathered by reporter Rich Newberg and photographer Jay Lauder, reporter Roberts shows the start of cleanup and testing operations at West Valley. The contaminated cell where uranium was once removed is entered by radiation experts in protective gear. Roberts reports that their task is to determine the level of radioactivity lodged in the cement walls and piping. The same cell might be used to during cleanup operations when the high level radioactive liquid waste is converted into a solid glass like substance. Engineers are now predicting the cleanup at West Valley could go as high as one billion dollars. <br /><br />In the series, West Valley dairy farmer Emil Zimmerman speaks at a meeting about concerns that milk from his and other farmers’ cows could become contaminated with strontium 90. <br /><br />As South Carolina is learning about the problems at West Valley, the federal government is seeking out companies that might be interested in opening the plant at Barnwell. U.S. Energy Secretary James Edwards says the country needs plutonium for research programs. He adds that plutonium is also needed to “fire our breeder reactor.” Edwards is negotiating with a dozen companies saying the U.S. would buy the plutonium produced at Barnwell. He says reprocessing spent nuclear fuel rods could become “a viable commercial venture.” Critics say such operations would become a financial and technical failure. <br /><br />Reporter Roberts also points out potential risks to workers maintaining operations in a plant dealing with high levels of radioactive waste. He notes that the West Valley plant once “chopped up” nuclear fuel rods, dissolved them in acid, and then separated uranium and plutonium from other radioactive elements. He further notes that the work was done behind thick concrete walls and leaded glass because exposure to gamma and beta rays can cause cancer and genetic damage. <em>(This same piece appears in the Crisis at West Valley 1 : Overview report.)</em><br /><br /><strong>12.</strong> Exterior and interior video of West Valley nuclear storage site. Some off-camera narration as reporters are given a tour. Depth of pool holding spent nuclear fuel rods is 44 feet.  Caution sign reads CONTAMINATED ZONE 4  HIGH RADIATION AREA   AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVITY AREA. Line of robotic arm controls in front of glass enclosed cells. Sign: SAFETY GLASSES REQUIRED IN THIS AREA  CAUTION RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. Control room. Panel of controls.  Closeup shot of buttons to sound evacuation alarm. Fenced exterior shots of property. More exterior shots including NFS blue building. <br /><em>(Runs: 2:48)</em><br />   <br /><strong>13.</strong> Rich Newberg’s report with photographer Jay Lauder documenting the first tests conducted by Westinghouse experts inside a radioactive cell where uranium was extracted from spent fuel rods. The tests are to help establish the best techniques for preparing the facility for the task of solidifying the high level liquid radioactive waste sitting in an underground storage tank at West Valley. <em>(This same piece appears in the Crisis at West Valley 1 : Overview report.)</em><br /><br /><em>[Note: The U.S. demonstration project that formally got underway in 1981 is still in progress in the year 2020. The cleanup project could end up costing taxpayers $5 billion to $10 billion dollars.]</em> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director) Newberg, Rich (WIVB-TV Reporter) Lauder, Jay (WIVB-TV News Photographer) Costantini, Allen (WIVB-TV Reporter) Jablonski, Emil (WIVB-T Reporter) Roberts, John (WIS-TV Reporter) D’Arrigo, Diane (Nuclear Information and Resource Service) Resnikoff, Marvin (Nuclear Physicist)  Hameister, Joanne (The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes)  Vaughan, Ray (The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes) Shepp, Amanda (Coordinator of Special Collections & Archives, SUNY Fredonia) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1981 - 1982 Subject The topic of the resource Radioactive waste disposal in the ground -- New York (State) -- West Valley Radioactive waste sites -- New York (State) -- West Valley Reactor fuel reprocessing -- New York (State) -- West Valley Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WIVB (Television Station: Buffalo, N.Y.) Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Relation A related resource Digital Collections of the B&ECPL Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/d1caf9004d27c13dc75f5c3f1d0f3c36.mp4 f291186cc63589086b0e42700ef51a3f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Crisis at West Valley 5 : Present and Future Concerns Subject The topic of the resource Radioactive waste disposal in the ground -- New York (State) -- West Valley Radioactive waste sites -- New York (State) -- West Valley Reactor fuel reprocessing -- New York (State) -- West Valley Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WIVB (Television Station: Buffalo, N.Y.) Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Relation A related resource Digital Collections of the B&ECPL Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Description An account of the resource The following videos show progress made in cleaning up the West Valley radioactive waste site. They include the solidification of the high level liquid waste that had been in underground tanks and the demolition of contaminated buildings. They also include the on-site storage of high and low level radioactive waste and the removal of some of this waste from the site.<br /><br /> Since the mid-1970s citizen watchdog groups including experts in the field of nuclear waste have expressed concern about the health, safety and environmental issues involved in the storage and management of nuclear waste at West Valley as well as the subsequent efforts to clean up the site. <br /><br />In 2020, decisions still must be made on how much nuclear waste can be left in trenches, holes, tanks and the below-ground portion of the building that once reprocessed spent nuclear fuel rods. <br /><br />Watchdog groups continue to express concerns that the site itself is on rapidly eroding plateaus surrounded by creeks that drain through the Seneca Nation of Indians into Lake Erie. They warn that there is a potential for this erosion to reach the underground nuclear waste and release long-lasting dangerous radioactive materials into the Great Lakes. <br /><br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>VIDEOS</strong> </span><br /><br /><strong>1. Huge steel lined concrete casks provide on-site storage of high level radioactive glass logs converted from liquid waste at West Valley.</strong> <br />56 casks holding the high level waste are stored above ground on the property of the West Valley Demonstration Project site. They sit on a reinforced concrete slab until they can be shipped out to a national nuclear waste repository yet to be named. The casks each hold five canisters containing the glass logs which will remain highly radioactive for thousands of years. Each cask weights close to 90 tons. The high level waste needed to be removed from the plant at West Valley so building demolition could take place. <br /><em><strong>[“HLW Progress Video” produced by DOE contractor CH2M HILL BWXT WEST VALLEY, LLC. ; 7/7/2016 ; Runs: 1:58]</strong> </em><br /><br /><strong>2. Transporting highly radioactive building material from West Valley to Texas.</strong> <br />When U.S. Department of Energy Took over West Valley site it had to solidify 600,000 gallons of high level radioactive waste. The process, called vitrification, turned the liquid into glass like rods. While the solidified high level waste is still stored on-site at West Valley, the equipment used for the vitrification process then had to be safely packaged and disposed of off site. Each of three vessels containing highly radioactive dismantled parts from the “Melter” were loaded onto special trailers with 130 tires. They were then transported from West Valley, through neighborhoods, to the rail yard in Blasdell, New York. The giant containers were then taken by rail to waste control specialists at a site in Andrews, Texas. <br /><em><strong>[“Melter Shipment “ Video” produced by DOE contractor CH2M HILL BWXT WEST VALLEY, LLC. ; 12/14/2016 ; Runs: 3:57]</strong> </em><br /><br /><strong>3. Resident records radioactive waste from West Valley rolling through his neighborhood.</strong> <br />A citizen reacts to a huge vessel containing dismantled parts from the “Melter” being transported through his neighborhood. He provides a short narrative along with what he captures on video. <br /><em><strong>[Posted on YouTube by “Robert” ; October 26, 2016 ; Runs: 1:36]</strong> </em><br /><br /><strong>4. Second radioactive waste transport video posted on YouTube by “Robert”.</strong> <br />A week after recording the first transport of radioactive waste through his neighborhood, “Robert” posts a second video showing how the special trailer carrying its radioactive load, negotiates the crossing over railroad tracks. <br /><em><strong>[November 2, 2016 ; Runs: 2:33]</strong> </em><br /><br /><strong>5. Demolition of radioactive buildings begin at West Valley.</strong> <br />Demolishing the building where high level liquid radioactive waste was turned into a glass like substance - This radiological demolition requires continuous monitoring and specialized equipment. Continuous air monitors provide a real time read out for the protection of personnel on-site as well as the public and the environment. Citizen watchdog groups have strongly recommended that real time off-site monitoring of the air take place when demolition of the Main Processing Building is carried out. (See Requests by Citizen Watchdog Groups below.) <br /><em><strong>[“VIT DEMO V4” produced by DOE contractor CH2M HILL BWXT, WEST VALLEY, LLC. ; 12/19/2017 ; Runs: 4:28]</strong> </em><br /><br /><strong>6. The decisions that will impact generations to come.</strong> <br />This presentation produced by Diane D’Arrigo summarizes concerns by citizen watchdog groups and environmental experts who have been tracking developments at the West Valley nuclear waste site since the mid-1970s. Using original photographs and graphics, she presents the history of radioactive wastes at the site and concerns about the present and future storage of this hazardous material. Ms. D’Arrigo is a native of Western New York who now serves as the Radioactive Waste Project Director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS). She has been with NIRS since 1986 and has a degree in chemistry and environmental studies as well as work experience in analytical chemistry and biological research. <br /><em><strong>[NARRATED SLIDE PRESENTATION produced by Diane D’Arrigo, Radioactive Waste Project Director/Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) ; 5/18/2020 ; Runs: 20:25]</strong></em> <br /><br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Request by Citizen Watchdog Groups</strong> </span><br /><br />In 2006 the West Valley Action Network was created, comprised of local, state, regional, and international organizations. This network is pushing for a full cleanup of the West Valley nuclear waste site as soon as possible. It is providing public oversight for demolition, cleanup, and storage operations. <br /><br />The state and federal governments have commissioned a $4.3 million-dollar assessment study to determine the best way to proceed for the final cleanup phase. The study could take two to three more years to complete (2022-2023). <br /><br />As final plans are made, the Action Network is insisting on full disclosure of all information and assumptions used by the Department of Energy and the New York Energy Research and Development Authority to make decisions. The Network has also requested that a searchable electronic library be created to facilitate independent review of details. <br /><br />The next big physical challenge as of 2020 is the demolition of the main building where the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel rods took place from 1966 to 1972. The Action Network has called for the U.S. Department of Energy to provide the region with comprehensive real-time monitoring and reporting of the air — before, during, and after the demolition of the highly contaminated Main Plant Processing Building. <br /><br />One of the Action Network organizations, The Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), has issued warnings about the potential spread of radioactivity in the air and water downstream and downwind of the West Valley site. NIRS is an activist organization that supports renewable energy and opposes nuclear power. <br /><br />Diane D’Arrigo, a Western New York native who serves as the Radioactive Waste Director for NIRS, says the Main Plant Building may be “the most intensely radioactive building in the nuclear power and weapons fuel chain…” She points out that the D.O.E. and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the state agency responsible for the fifteen-acre burial site, “refuse to monitor offsite in real time…” She says, “The general population and local government officials are entitled to know if radioactivity has contaminated the air as the massive cleanup effort continues.” <br /><br />D’Arrigo warns that “some of the radioactivity from the West Valley site will stay radioactive for hundreds, thousands, millions of years--so the contamination is irreversible. Some long-lasting radioactivity from West Valley operations between 1966 and 1972 has been detected throughout Western New York on land and in water as far as Lake Ontario.” <br /><br />During the time the plant was active, there was a spill in the basement. Strontium 90, among many radioactive isotopes, made their way from the basement into the ground water. A radioactive plume is now a quarter of a mile long. The Department of Energy has used Zeolite, a special kind of clay, to absorb the radioactive material. This “interceptor wall” is 900 feet long and 20 feet deep. However, Joanne Hameister, a research analyst who has spent forty years representing the public’s interest at West Valley, notes that water has a way of rerouting itself. She believes removing the source of the leaking Strontium and the contaminated soil would be a better solution, although very costly. <br /><br />“If the plume keeps on moving,” she says, “it can hit a bunch of creeks. That plateau is loaded with creeks. They all lead into Buttermilk Creek, which drains into Cattaraugus Creek, which drains into Lake Erie. That is right around the corner from Sturgeon Point, where Erie County gets its water. Strontium 90 takes three hundred years to decay to levels that are more difficult to detect. <br /><br />Right now, there are no plans to remove the earth or massive network of pipes under the Main Processing Building when demolition is carried out. Hameister says she is also concerned about the workers who will take part in the project. “That place is hot. There has to be a lot of worker protection.” She also wants assurances there will be some kind of protective covering over the building while it is being dismantled. “They’ll be chopping up walls,” she says. “They have to monitor the excursion from the site during that process. You just don’t want that stuff flying around.” <br /><br />In addition, there is concern that soil erosion resulting from floods in 2009 is making its way closer to the trenches where radioactive waste is buried. Future flooding, say members of the West Valley Action Network, could potentially threaten releases of radioactive elements into brooks and creeks that eventually feed into Lake Erie. <br /><br />The Department of Energy installed an “armor wall” in 2019 to slow down the erosion. Hameister says the wall was installed without public input, which she says was a violation of the legal agreement between the Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes and the Department of Energy. She questions whether there might be other issues to which the public isn’t aware. <br /><br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Response by U.S. Department of Energy</strong> </span><em><strong>(5/8/2020) Brian Bower/West Valley Demonstration Project Director, DOE</strong></em> <br /><br />The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management is continuing to make safe and steady progress with decommissioning activities at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP). After successfully completing the solidification of 600,000 gallons of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) liquid into a highly durable glass material in 2006, the focus of the Project shifted to removing the old, highly contaminated reprocessing facilities and the facilities used in the solidification of the HLW. In 2018, DOE safely completed the demolition of the Vitrification Facility, a 50-foot tall, 10,000 square foot nuclear facility where the HLW was converted into glass. The demolition of the Vitrification Facility represented the largest and most complex demolition of a radioactively contaminated facility at the WVDP to date. Prior to that, the Department demolished the site’s 01-14 Building, a former building that treated processed off-gases from the Vitrification Facility and a number of support facilities. <br /><br />DOE is now preparing to embark on the demolition of the Main Plant Process Building (MPPB), the central facility used in the commercial spent nuclear fuel reprocessing operation. This facility is the largest and most contaminated building on the site. In preparing the MPPB for demolition, the Department of Energy removed a number of contaminated support facilities surrounding the MPPB, and completed extensive deactivation work inside the highly reinforced building before beginning the carefully planned, controlled and monitored demolition activity. The agency has also demolished over 40 additional site facilities and upgraded the site’s infrastructure to support the work, including the water supply, gas supply and distribution, electric service, and IT systems. <br /><br />Radiological, industrial, and environmental safety are foremost considerations in planning and executing demolition of the MPPB. The work planning process for the demolition of the MPPB brought to bear the extensive experience of the site’s workforce, industry best practices and lessons learned from the demolition of the Vitrification Facility and similar facilities across the country. Throughout the demolition work, onsite activities will be monitored and controlled in real-time to ensure worker, public and environmental safety. <br /><br />The Environmental Monitoring Program at the West Valley Demonstration Project has been part of the ongoing cleanup efforts since the beginning of the Project in 1982. The monitoring program includes sampling to evaluate the surface water, groundwater and air. Along with demolition air and radiation monitoring, on-site and off-site air, surface water, drinking water, sediment, soil, venison (deer), fish, milk, and food crop samples will be collected before, during, and after demolition. <br /><br />The goal of the extensive demolition activity air and radiation monitoring program is to detect any change in radiological conditions, so that work can be slowed, modified, or even stopped to protect employees, general public and the environment. The work is carefully planned and carried out such that all contamination is controlled within the boundaries of the demolition area. <br /><br />As DOE begins another important phase of the WVDP’s work at West Valley, we welcome all interested members of the public to attend our Quarterly Public Meetings and Citizen Task Force meetings to ask questions and hear about progress on this very important work. Site background information and all environmental information can also be found on the WVDP website at <a href="http://www.wv.doe.gov" title="http://www.wv.doe.gov">http://www.wv.doe.gov</a>. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (WIVB-TV Graphic Arts Director)  Vetter, Tom (Editor) Newberg, Rich (WIVB-TV Reporter) D’Arrigo, Diane (Nuclear Information and Resource Service) Resnikoff, Marvin (Nuclear Physicist)  Hameister, Joanne (The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes)  Vaughan, Ray (The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes) Shepp, Amanda (Coordinator of Special Collections & Archives, SUNY Fredonia)  Pillittere, Joe (Communications Manager for West Valley contractor) Bower, Brian (DOE Director for West Valley Demonstration Project) Bembia, Paul (NYSERDA Director at West Valley) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1979 - 2020 Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/a1b4c95ac6c8ce5d30286bbebd217651.mp4 30be06e5f1c97527b3fad0a4a5912383 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound All the breaking news that we are following tonight Clarence Center, a plane unknown what type of plane has crashed tonight into a home on Long Street in Price Center. And it is a commercial plane and be the first time in the history of the Buffalo Niagara airport that we've had a plane crash of a commercial flight here. News four's Lisa Flynn is live right now in Clarence center with new information right now Lisa Jackie it appears to be just that I've just spoken to a representative from New York State Police. He's standing right at the scene. He confirms for me that it was a large jetliner that crashed with 5060 people on board. He says that jetliner is fully involved as is the home. I also spoke to Trisha Cruz who was able to get right to the scene and she said it crashed right near the Clarence center fire hall which is right on Clarence center road and that's exactly what we were told that it was in that area. Now, Trisha tells me that the whole area is filled with a thick smoke. We could barely see anything. So there are dozens of emergency vehicles that have responded to the scene. Firefighters trying to put out the blades. But we have been told again it was a large commercial jetliner that crashed over there. With 50 to 60 people on board their fate is not known. To what's right now but it doesn't sound good out there. Dan and Jackie. Are residents this was a traumatic experience as you can imagine. As far as Rob Mac I was spoke with people who live near the spot where flight 3407 went down Fire fighters spent the night at the crash scene spraying water and foam on the wreckage. You can see large pieces of the plane on top of and behind the level house on Long Street in Clarence center. Sam ... lives about a block away and heard an unusually loud engine noise. I knew some was up and I thought to myself What about plane crashes and right when I saw that I heard a huge explosion over there. And in my periphery I saw like the window I saw the orange. The orange flash and I knew a plane crash. Sam rushed to the scene because he knows the people who live next door to the house the plane hit you can feel the heat already very hot. It was very bright. The flames were very... Shirley Hammond lives at the corner of long and Naples. She was doing a puzzle. She heard the noise and then she came to her window and couldn't believe what she saw and heard this awful noise I went over to the kitchen window and I think that noise and the light coming down and all of a sudden me I went bang fire and I yelled to my husband I just get out of bed. I said the plane came in originally thought the plane crashed in her yard and the magnitude of this crash didn't hit her until much later. I thought maybe it was a little small plane. And then they tell me it's a big one. I don't think I want my daughter come back from Florida. Even as firefighters continue their efforts, investigators wasted no time getting here to begin their search for answers. In Clarence center. Rob Macco us for fear immeasurable heartbreak. How did it happen? And we've already done some initial analysis and auditions those recordings Why did flight 3407 fall from the sky? And good evening. No one ever expected it to happen here but it did. 50 lives lost in that fiery disaster. And the search for answers has only just begun. We begin our live team coverage tonight with news for investigative reporter Luke Moretti in Clarence. Now, Lou, at least that's right. Federal investigators arrived in the Buffalo area around 830 this morning and the first order of business get the black box recorders and start piecing the puzzle together. Wow, something went terribly wrong five miles from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport This aircraft was five miles out. All of a sudden we have always thought that aircraft continental flight 3407 fell off the radar screen on final approach crashing into a home and Clarence sounded like the plane like the engine was like sputtering and then next you know just kind of like cut out you can hear just like a big ball of flame. 50 people died 49 on board and Doug Wielinsky who was in his Clarence home when the plane came crashing down. His wife Karen and their daughter Jill escaped the home with minor injuries. Hours later, federal investigators recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders entertaining conversations that crew was having leading up to a buffalo landing. Say we're talking about significant ice buildup on the windshield and on the leading edge of the wings. Investigators say that the icing button was selected but it's unclear if it actually worked. Then one minute before the end of the recording the landing gear goes down the airplane experienced severe pitch and roll moments. We saw that on the flight data recorder not normal says the NTSB Steve .. remember they're setting up to land. So you would expect the airplane to be flying nice and smooth landing configuration getting slower and slower so they couldn't get down to the landing speed and flying straight and level. Meanwhile, Buffalo FBI agents continue assisting with evidence gathering and recovery. They're still does not appear to be anything through our interviews that we've gleaned that would indicate at this time that there is any criminal activity involved or anything else to that matter. In the coming days. The Erie County Medical Examiner's Office will be working to recover the remains of victims from the Clarence crash site. Health Commissioner Dr. Anthony Billitier says it could take weeks and require DNA matching part of what we all need is to obtain DNA from family members and any DNA that may exist from the victims from the past or life back here and Clarence the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office is providing daily briefings for family members in an effort to answer their questions and hopefully provide some comfort. In the meantime, the FBI is asking anyone with information about the crash to call them at 71685678 800 That's 7168567 810 20 Tonight, and just a few minutes from now will mark 24 hours since the crash and the Erie County Sheriff's Office is going to conduct a minute of silence to mark this tragic event. recovery phase of this continues first thing in the morning. We're live in Clarence tonight, Luke Moretti for the 10 o'clock Yeah. All right, thanks. Well, a normal night at home instantly turned into a nightmare for the family inside the house the plane barrel into and tonight we're about to hear from the wife and mother who made it out alive. I happen to notice a little light on the right of need. That tiny bit of light was Karen Wielinsky ray of hope she has survived the impact of the plane striking your Longstreet home and Clarence center. Taryn told WBEN radio how she got out and then just kind of pushed what was the part of that often sold out the hole? Karen's 22 year old daughter Jill was upstairs in the front of the house when the plane hit she to miraculously survived and found an opening and when I got her I mean of course she wanted to know where duck was. I didn't know. And to me, it looks like the plane just came down in the middle of the house. And unfortunately, that's where Doug was. Karen's husband, 61 year old Doug Wielinsky did not make it out. Karen says Doug was in the dining room working then his beloved sports memorabilia when the plane hit the woolen skis are well known in the Clarence School District, where Karen's a secretary, dog and engineer is a Vietnam veteran who frequently came to the school to do lectures on Vietnam. When students were always enthralled. There is like, just a vibrant person. As we told you, the families of those lost in the crash of Flight 3407 knew the crash site for the first time yesterday. senior correspondent rich Newberg talk with the parents with 34 year old Jennifer Neal, who was expecting her first child. He joins us now live from Clarence. Well, the Neil family has shown extraordinary courage during these trying times. Jim Neil has reached out to so many others it's part of his way of dealing with the pain. We thank the Lord for the faith keeps kind of keeps us glued together. It was the faith of Jim and Mary Neal that helped them stay strong when they visited the crash site of flight 3407 on Monday. Their daughter Jennifer, six months pregnant perished in the crash. Her fiancé Todd Ecker said he needed to go to the site and the family accompanied him just to have seen the site I think maybe most important and to promote a type of closure. There was heavy lifting a plane parts and sounds you would hear at a construction site. But Jim Neil was focused on first responders and uniformed officers and the dignity they showed the families it was hard for him to talk about it. I don't know if it will get through it. But it's unbelievable. The face of God is everywhere. at the crash site, Jim Neil wanted to reach out to everyone and try to help ease their pain and sacred ground. There are 50 people that I prayed for, even though I'm one of them, but they needed and the security people needed hugs he said Jim Neill wanted to have them on and the families as a group and thanked all of the agencies involved for the respect and the dignity they have shown. Reporting live in Clarence Rich Newburgh news for at five. For the families that have visited the crash site talking about that experience can be very painful with the parents of Jennifer Neal who was expecting her first child or learning leaning their fate to pull them through. senior correspondent rich Newberg is live tonight in Clarence with their story rich. Well, Jim Neill has reached out to all the families and even first responders right from the beginning because helping others seems to help him deal with his loss. Amid the flowers and confusion of the crash site, there was the father of gender for meal rain, not only for the soul of his daughter, but for everyone around him as well. It's sacred ground. There are 50 people here that I prayed for, even though I'm one of them, but they needed. Governor David Paterson was struck by Jim Neal's outreach the day after the crash when the governor met with the families was walking around consoling the families of the other loved ones that were lost, and we ended up learning that he was actually someone who had lost his daughter, a daughter. Who couldn't wait to be a new mother, a woman with a sense of humor and a sense of compassion. at the crash site. Her father was comforted by those around him and in some way wanted to return the feeling. There must have been a couple of 100 state police and sheriff there and I wanted to hug them all but you can. Well, Jim Neil says faith is the glue that has held his family together and all the families of bank all the agencies that responded the way they did with dignity and respect. Reporting live from parents rich Newberg news four and six. Sharon's Jonah and Jake suddenly left without a mother lit a candle in her memory and 1000 people in mourning try to hold on to the image of Susan Whaley, the spirited and spiritual woman with a contagious smile. We still see Susan in our mind's eye we see her magnificent face smile or bouncing curly hair. As the daughter of Holocaust survivors Cantor Susan Whaley reached out with a one world view to all generations especially the young and had developed a program for Jewish Muslim and Christian youth so they could discover what they had in common. Not one thing that's been untouched at a loss or every one of us has been touched by Susan spirit, her home and her outreach for peace among us all. And this service was filled with music many of the songs Susan would say, to inspire others to make a difference in the world. Honor Susan by kindling your own lane, which Kindles that farewell you made your mark and all here today are your witnesses. Rich Newberg news four One week after the tragedy the parents of Ellyce Kausner are sharing memories of their daughter. They sat down today with senior correspondent rich Newberg. It just feels so incomplete without her Ellyce Kausner was a child who blazed her own path in life. She was on her way to a law degree and was always ready to take anyone on in a verbal sparring match. He would spark some controversy or say some outrageous thing that would get us all laughing and she had a passion for a life a love of animals and found great joy and sharing good times with her for nephews and a niece knowing those times are gone forever. Adds to the pain for Ellie sister. overwhelming grief that they will not have her. There is so much love that is that I feel like as has been stripped away from them. Ellie's brother Chris was among the first people at the scene of the crash and found the courage to tell his family and the community what had just happened. But a week later, Chris is having problems dealing with that moment. The whole part where she dies in a fiery plane crash in our backyard. On national news. I cannot get my head around that. Ellie's Father John remembers the last minutes with his daughter his last minute decision to have lunch with her down in Florida six days before the crash even though he was busy and running late. She looked at me with a really nice and bright smiles and I love you guys and I love you honey. I'll see you soon. Kids turn until we left and that was a great memory for me. Take a moment to tell those you love how you feel about them said John Klausner adding you just never know. Rich Newberg News Four we first heard about the loss of Ellyce from her brother on that terrible night a week ago tonight. The family talk with senior correspondent rich Newberg about Ellyce live saying she packed a lot into her 24 years heading for a law degree and hoping someday to raise a family. Their family was close knit and her father remembers his last minutes with Ellie when he made time to have lunch with her. She looked really nice and bright smile and said, I love you dearly. And I said I love you honey. I'll see you soon. kissed her and that's how we left and that was a great memory for me. Tell them you love them says John never take a moment he says adding you just never know. You can see Rich's entire interview with the Kausner Family on our website@wib.com we all remember the crash of Flight 30 4072 and a half months ago. That's right. Tonight...takes us on an emotional journey with a widow who visited the crash site today for the very first time. The neighborhood is quiet. The sky is blue. And for Jennifer West. It's the very first time she's been to the flight 34 07 crash site in Clarence center it almost looks like nothing happened. Exactly. Exactly. it in a way that's spoken in a way that I don't want to forget and that's why I think a Park would be really nice. Husband Ernie West a Northrop Grumman employee was on the ill fated plane. Now Jennifer is left caring for their two year old daughter's summer. She can't help but think of her husband's last moments. Can you imagine this break? Darren Tolsma also a Northrop Grumman employee died in the crash. He survived by his wife Robin and their two children Darren and Nicky. Both wives have become very close since suffering such a profound loss. Robin postman says visiting the site it says some comfort from the pain we try so hard to like fool ourselves into thinking that they're like their own business trip still and that they're gonna come home. You know, that's how we sometimes get through the day. Almost. It's a denial thing. Yeah, very much because we didn't get to see them and say goodbye. The crash site on Long Street remains empty. Much like Robin and Jennifer feel inside. They take stones from the ground, a way of finding something that was lost in this neighborhood. So many questions, never knowing I don't know what additional ones I don't know anything I just know that he's not here. Next month, the National Transportation Safety Board will hold hearings on the plane crash. Family members who lost loved ones are hoping to get some answers the truth about what happened. Robin and Jennifer say they will lean on each other to get through it. Luke Moretti news for if we had known say when Captain Renslow was in training that we had falsified his application and left off to fail check rides he would have been immediately dismissed. Good evening, federal investigators are now questioning whether long commutes low pay and a misleading job application may have all added up to disaster in the cockpit of flight 3407 A second day of NTSB hearing shifted to the backgrounds of both the captain and his first officer. Tonight. We do though that first officer Rebecca Shaw made a base salary of just over $16,000 a year. She flew from Seattle to Newark the night before the crash and was often seen sleeping overnight in the crew room, and that's against company policy. Investigative reporter Luke Moretti is in Washington tonight low pay and long commutes are what investigators focused in on during day two of the crash. Erin's one NTSB board member called it a recipe for disaster. In the case of flight 34 07 Full pilot Rebecca Shaw was paid a salary solo about $16,000 a year she worked a second job at one point I can't believe it my son will be starting off more than intern with a two year degree and and and the first officer also worked at a coffee house as well as flying the aircraft that's ridiculous. And Shaw may have been suffering from .. for having to commute to her job in New Jersey from her home in Seattle. When we get on a plane every time every one of us gets on the plane. We think that's a Top Gun pilot that Toronto that's flying this plane. And this testimony we hear that that's not always the case being wild. Colgan air executives were peppered with questions about the thoroughness of background checks for prospective pilots. Captain Marvin Renslow According to testimony, failed pre check rides or pilot tests before Hogan hired them. If we had known say when Captain Renzo was in training, we had falsified his application and left off to fail check rides, he would have been immediately dismissed. Colgan officials acknowledge that rents low and Shaw were not paying close attention to the planes instruments and did not follow airline procedures for responding to his stall. I asked the National Transportation Safety board's acting chairman, how that fits into the agency's investigation. That's what resulted in the accident. But this accident may have begun. The events that created the accidents may have this Act may have gotten not just an hour or two or three before, but maybe days, maybe months, maybe even years. Family members of flight 34 07 crash victims we're back on Capitol Hill once again, as he helped make air travel safer in Washington loop. My resume is four. Day three of the National Transportation Safety board's hearing wrapped up here in Washington DC. Once again pilot training was the focus. Federal investigators dig for answered on this last day of hearings in the Colgan air crash or questions about what the crew did not do think this crew went from complacency to catastrophe in 30 seconds and they didn't see it coming. 50 people died in Clarence Center when a plane stalled and crashed. According to testimony Captain Marvin run slow pull the nose up when he should have done the opposite. In this case, I don't see any evidence that he ever understood the situation some NTSB board members expressed frustration in the way the FAA deals with the agency's safety recommendations. Ask for changes based on accidents based on serious situations. And the fact is, change doesn't really happen. We have to have a collaborative process in place to work because it's not an issue that can be solved. solely from directing family members of crash victims listen to three days of testimony detailing all that went wrong. The bottom line is they weren't trained to handle the situation they were told. She by her own record said she'd never seen it before that is unimaginable their week in Washington brought a lot of pain and watched an animation of the last moments of the flight on a big screen. They read the cockpit voice recorder transcript as disturbing as it was, but they had each other get through a scene with all the other families. That a huge comfort for me. It really has there's no one who can understand what we're going through except for families. It could be months before the NTSB releases an official cause of the crash and Clarence Center. The meantime a Senate subcommittee on aviation announced today that it will hold hearings next month to regional airlines safe in Washington move correct news. National Transportation Safety Board reveals the probable cause of the crash of white burden 407. Almost one year after the tragedy and crime center federal investigators blamed pilot error and claim the FAA has failed to address critical problems allowing history to repeat itself at the expense of many lives. And it's the same thing over and over again. We have made recommendations time after time after time they have not been heated by the FAA are good evening to you the NTSB says complacency and critical failures by the pilots apply for the pool seven lead to catastrophe. Today in Washington investigators say weather did not cause the crash, but rather a captain Marvin Renslow became startled and confused with a plane Stick Shaker activated. Investigators also pointed out critical errors in the final seconds of flight saying happened Red Bull is the exact opposite of what he should have done to recover from a stall. The hearing also citing unnecessary pocket conversation and cell phone use. Colgan air pilot training is being questioned along with the FAA in response to safety recommendations. That will begin our extensive team coverage tonight with us or senior correspondent which neighbor who's joining us live tonight from Washington. Good evening rich. Hello Jackie. Well, the problems that caused the crash of Flight 3407 are not new and that is hard for families to hear. But western New York families who lost loved ones are getting a lot of help in their fight to bring about change. It was an emotional start for some families of crash victims that had not seen the video simulation of flight 3407 going out of control I just can't imagine the fear that everyone felt. And I'm glad I watched it because I want to be with Him in every moment. Fear brought on after the Colgan pilots mishandled the warning says the NTSB that the plane was about to stall the appropriate response to the stall a response that may have reflected inadequate training by Colgan air on the prevention and recovery of full stalls should Colgan have been training full stalls in the simulator. Yes or no? Yes. And in the airline industry, it isn't saying its speed is like and clearly the reason this thing went down is they weren't monitored vigorously. The NTSB has more than 20 safety recommendations for the FAA, including areas of pilot performance training and fatigue issues that we've seen time and time again. And unfortunately, it's taking 50 more lives for us to focus additional attention on these issues that have not been addressed. The FAA slow response to change has been frustrating for these families and their supporters, including the co pilot who helped land a plane on the Hudson it's been a year now since this accident, and absolutely nothing has changed. We've got nothing but rhetoric and studies and talk from the FAA. The families are insisting on 1500 hours of flight training or regional airline islands. Jennifer West brought a rock from the crash site and an angel carrying the name Becky, for the mother of 3407. copilot Rebecca Shaw is to let her know that we know she's going through the same pain of losing a daughter and that you know we stand behind her. The NTSB has more than 20 safety recommendations for the FAA, including areas of pilot performance training and fatigue issues that we've seen time and time again, and unfortunately, it's taken 50 more lives for us to focus additional attention on these issues that have not been addressed. The FAA slow response to change has been frustrating for these families and their supporters, including the co pilot who help land a plane on the Hudson. It's been a year now since this accident and absolutely nothing has changed. We've got nothing but rhetoric and studies and talk from the FAA. The families are insisting on 1500 hours of flight training for regional airline miles. Jennifer West brought our rock from the crash site, and an angel carrying the name Becky, for the mother of 3407 co pilot Rebecca Shaw is to let her know that we know she's going through the same pain of losing a daughter and that you know, we stand behind her. I just want to say to the families and the friends who lost people, literal families and sorry for their loss are now coming up at 530 The Safety Board Chairman talks about the families many from the Buffalo area and the role that they are playing in trying to move the FAA into action. Reporting live in Washington which Newburgh news for at five buffalo families are relentless longing for reform and claim it some are claiming that there's been a death year at higher levels at the FAA level. I have to tell you, the families in this accident have been simply amazing. We have seen some incredible grace come out of people who've gone through the worst experience of their life, to really come together and try to determine if there's anything that's good that could come from this. It's to make sure that no one has to go through what they went through. They have been a strong voice. They have been aggressive. They've been educated on the issues. And they've been a great help to the Safety Board as we try to focus attention on issues related to this accident. Today's finding cited fatal mistakes at a point when every second counted. US for investigative reporter we have the next layer of our team coverage tonight. Will Jackie errors by the pilots not icing that's the word from federal investigators who have spent nearly a year examining the crash of Flight 34 07. Today's report described the startled crew reacting improperly. pilot error tops the list of factors and the crash must always know what her speech are at all the time. Federal investigators say Captain Marvin wrens low and first officer Rebecca Shaw did not take action as the plane's airspeed slowed his failure to make standard ...s for even a declarative statement associated with recovery it can further suggest that he was not responding to the situation using the Welborn habit pattern. They even entered contradictory Speed Warning information into the cockpit computer before takeoff according to NTSB stat. In the final seconds of the flight, the plane Stick Shaker warning of a stall activated, there was adequate time for the food to take action before the stick shaker that was followed by the plane stick pusher that points the plane's nose down during his stall investigators say Captain Rennes lo made the wrong decision by pulling back on the stick. He did it not once but three times. The captain's improper flight controller was for instead consistent with startle and confusion. Last year news for flew with test pilots from Cal spans Niagara Falls operation they showed us what it's like when the stick shaker and pusher activate a shaker. Notice I can come in and out of the shaker all I want. Investigators say First Officers shots should have stepped in to take action before the situation was not recoverable. I do think there was time it wasn't just a split second thing I think this is a fairly large stable spray wing airplane. There was time to evaluate the situation and take recovery. Another issue involves the non essential talk between the pilots during the flight from Newark to Buffalo board member Robert some wall an airline captain for more than 20 years summed it up this way. It was as if the flight was just a means for the captain to conduct a conversation with this young first officer. Now Colgan air which operated the flight for Continental was also criticized for not giving Renzo remedial attention. Despite his failures on several check rides. The company said in a statement that the pilots were properly trained and how to recover from a stall. Luke Moretti News Four Well family is unable to make it to Washington for today's hearing are relying on each other to remain strong as more answers are revealed. Use for His glory Schultz is live from the Millennium hotel and she grew up with tonight Laurie? Well Jackie right now there's a 10 minute break so you can see the doors to the Cleveland room are open and that's where family members have been watching the hearing via satellite here. At the millennium. It's been a long emotional day for all of them, including a clearance mom who lost her husband and her home in the crash. This is something that happened at my house and that's her. Karen Wielinsky can easily recall the night flight 3407 crashed and her clearance home She not only lost her husband, she and her daughter survived. I don't know that right off I know. It's rough rough for my girls to go down and see the flight Wielinski in about 30 family members whose loved ones perished in the crash watch the hearings via satellite at the Millennium Hotel. Shannon Green's husband Brad was on that flight. His wedding band was retrieved she wears it around her neck of the water. So it's my husband. She's pushing for mandated legislation regarding pilot training. Captain to me means a leader and somebody ready to go ready to leave. And I'm disappointed and I guess I expect more from the industry. Michael ... you know hopes the FAA listens to the recommendations. His wife Dawn was killed on that flight. It is a great opportunity. But I'm not all that confident that changes will be made. The aviation industry is lobbying hard changes from being made, but the 3407 group is well organized and stands united. Karen Wielinski is right there with them. The work to do now is to get the recommendations implemented and and to get some changes made that are gonna stop things like this from happening. And Karen also says that she's very pleased that the findings are being released prior to the one year anniversary next week. She's not sure what she's going to do but she does know for sure that she won't be going to the site now much more on that coming up at 530. Live and to do all the Lori Schultz needs for the head of the FAA faced a grilling today on Capitol Hill amid passionate calls to prevent another tragedy like the crash of Flight 3407. This comes on the heels of the NTSB stunning report on the cause of the crash news for senior correspondent Rich Newberg brings us the very latest tonight, rich? While the FAA is new administrator Randy Babbitt is big on voluntary compliance by the airline when it comes to safety standards. But a year after the crash of Flight 3407 That isn't going over well with victims families, lawmakers or the government's chief inspector for transportation. Progress has been slow in implementing initiatives with the greatest potential to improve safety before the House aviation subcommittee, harsh criticism of the FAA now under a new administrator Randy Babbitt, who did not win points when he said change could be years in the making installation The industry didn't devolve into the state of where we see serious gaps in professionalism and attention in the cockpit overnight. It took years and it's gonna take us years to get it bring it back. I think the confidence of the American public is reducing every day that we delay. The crash in Clarence now attributed to pilot error has again raised issues that must be addressed issues of pilot training, professionalism and hiring practices, the poor performing pilot and the pilot in the Colgan crash who repeatedly failed certain training evolutions and we need to be concentrating more on hiring practices with some of the airlines and and weeding some of these folks out that do not belong in the cockpit families of 3407. crash victims had hoped FAA action on tougher safety standards would be implemented as quickly as possible, but unfortunately, as possible means what looks to be a very long timeline. And that's the very frustrating part about this With this bureaucracy that is the FAA has been so screwed up and tied in a knot over the last several years that to wait for them to get something done despite Babbitt's best efforts is going to take too long and that's why I think we need legislation. And Senator Schumer expects the Senate to bring up the FAA bill in the next month. Many provisions have the backing of the families of crash victims and Senator Schumer says he will add an amendment requiring 1500 hours of training for both the pilot and co pilot. Reporting live rich Newberg news for at five. Robin Tolsma who lost her husband Darren in the crash says it's time for President Obama to weigh in on this legislation. Tolsma sent this question to Katie Couric through wivb.com She said I want to know why President Obama has not mentioned one single word about the FAA reauthorization bill, which would save 1000s of lives each year. CBS News is asking viewers to send in their questions for Katie Couric presidential interview, which airs this Sunday before the Superbowl. The families applied for the 407 will reunite on the anniversary of the crash next Friday, February 12. The public is invited to join in a memorial walk which will begin at the crash site on Long Street in Clarence center and continue on to the buffalo airport. There will be several rest stops along the way. If you'd like to register you can find a link on Wi Fi ve.com. So we ask for your safety today to keep us safe and to keep the memory and presence of our loved ones in our hearts. After a prayer the relatives and friends of crash victims set out for the airport and miles away to complete the journey. They're loved. She wouldn't be the first one I'd get my check today. She really was a great daughter a great sister. She would just persevere. To love you. We want to honor our people. We're marching for a cause and aviation safety change. Let's take the untrained, tired, unqualified train and make a better system. That's what that's what the goal is the House of Representatives in October the master very comprehensive bill that will be the biggest change in aviation safety since the FAA was formed if we had to deal with a lot of problems in the Senate right now. The memorial walkers were greeted by schoolchildren from the Nativity of various schools and clouds their parishes lost three of its members in the crash. We need to support them, the families and show them that we actually really care about them and that we want them to know that our loves. After about five hours, the marchers reached the airport. They had been joined by Senator Chuck Schumer, who walked the last mile with that, but the road to change can be long and winding a community. Hopefully it continues saying look, we notice a problem and why don't we fix it it's hard but family members of flight 3407 victims find courage and strength in the aftermath of tragedy tonight at 1017 It will be the 360/5 time I've had that countdown but devastation of losing loved ones serves as the catalyst for change. We're here because we're concerned about the safety of those leaving here this morning. The safety of your loved ones family members have been pushing for better training for pilots, especially those on regional airlines like Colgan air, which operated flight 3407 That's the plane that crashed in Clarence center one year ago. This news conference is another opportunity for families to push the FAA and the government to take action Today was a 10 mile walk. And the last year was at least 1000 miles for us all. I do have to remind you the next month or two months in Washington is going to feel like 10,000 miles. The Senate is set to look at legislation improving airline safety including requiring newly hired co pilots to have 1500 hours of flying experience. Now we're going to march the last mile to get all of the changes that they have sought enacted into law Captain Jeff Stiles The Miracle on the Hudson co pilot hopes those changes come soon. For the sake of everyone. Anybody who knows me knows I do not like to be called a hero. People call me a hero. I am not these people are the buffalo families. You are all my heroes. You will always be my heroes. Heroes vowing to be heard in honor of loved ones last mile is ... news for the families of flight 3407 Share with a call a smoking gun against Colgan air. It's a major story you saw it first on Wi bv.com Good evening everyone Jackie's often I know one investigates like news for chilling evidence from the families of flight 3407 that they say will prove that pilot Marvin Winslow should not have been in the cockpit on that fateful night. News four's Rich Newberg brings us the shocking developments now rich Don, these are the emails that attorneys for the victims of flight 3407 Say provide a smoking gun leading up to the 2009 crash in Clarence center. The crash of Flight 3407 killed 49 passengers including a pregnant woman and one man in his home on Long Road in Clarence. Families of victims have said the pilot Marvin Winslow was not qualified to handle the queue 400 bombard the aircraft. Now their attorneys say they had the emails to prove it. These emails in our judgment prove that Cogan sacrificed safety for profits. Internal emails from Colgan air is top management mentioned runs low as a possible candidate to fly the q 400. You might want to check the training records there is something in the back of my mind on Rennes low says dot Chaplain Caulkins chief pilot Bill Honan says yes, you are correct. Renzo had a problem upgrading Harry Mitchell Colgan is Vice President of Operations says anyone that does not meet the men's minimum requirements and had problems and training before is not ready to tackle the queue. Bill Honan says he is already off the list. Harry Mitchell. Great thanks. A month later say attorneys Rennes low was flying the aircraft. I might add that Colgan is not able to prove that Marvin wrens low underweight underwent any kind of remedial training or other special training that would have changed him from a position of not being qualified to being qualified. An attorney for Colgan air told me Captain Renslow had passed the Q 400 test and would had to have passed in order to have flown the aircraft that day. He would not comment further. But Maryland counselor who's 24 year old daughter Ellie died in the crash says this renews her heart ache because she believes the crash was preventable. Airlines knew they had unqualified pilots. They put them in the air anyway, the consequences were deadly. And it's such a callousness. towards human life. Attorneys for victims families say Colgan was struggling financially in 2008. While expanding its air routes and increasing the size of its planes. They say the airline was desperately looking for pilots. More on that coming up at six reporting live rich Newburgh news for at five Thanks Rich be sure to stay with us for and Wi vb.com For the very latest latest and these major developments in the flight 3407 story. New emails suggest the pilot of doom continental flight 3407 was not qualified to be in the cockpit. We broke the story first on wi v v.com. And senior correspondent rich Newberg has what attorneys called the smoking gun tonight Rich, well done these are emails now made public that attorneys for victims families say proves that Captain Marvin Rennes Lowe was not qualified to fly the plane that crashed in Clarence Kogan managers were talking about Renslow. These are quotes you may want to check the records. There was something on the back of my mind on Winslow. Yes, you are correct. Renzo had a problem upgrading anyone that does not meet the men's minimum requirements. And had problems and training before is not ready to tackle the queue. That's the cue 400 claim. He is already off the list. Great. Thanks. A month later say attorneys Renzo was flying the aircraft. I have not taken news this hard and a long time and I don't know what it is. I think it's I think it's just the outrage that they didn't care. I want attorney for Colgan air told me Captain Winslow was qualified to fly the Q 400 aircraft he had no further comment we'll hear from an attorney for the victims families coming up at six reporting live rich Newberg news for had 530. Just ahead flight 3407 families say the emails are the smoking gun against Colgan air and news for has and three serious injuries after grinding crash into a tree news for it six starts right here right now. You're watching Tony YV TV, probably serving buffalo griffins here and all of Western New York. With Jackie Walker, Don Vogel's sports with John Murphy and whether Whitman while just don Vaughn live from California in Buffalo, keeping you connected. This is new four at 6am Good evening everyone. Jackie is off tonight. You're seeing this story first on four news for has the emails of flight 3407 attorneys are calling the smoking gun and their case against Colgan air senior correspondent Rich Newberg reports. The Colgan emails indicate the airline new the pilot was not qualified for that cockpit. In the months before the crash of Flight 3407 and Claridge which claimed 50 lives including a pregnant woman, Colgan air was expanding its air routes and moving to bigger planes. According to her attorneys for victims families. Colgan was struggling financially. Colgan was undertaking a new program with new planes, these two 400 planes 15 of them and at the time Colgan was desperately looking for pilots to fly these planes Internal emails from Colgan air as top management mentioned runs low as a possible candidate to fly the q 400. You might want to check the training records. There is something in the back of my mind on Renslow says dot Chaplain Caulkins chief pilot Bill Honan says yes you are correct. Resnlow had a problem upgrading. Harry Mitchell Colgan's Vice President of Operations says anyone that does not meet the men's minimum requirements and had problems and training before is not ready to tackle the queue. Bill Honan says he is already off the list. Harry Mitchell. Great thanks. A month later say attorneys Rennes Lowe was flying the aircraft. These emails in our judgment prove that Colgan sacrificed safety for profits. An attorney for Colgan air told me Captain Renzo had passed the cue 400 test and would had to have passed in order to have flown the aircraft that day. He would not comment further. But Marilyn counselor who's 24 year old daughter Ellie died in the crash says this renews her heartache because she believes the crash was preventable. The airlines knew they had unqualified pilots. They put them in the air anyway, the consequences were deadly. And it's such a callousness towards human life. Colgan had been fighting the public release of the emails until today. victims families have told me they wanted them released to help prevent this type of accident from ever happening again. Attorney Hugh rush told me the families believe this is the smoking gun. Reporting live rich Newberg news for at six Also tonight the government is getting tough on the airline accused of putting an unqualified pilot in the cockpit of flight 3407 It's a major development tied to a news for investigation. The federal government is now telling Pinnacle airlines to hand over the so called smoking gun. News force rich Newberg was first to expose the stunning emails. He brings us the latest tonight rich Pinnacle airlines the parent company of Colgan whose plane crash and clarity in 2009 has been ordered by federal accident investigators to turn over records that had been withheld. The crash killed all 49 people are on board including a pregnant woman and one man on the ground. During the hearings by the National Transportation Safety Board Kogan officials testified that pilot Captain Marvin Renslow was fully qualified to captain that aircraft but emails from Colgan top management later produced during court proceedings indicated rents low had been dropped from the list of pilots eligible to fly the new Q 400 plane that was being introduced into the fleet at the time. A month later. Renslow was flying that aircraft that crashed and Clarence there's strong reaction tonight to the demand by the Feds that Colgan turned over those emails as part of the federal investigation of this crash. As far as the family members go, we feel that Cogan hid this information because they knew it was out there and they knew it would make them look bad and it would have changed the way the investigation was handled by the NTSB or Western New York delegation. As the United States Attorney General to investigate this as well because you don't have a federal investigation in a plane crash and withhold relevant emails. That's not right. We want to find out too that he charged that he brought a spokesman for Pinnacle airlines just minutes ago told me tonight the company will comply with the NTSB request for those emails and remains confident that the company was in full compliance with FAA regulations. Much more coming up at six reporting live rich Newberg news four and five. You saw this story first time for now the National Transportation Safety Board is ordering Colgan air to produce those internal emails questioning the qualifications of the flight 3407 pilot, our senior correspondent rich Newbern broke the story and he brings us the latest almost three years after flight 3407 crashed and Clarence Center killing everyone on board and one man on the ground. Federal accident investigators are ordering Colgan air as parent company Pinnacle airlines to turn over emails from Colgan top management emails that had questioned the qualifications of pilot Marvin wrens low on the queue 400 aircraft, the plane that crashed. Those emails had surfaced in a lawsuit by victims families. I don't know how anybody could take anything that Colgan produces as truth at this point. A Colgan airlines spokesman told me the company will comply with the National Transportation Safety board's request for the emails and remains confident that the company was in full compliance with FAA regulations. But Western New York's lawmakers in Washington are calling for an expanded federal investigation. But we talked to the head of the NTSB we said you ought to be calling for a reinvestigation or at least ask for is there any other information out there that's been with help the victims families who have been fighting for tougher FAA regulations regarding the amount of training for pilots and issues of pilot fatigue, believe their cause has picked up momentum. If anything, what this will do is it'll show how strongly we need this legislation in place that we can't have a lapse in pilot training or pilot fatigue, especially the training. Congresswoman Cathy Hochul said the western New York delegation in Washington is calling for an investigation by the US Attorney General to see if any charges may be brought in this case. Reporting live Rich Newberg, News four and six. Also tonight, a former insider talks the news for and potentially loads more ammunition for the so called smoking gun in the case of flight 3407 Colgan air has come under fire since the 2009 tragedy and Clarence center and tonight a former employee has come forward she says she wouldn't set foot on a plane operated by Colgan air use for senior correspondent Rich Newberg has the latest in our ongoing investigation. Rich Gina riders scheduled crews for Colgan air at the time flight 3407 went down and Claire in stature and tonight for the first time on television she tells me how Cogan allegedly ran its operation. Sometimes she says compromising safety to save money for wise needs to stop the deception needs to stop Sheena Ryder who is visiting the memorial at Buffalo's Forest Lawn Cemetery where some of the unidentified remains of the crash victims of flight 3407. Are ferried says Colgan air should never have allowed that plane to fly from Newark to Buffalo conditions were icy and another plane that night had slid off the runway at another airport. Flight 3407 had already been delayed two hours. If I was on duty that night, I would have argued with dispatch. I wouldn't let that plane go. Gina had put flight attendant Matilda Quintero on 3407 So Matilda would have more time off with her boyfriend. The crash has left Geno's psychologically scarred, but also angry with Colgan because she says the company would fly pilots who lacked sleep, just to cover each leg of a flight itinerary. Sometimes their flight schedules were changed. Their rest was reduced. It's completely illegal. Just as long as we got it to work in the computer. It was okay Gina has joined a Facebook campaign started by 3407 widow Robin tolsma. A campaign called I will never fly Colgan air. I will never fly their planes Gina responded. Robin who visited her late husband Darren mycelium at Forest Lawn also met with Gina and told her she welcomes her support. Gina told her I'm with you. I'm with you. And I like I always say I'm going to bring COVID I'm coming for you and I'm bringing it home with me. Because I'm not gonna let you do this to one other person. Robin told me says 1600 people have joined her Facebook campaign during the past 11 days. Colgan air responded tonight to our story and this was just the end given that we have not seen the allegations says Colgan, we will not comment on them at this time. Reporting live rich Newberg news for at five. For years, Farr was first to report on Colgan air emails expressing concerns about the qualifications of a pilot who crashed flight 3407 and Clarence center Tonight senior correspondent rich Newberg talks with a former Colgan cruise scheduler, who explains why she will never fly that airline again. Gina Ryder who is visiting a Forest Lawn Cemetery memorial to the victims of flight 3407 says Colgan air should never have allowed that plane to fly from Newark to Buffalo conditions were icy and another plane that night had slid off the runway at another airport. Flight 3407 had already been delayed for two hours. If I Transcribed by https://otter.ai Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Crash of Flight 3407 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich Description An account of the resource On Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 10:17 pm, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed into a house in Clarence Center, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. All forty-nine passengers and crew members were killed. One man in the house also lost his life. The twin-engine turboprop belonged to Colgan Air, a regional airline company serving Continental Airlines. The flight had originated in Newark, New Jersey. It crashed only a few miles from the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. This composite of stories begins the night of the crash. WIVB-TV’s Lisa Flynn was the first to report that it was a commercial airliner that crashed, not a small plane, as had been first thought. The crash sent a shock wave across Western New York. Many of the victims were from the Buffalo area. Families and friends of those who perished in the crash remembered their loved ones during grief stricken moments, and Western New York went through a period of mourning. Many questions were raised about the cause of the crash and whether the crew had been properly trained to operate this particular aircraft. Family members began attending hearings in Washington DC and closely followed the investigation. A year after the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that pilot error was the probable cause of the accident. Captain Marvin Renslow had failed to correctly respond to a stall, which is the sudden reduction in lift of an aircraft. The pilot had pulled back on the control column, tilting the nose of the plane up instead of lowering it and applying full power. Families had begun questioning whether Federal Aviation Administration regulations for regional airlines were adequate. Critical safety issues raised included pilot training and fatigue. On the one year anniversary of the crash, family members and supporters walked from the accident site on Long Street in Clarence to the Buffalo Niagara International Airport to draw attention to their cause. In a series of WIVB investigative reports, Rich Newberg revealed that internal emails from Colgan Airlines were obtained by lawyers representing the relatives of deceased passengers. They indicated that pilot Marvin Renslow had training problems and appeared not ready to handle the Bombardier Q400 aircraft. However, a month later he was flying the plane. When Newberg questioned an attorney representing Colgan Air, he maintained that Capt. Renslow was qualified to fly the plane. Attorneys representing the crash victims determined that Colgan Air had been expanding air routes and moving to fifteen of the bigger models of the Q 400 planes. Attorney Hugh Russ said Colgan was “desperately looking for pilots to fly these planes.” Russ said, “These emails in our judgement prove that Colgan sacrificed safety for profits.” Families charged that Colgan Air had withheld the emails during the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB then ordered Colgan Air’s parent company, Pinnacle Airlines, to produce the internal emails in question. The company said it would comply. A former Colgan Air crew scheduler came forward and told Newberg that the airline would fly pilots who lacked sleep to cover each leg of a flight itinerary. Colgan had no comment. Eventually, the families, after many trips to Washington, got the FAA to implement tougher regulations including more hours of flight training and a requirement that airlines keep more extensive records detailing how pilots performed during training. Measures were also implemented to cut down on pilot fatigue. Deborah Hersman, who was chair of the NTSB, told Rich Newberg, “…the families in this accident have been simply amazing. We have seen some incredible grace come out of the people who have gone through the worst experience of their life to really come together and try to determine if there’s anything good that can come from this, to make sure that no one has to go through what they went through. They have been a strong voice. They have been aggressive. They’ve been educated on the issues, and they’ve been a great help to the safety board as we try to focus attention on the issues related to this accident.” Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Walker, Jacquie (Anchor) Postles, Don (Anchor) Flynn, Lisa (Reporter) Macko, Rob (Reporter) Moretti, Luke (Reporter) Newberg, Rich (Reporter) Shultz, Lorey (Reporter) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009 - 2012 Subject The topic of the resource Aircraft accidents--New York (State)--Clarence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Relation A related resource Digital Collections of the B&ECPL Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/ed9335b2a08fe4a9ad04e60f153d3eac.mp4 6041070684299b17c9cd227f8628e2d3 PDF Text Text Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound The following program is a special presentation of news four. And now News Four presents flight 3407 for the families And good evening, everyone. I'm Don Postles And I'm Jacquie Walker. They were mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and some of the best friends you could ever ask for in life and the 50 people who lost their lives when flight 3407 went down and Clarence Center were also extraordinary people and Tonight, we celebrate their lives. First, Melissa Holmes looks at what happened. Melissa. Every day we learn more about the victims of the plane crash and more about the crash itself. It could be weeks, months or even years before we know why flight 3407 went down. It could be even longer for those who mourn to heal. fitting for zero so 0.5 Continental flight 3407 Newark to Buffalo in that last conversation between the female first officer and the tower. The final approach to the buffalo now average national airport seems normal. But seconds later the bombardment a dash eight q 400. dropped off the radar was five miles out and all of a sudden it's always thought that aircraft only six miles from the runway like 3407 fell from the sky landing on a house in Clarence Center. 50 souls perished. The date Thursday, February 12. The time 10:20pm lives were forever changed. To me it looked like the plane just came down in the middle of the house and unfortunately that's where he was. I heard my mother making noise on the phone that I never before. He took the earlier flight because he wanted to come home and say goodnight to the kids before they went to bed. The flames went on for hours. When it was finally safe, Federal authorities began searching for answers through the black boxes. National Transportation Safety Board investigators determined the pilot turned on the planes de icing system. It was functioning but problems persisted. The crew discussed significant ice buildup ice on the windshield and leading edge of the wings. The plane was on autopilot but then the plane stall prevention system kicked in, giving control back to the pilot. That's when it began to pitch and roll. It's like 3407 plunged 800 feet in five seconds. At memorial services throughout the community 1000s have gathered for prayers and for peace. individuals from all walks of life has become one through unspeakable tragedy. We try to love our neighbors as we would love ourselves but today we love our neighbors because we realize that they are ourselves. Thoughts and prayers from around the world are going out to the victims and their families. But for Western New Yorkers, we know the faces we know the names none of us will ever forget where we were when we heard flight 3407 fell from the sky. It seems out of the wreckage and the deaths a solidarity has been born a unity that Western New York has never seen before. Dawn and Jackie. Thank you Melissa. Well, the families who lost our loved ones I'm flying 3407 return to the crash scene this afternoon for the very first time. It was for us George record is live tonight in Clarence center with more of that emotional visit today. GEORGE-- Yeah, and it's hard to say just how much closure this may have brought for the families the scene is still there. It has changed though there is no recognizable debris obviously no human remains visible, but still for for about one hour today. Everything stopped as the families came to see up close for themselves, the spot where their loved ones spent their last seconds of life. It was about 1245 This afternoon, when six busloads of family members and friends of the victims rolled up to the crash site, as members of the public looked on from two blocks away outside the perimeter on Goodrich road and they get to closure out of it why I think it's always a good deal. I can't imagine I mean, I love my family and to see something like that, you know, but I mean, I guess that's all they you know, that's all they could have left to see. So, you know, like I say God bless them and my heart goes out to them and their families. The families spent about an hour there laying flowers just over the fence of the crash scene. Immediately afterward. A few designated members of the media were taken to the site, including only one TV camera and local radio reporter Barbara burns. Initially it looked simply like a construction scene. There was a lot of construction equipment, bobcats cranes, and then once you got close as close as they let us in the end, we got within I would say maybe 2025 feet. You started to realize it started to set in you saw the tail of the plane. While I was there, a huge crane took away a large piece which turned out to be a big a big part of the engine of the plane. Just I mean you keep hearing this word over and over surreal and it is surreal. And we will have more first hand accounts from people who have seen the site up close as you see behind me. They are keeping the perimeter enforced here probably at least until the weekend is what we're hearing. We'll have more later on this hour reporting live on Goodrich road and Clarence George Ricker news for All right, George. Well, one woman aboard continental flight 3407 was pregnant with her first child. Family and friends of Jennifer Neal feel cheated, they tell news four's Rich Newberg they we're looking forward to seeing Jen experience the joy of motherhood. 34 year old Jennifer Neil and her fiance Todd Acker were anxiously awaiting the birth of her son. Jennifer perished in the crash, but everyone remembers her spirit. A beautiful young woman with a big smiling face and just very caring about other people. She was a fantastic person. Jennifer is remembered here at Women and Children's Hospital where she worked in the physical therapy department for a while she had a special way with the children she helped as the hours go on after we found out it's it's harder and harder. Mary Pat Battaglia remembers Jen helping this child recovering from spinal surgery, Jen was able to help her, you know, get up on your hands and knees and crawl around a little bit. It's strengthening for these kids. Get up and kneel at the table, pull yourself up to standing and she was she could she could get these little ones to work. She could motivate them because it was fun and she was happy. Jen was having a good time. And so the kids were having a good time. As a student at Clarence High School, Jennifer excelled as a musician and an athlete, a strong team leader. Jennifer believed that anything and everything she wanted to do in life was possible, said her family. Every person that she met in life was drawn to her by her grace and inner beauty that was immeasurable. Jennifer went on to work for a drug company positioning herself in the top 4% of national sales. Her parents said she is forever in our hearts and minds. That was Richard Newberg reporting there now at age 24. Ellyce Kausner of Clarence was one of the youngest passengers on board flight 3407 and many knew her simply Elly but there's nothing simple about the second year law student who was filled with laughter and loved in life. News four spoke with one of the Ellyce's family members this afternoon now, Before we got the full picture of the deadly crash before we knew who was on the plane and who wasn't. We heard one name at least counselor has loved ones put it all on the line to find her that fateful night. Today, hundreds of well wishers have been filling the clubhouse of Clarence's main park for at least his week to mourn the loss of a bright light cut short so suddenly and violently, just a few miles away. 24 year old Ellyce Marie Kausner or Elly as she was affectionately known, graduated from Canisius College and was in the second year of law school. As Ellie's aunt Nancy Houston put it her niece would have been great as a lawyer or anything she set her mind to She was always the life of the party. I almost never saw her without a smile. Just just a fantastic young woman. It's impossible even to describe what the world has lost in in having her not with us any longer. Visitation continues tonight. until nine with a memorial service set for tomorrow morning. The family is asking that donations be made to the Erie County SPCA. Donna Jackie. Thank you, Alan. The crash of Flight 3407 has left that deep hole in the hearts of nine brothers and sisters from Buffalo Mary Pettis was the big sisters who all of them the rock of the family. She was also engaged to be married for her fiance. The tragic events of Thursday were the worst possible ending to the love story of his life. Here's news four's Laurie Schultz Family members of flight 3407 their shock and sadness as reality sets in. There are also many memories. She was the friend that everyone wished they had. And she was the person that everyone wished they could be Sue and her father brothers and sisters gathered to remember 51 year old Mary Pat is the oldest of the 10 siblings, a lifelong Buffalonian was a software manager for a health care company. She was returning home from a business trip to New York when the plane went down. Her grieving fiance says everyone who met her fell in love with her. They were to marry this spring . Dealing two days after the nation's first deadly airline crash since 2006. air travelers seem to brush away any fear of flying and boarded flights. However New Jersey's newer flight 3407 came from some passengers admitted that safety was on their minds. Oh yeah,definitely. Yeah, pretty much. I mean, there's no way anyone can sit up there and say they're not thinking about that are easy. It's very nerve racking, and our son actually was in the area, and he would have taken that flight to Buffalo. Bianca was to New York the morning continues. Mary's widowed father says it really hit him when his daughter wasn't there to bring it coffee as she did every day since the wife died. brought coffee every morning and quite a girl. But amid tears are beautiful memories far stronger than the haunting images of the doomed flight. Thank you, Laurie. And by now, many of us have also heard the story of passenger Beverly Acker, like Mary Pettis, Beverly was also a pillar of strength for her family, displaying tremendous faith and courage, especially in the years since the 911 attacks, a tragedy that took a life of her husband, and she was returning home to honor his memory. Beverly Eckerd family who is trying to cope with tragedy for a second time her husband Sean Rooney was killed in the 911 attacks on the World Trade Center. She was coming to Buffalo to celebrate his birthday with her sisters and to award a scholarship at Canisius High School. In her husband's memory. It was just laughter in her voice. We were just talking all the time over the week what we were going to do and how we were going to do it. After 911 she became an advocate for the victims families. Now her family was pulling on her strength Ben to get through this now. She said Shawn faced death with such calm courage. And it calmed her we were more visibly shaken in Beverly who said I have to be strong. And I watched her and I think that lesson what she did there is allowing us to follow I keep thinking How did Beverly do this? I know how she did this. And she gave us a gift because she did this already. She was not afraid of death. The family is reflecting on Beverly and her talents. There's the mug she made inscribed with the words do all you can in the time that you have. There are also paintings that she made for her sisters. The family believes she's now reunited with Sean I think she's a peace and I she was not afraid of death. She-She looked at it as a way probably be reunited with Sean Beverly lived life with vigor and determination. She was an inspiration for all who knew her there was no fence that was too high. There was no pit was too deep. They could climb over it, climb out of it together or individually. And she's just amazing. Beverly achor was held in such high esteem not just by her family, but by the community and her classmates here at Sacred Heart are planning on honoring her this May with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Her life is over. But her legacy lives on. She was recently called to the White House to meet with President Obama, who was touched by her compassion for life. Tragic events, such as these remind us of the fragility of life and the value of every single day. One person who understood that well was Beverly Packard, who was on that flight and who I met with just a few days ago. You see Beverly lost her husband on 911 and became a tireless advocate for those families whose lives were forever changed on that September day. And in keeping with that passionate commitment, she was on her way to Buffalo to mark what would have been her husband's birthday and launch a scholarship in his memory. So she was an inspiration to me and to so many others and I pray that her family finds peace and comfort in the hard days ahead. And many other families also hope and pray for that same peace and comfort tonight News four's Melissa Holmes is joining us again with more stories of lives lost Melissa Zach Aidan they're the stories of for more Western New Yorkers who have left behind husbands, wives, children, and tremendous legacies. Father, we pray specifically for the families the individuals that are grieving at this time. The community is wrapping its arms around those families who have lost loved ones in the crash of continental flight 3407 We're learning more about them. There was 44 year old Don mana Keno our lives together were just being with each other being with being with family. And in our two dots. John and Michael had been married for 14 years. She and her co worker were coming back from a business trip with Schering plough pharmaceutical company when the plane crashed. Michael says he's being strong for her family and Clarence and in Scranton, Pennsylvania. I can hold it together because, you know, I gotta I gotta let people know about this. There was Dr. Allison Des Forges; The Chinese have a saying that if a marriage is too happy, it can't last too long. Just totally devoted mother, a totally devoted wife. They were husband and wife for 44 years and had two children together. Des Forges was also a human rights activist and the world's leading expert on the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and its aftermath. She was returning home from London that fateful Thursday night. Her last conversation with her husband was about fearing the flight from Newark to Buffalo in the icy conditions. She knew that it was going to be a rough ride. Unfortunately, she didn't know it was going to be in a plane which probably shouldn't have been flown in those conditions. It is the hope of Roger Des Forges that his wife's legacy will live on and others inspired by her work. That may be one of the outcomes of this tragedy, that her moral power will be actually greater in death and it was even in life. The family of Brian Kuklewicz is also mourning. He leaves behind his wife of 14 years Karen and their twin sons who will be celebrating their ninth birthday on Wednesday without their father. That shooter Walgett native who grew up on Buffalo's east side worked as an engineer for burns cascade. There was also Darren Talsma Lancaster, who was supposed to for a later flight, he broke the earlier flight tickets before they even tells me it was traveling with three co workers from Northrop Grumman. His wife Robin admits he spent more time at work than at home, but his priorities were clear worked for his kids. They are his pride and joy a 16 year old Nicole and 19 year old Darren know that West Act was an act of love so we can't complete How will you stay strong. Being an engineer, my dad was always obsessed with details and he came for everything and he always said you know if anything happened to me, he goes, You're the strong one. You're gonna be the one that's got to you know, put the take the burden on your shoulders. A burden no child should ever have to bear it's okay because you prepare to be fine. Four completely separate lives now bonded together by tragedy. A community praying together love for healing for all these things in your son's. There was also Susan Whaley of Amherst. She dedicated much of her life to helping others heal through faith and music. She was the cantor at Temple back down in Williamsville and even recorded a CD called stones of healing and hope. The daughter of Holocaust survivors use her infectious spirit for life to reach out to people of all generations. She had a tremendous ability to teach. She also had a tremendous love for life a zest for life, one that she shared with everyone she knew. friends and loved ones remembered Wally during a special service at Temple Beth on on Friday. The impact she made on so many people there and across western New York also lives on tonight. Dawn and Jackie. Thank you, Melissa and hundreds of Western New Yorkers from all faiths came together this morning to remember the 50 lives last Thursday night as far as chill arena takes us now to a celebration of life and community in Florence. For one hour, every one who packed the Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church and Clarence put their differences aside. That great sense today we are all one community, a community searching for one common ground closure. But even for those responsible for today's prayer service like Pastor Carl e slack. There were even times he didn't have an answer. Families need to go on they need to walk on. I don't know how you do that. Those words ring especially true for people like Joon Fisher, my daughter, three of them were here for them. Sad thing and I couldn't get over it. In a hurry. That's for sure. But Pastor Darius Pridgen says today's example of solidarity will help a great deal for people to look beyond where someone lives or what his name is or what their background is to get to the point of saying we're all people and the loss of life touches us all, even if most of whom attended the ceremony never knew those who are no longer with us. One plane crash 50 lives but not just 50 Lies 50 unique souls each represented by a rose placed in a vase before the altar by the brave firefighters who responded to the scene where they fell from the sky. We've seen enough tears and heard enough cries of people to fill our sadness cup for a lifetime. There is not a person aboard that flight 3407 That is not one or two degrees removed from a person that I know all listings to see God was then we're all victims families, people in the neighborhood even people just watch this tragedy unfold on television. All are feeling a sense of grief. And the ways of coping with this can vary which is why we have invited Jen Henry for the life transition center of hospice to join us tonight. She's a grief counselor. So Jen, we thank you for joining us and you know, what should people be feeling people who really have no real connection to the tragedy? What are normal feelings? I think everyone feels deeply about this. We all have experienced some sort of loss in our own lives. This is not unlike 911 other losses that our community and nation has known and so this reminds us that we're all vulnerable. You can't count on life always be the same from one day to the next. And should you acknowledge the feelings that you have that you may be you may be angry even you may be fearful upset, angry fearful. You may actually not have any feelings being Nam, strange as it may sound is also a response. But any of those irritability, not being able to sleep not eating overeating. All of those--during the call first came in. It was said to be a small plane. And Lisa Flynn was out of the scene. She told us that her sources said maybe 50 people could be dead. And then we found out as we stayed on during the night that Beverly Acker was among those dead and all sudden, you find out at someone you know, and it takes your breath away, and then that's the shock. And then as the time goes on, you really start feeling the pain and the suffering for her family and for all the victims families. Yes, that's right. So it will change over time. And there's no right or wrong way to feel no right or wrong way to grieve. I'd like to know what you say to somebody now. I think each one of us in this community knows somebody somehow connected to this tragedy. If you know someone who lost a close loved one or someone they know on this plane, what should you say to them? Maybe you know, nobody knows what to say in these times. You let them talk. You tell them you don't know how they're feeling. I mean, that's one thing sometimes we say I know exactly how you're feeling. Don't say that. We don't none of us do. You let them talk, share their feelings. And just be open and respectful. And I'm thinking of you I care about you. That means a lot to for them to know that you really sincerely care about and you're thinking about it, there's nothing you can do that bring the person back. But how does a person know if they're in such deep grief? If they need to seek professional help? What are the signs? Initially, it's very normal, the things that we've talked about but if these attitudes, outlooks on life and so on, continue for several weeks or several months, then it's time to begin to think about seeking help whether we're there interfering with your life where you're not able to sleep, or you're always irritable. You can't go back to work after a month or so. Then it may be time to see some time needs to pass here before you know if you're really in distress and you need counseling. Yes, but you can still talk with someone now to help you through the crisis period. Right. And having said that, we want to remind folks that we have gents co workers. They're a counselor standing by right now. At the life Transition Center. They are available to take your calls. The number is 83664608366460 is the number for counselors that are there right now and they'll be there till eight o'clock. And if you have young children in your family, stay tuned and the next half hour John will have some important tools for helping them cope as well. Very important to talk to the kids about this and we'll be talking to you in a little bit. Now. Jim, thank you so much. Hospice is also holding a special seminar to help this community cope with the tragedy of flight 3407. This will take place on Wednesday, coming up this week Wednesday from five to six and the hospice buffalo Education Center. This is located at Como Park Boulevard in Cheektowaga and Horizon Health Services is holding free support groups for the next four Saturdays from 930 to 1030 in the morning, that's at the Boulevard counseling center that's near maple road in the town of Tonawanda. And for more information you can call 8311800. You'll find all this on our website. We'll also repeat it for you a little later in the program. Well, the only two survivors of this terrible tragedy were on the ground. Karen Wielinski and her daughter Jill made it out of the burning house alive. Doug Wielinski did not. Here's news fours Lisa Flynn, I happened to notice a little light on the right of me that tiny bit of light was. Karen Wielinski's ray of hope she had survived the impact of the plane striking her long street home in Clarence center. Karen told WIVBTV and radio how she got out and then just kind of pushed what was me part of that often crawled out the hole. Karen's 22 year old daughter Jill was upstairs in the front of the house when the plane hit she to miraculously survived and found an opening and when I got her I mean of course she wanted to know where her dad was. I didn't know and to me, it looks like the plane just came down in the middle of the house. Unfortunately, that's where Douglas Karen's husband 61 year old Doug Welinski did not make it out. Karen says Doug was in the dining room working on his beloved sports memorabilia when the plane hit the woolen skis are well known and declared school district or Karen's a secretary. Doug, an engineer is a Vietnam veteran who frequently came to the school to do lectures on Vietnam was students were always enthralled to hear his lectures. Just a vibrant, good person. And the Clarence community and the school's Federal Credit Union have set up a fund for the Weilenski family. You can drop off your donations at the credit union office at 9145 Sheridan drive in Clarence or you can mail them to post office box 657 Clarence, New York 14031. Well, we all know that buffalo is a hockey town and Madeline Loftus loved ice hockey. In fact, she was on her way back to Buffalo for a reunion game with her old teammates at Buffalo State is news forest. Joe arena tells us that game went on in her honor, and it will for years to come. From the opening faceoff to the final handshakes. This game wasn't about scoring goals. It was about a friend The reunion game from now on will be Maddie's game. Madeline Lynn Loftus never made it to the game, or had the chance to catch up with her friends and teammates this weekend. She was on flight 3407 Her friends played the reunion game today, but with heavy hearts and say there wasn't a moment Maddie wasn't on their minds, especially during the final minute. All I could think of really was the final minutes for Maddie. And this is her game and just go as hard as you can because she would be going as hard as she could Years earlier, while Maddie was still in high school in her hometown of New Jersey. Maddie proved how hard she could go by becoming the only girl on an all boys hockey team. And whether it was a boys team or a girls team. She was going to succeed too, would have been thoroughly disappointed if we if we hadn't played today. And I think it was great that we got out there and you know, every other shift I mean she popped into my head the entire game and I'm sure everybody else out there too. Moments after the game the players formed a circle, took a knee and lit 10 candles for Mattie's number. They prayed. They cried. And as a group held on to the little piece of Maddie left in all of them, as their task now is much more difficult than anything they could deal with at the office or on the ice. All among the victims of the continental crash the entire crew, the flight crew of four and a young pilot who was off duty they all shared a deep love of flying. The crew included Captain Marvin runs low of Lutz, Florida first officer Rebecca Shaw from Maple Valley, Washington and Matilda concerto and Donna Prisco flight attendants from New Jersey. 47 year old Marvin Rennes Lowe, a husband and father from Lutz Florida was the pilot of continental flight 3407 hours after the crash, his pastor spoke up his deep faith. They want you to know that their faith is that God is sovereign, that God is in control even when it seems everything is out of control. Next to the captain in the cockpit. 24 year old first officer Rebecca Shaw, who was married. Her family says she had a passion for flying She experienced loved. She experienced passion she experienced passion in life and in her career. She would walk in and everyone would be in smiles because you just couldn't help yourself because she was always so happy and so smiling and she loved her husband so much flight attendant 52 year old Donna Prisco from Randolph New Jersey had been a stay at home mother of four before she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a flight attendant last June. She trained as a flight attendant with 57 year old Matilda Cantero, a breast cancer survivor who was also realizing her dream later in life. And when she got her wings she was really excited. She just loved it absolutely loved. That's the common thread binding the crew of Flight 3407 their family members say each was in the sky that night because flying was a profound passion. Each had worked hard to gain the wings so flight had the privilege of flying whether she was an amazing pilot, absolutely amazingly proud of your family as a family. And that off duty crew member was Captain Joseph CIPA Leto. He didn't live here in western New York at the time of the crash but he had strong ties to the area and he too will be sorely missed. Chautauqua County airport manager Dave sanctuary is mourning the loss of an old friend. It's just an absolute shame to lose a gentleman's such a gentleman so young in his life and so dedicated to his career. Captain Joseph Zuffoletto, was a native of San Diego but was based out of the Jamestown Airport last year. Sanctuary says you'd often drop by to chat and check in on the weather and aviation science graduate of Embry Riddle University sanctuary says Zuffoletto, got his pilot's license at 17 You could tell that just from getting him to talk about an airplane and he was just starting to kind of glow. When Zuffoletto, was reassigned to the Newark Airport, the 27 year old would hop on a plane to see his grandmother in Buffalo. I understand that he would fly there when he had a short time off rather than trying to get all the way back to his home Friends of Zuffoletto in the area are working to organize a memorial service for a man who is said to have quote a heart of gold. Joe is was the epitome of what what you look for in a pilot he he cared deeply about his professionalism. He cared deeply about doing the best job that he ever could do. And that was news four's Michelle McClintock, Ronald and Linda Davidson are returning to the southern tier after visiting a relative out of town. They dedicated their lives to helping others and as Milo's here says tells us the close knit knit community that they call home will forever be grateful. Ronald and Linda Davidson, a husband and wife parents of three victims of a flight 3407 tragedy, great grief for all of us. There's like a hole that I don't know if it'll get filled or not. Sunday service at the couple's longtime spiritual home, St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Westfield. In this time of sorrow. Faith is the pillar of strength that is helping family and friends cope. God take them to your heart and love them. The Davidson's were returning home on plate 3407 After visiting their daughter, It was very nice that they had seen all their children just before they left. Linda was a nurse for 25 years. The Davidsons are remembered for giving back to their community. You see their calling went beyond Sunday services. Ron was a volunteer in the soup kitchen on those days. Good good. Very funny man. And she would come in once a month. Take the blood pressure to clients in the soup kitchen that would come in and just awful nice people. On Sunday, a chance for the community to remember and find answers in their beliefs. To remember is is instead of pulling things apart, it's putting things back together the way they're meant to be a husband and wife, parents, friends. It's right for us to grieve. We know where they are, but we miss them. And looking forward to visiting relatives in Toronto a father a mother, their only child and his Aunt board a flight 3407 The four members of the Massop family of Bloomfield, New Jersey had delayed their vacation until they could get time off from work and school. Donald and Dawn Mossap 12 year old Shawn and Dawn's sister Ferris were active church members They were God fearing loving, caring people. The type you would really want as friends. Well two other members of the Masa family were supposed to take that flight but they decided to stay behind. And two other passengers from New Jersey we're heading to Buffalo to share their musical talents with Western New Yorkers. News Four's Trisha Cruz has their stories tonight. Coleman Mallette was a 33 year old musician from New Jersey who just released his first CD in 2007. this VHS tape shows Clay Yarborough and a blue shirt back in the 1980s. Back then, he was playing at a coachmen Park concert in Clearwater where he played for power play. He went on to play at the ringside cafe in St. Petersburg with a band called taxi. Ron Reinhardt, a friend and fellow musician says music was Yarborough's Passion. Clay was an excellent musician. Excellent, good reputation in the area. Some say he focused on music because of his traumatic experience in Vietnam. He was the most macho guy in the world. He was decorated Vietnam War grunt. I mean, he was he saw it all clay. Clay saw it all. And I mean, just there's nothing worse that anyone has seen that clay hasn't seen hadn't seen. And he was wounded couple times. I think he's helicopters crashed a couple times since then. Yarber didn't like flying but he did it anyway, on Thursday. He was one of 49 passengers who died when the commuter plane crashed and Clarence center so he would play said once he said, you know, he said he should be dead. He said he should have died in Vietnam. So everything since then has been gravy. Reinhart says Yarber didn't worry about the small things after his close calls with death. He became a free spirit who lived through his music his music will now move on. And the beat goes on. So many stories. Really? Well. families of the victims were allowed to visit the crash site today for the very first time and after they left some members of the media were also allowed in use for storage records spoke with some of these media witnesses today, GEORGE? Yeah, very few of even the media have been allowed in as you see the perimeter is still strictly enforced here. Most of us are kept a few blocks away. But here's a perspective from a few who have seen it up close. I've visited the site on a daily basis. I've seen it transformed from a fireball in its first few minutes to smoldering pile to a coal pile and now the tear down of that pile and the analysis on it. Still to this day. I'm amazed at the compressed area that it's that it's encompassing, it's a very small piece of property. And then to have this huge tail section sticking out of the out of the ground is just it's staggering. It's amazing. Mostly saw just what looked to be a pile of like dirt and rubble. We heard the word methodical from a lot of the investigators and that is exactly what I saw. They are going literally shovel by shovel. It's absolutely surreal, amazing to see. You know, we keep seeing over and over and over again. This plane hit one home, just one home and to see that. The most amazing part of it all was the steps to the front door still in place still intact, charred and burned, but still in place where they were when this plane went down. That is the last place you know their loved ones were when they were on Earth. So like I said thinking of myself I understand when significance that location has. Its significant 25 years as a trooper and I've seen a lot of things and investigated a lot of even fatal motor vehicle accidents or things like that tragedies that have occurred that have involved people in you know, the magnitude of this one makes it different and you'll never forget it. My troopers never forget it. It really does leave an impression on anybody who sees it a different impression for everybody. And again, it's hard to say just what impression or whether it provided much closure at all for the family, but they spent a good hour on site and we could see them from a distance moving by carrying flowers. They threw flowers over a fence as even though there was maybe not much to see any more at least represented the place where their loved ones spent their final seconds. Well George I think for major Cummings to say that all the years that he's been a state trooper what he's seen that he's never seen anything like this tragedy. Exactly. And I think the same could be said here in the media. I mean, I've certainly never covered a story that has affected so many people locally like this and you know, I'm sure you could say that, you know the same thing, just the it impacts everybody differently even if you didn't know somebody well, who was on that flight. It's buffalo. Everybody knows somebody who knew somebody on that flight. George, I want to ask you the NTSB investigator has been talking about they're removing pieces of the plane from the scene and have already removed a good portion of it. Are you seeing any trucks going by or any of that wreckage as it's leaving that area? No, we haven't. I mean, we see construction vehicles moving in and out not often not necessarily trucks that might have a giant covered piece of wreckage, nothing like that. And we have been here all day. It's mostly just standard construction trucks. Of course in the middle of the day they paused all the work for the families, but I think they're really trying to respect the privacy of all of it and covering whatever they take away. We don't see dumpsters, we don't see any open things like that. And while I'm at it the you know, although we're being kept a few blocks away here. Dave Bissonnette at the Emergency Coordinator for Clarence is estimating that by this weekend, possibly all the streets will be opened by this weekend. He says possibly, except for maybe just that one block with the housing question. But George, you spent all day in Clarence and I was just wondering what's the demeanor of the residents out there? They've been dealing with this since last Thursday night. They believe it's being handled well. At least the few I talked to made a point of saying how well they think that the authorities are handling this and you know, we weren't treated like we're a nuisance as you know, sometimes you worry about disrupting the privacy of venue. We're right next to houses here, but we have been taken well here. And I've heard no complaints of the way any of this has been run. All right, George record. We appreciate your observations from the scene tonight. And as you can imagine, firefighters are among the first to respond to the fiery crash scene. Now George spoke with a first responder who says the images that he saw Thursday night will be with him for the rest of his life. We had a job to doand we wanted to go and get it done. But volunteer firefighter way. Mahalik says nothing could have prepared him for a site like the crash of Flight 3407 He drove one of the ambulances for the town of Newstead to the scene that night. They quickly learned there were no survivors and when you're trained to help somebody and you can't help them, but like most firefighters, he didn't think twice about going back the next day to help with the recovery efforts. He shared the photos with us that he took from what he calls Ground Zero. Even now almost three days after the crash there is still a perimeter setup, keeping the public and the media a few blocks away from the actual crash scene. That's why Wayne's pictures bring us all that much closer to what most of us haven't seen, like the way the trees are sliced in such a way to almost show the path the plane took on the way down or the landing gear that sticks out from the top of the scene. There's been those thoughts, you know, why am I doing this? Why do I put myself in this situation? You know, but that's there's more to life than just living it for yourself. I mean, we're all humans were meant to help each other and firefighters are human too. And John Henry, who is a great therapist from the life Transition Center is here with us again, John, let's talk about those first responders. They gotta be dealing with a lot now they realize if they saw that ball of fire and then what was happening inside? Absolutely. The concentric circle. I mean, it's like a ripple. Those people that responded initially, all the way out to people just living on the streets. And the neighborhoods in that community and then on out to the larger community and the nation. So you would expect those first on the scene perhaps to be most affected. Even though you know as we heard major Cummings from the State Police say they see you know, death they see violence on a regular basis, but they've never seen anything like that not to the magnitude of this I mean, something like this that is so unexpected, a plane dropping from the sky. It's just there's no way that people prepare for this. And so it just is very distressing and yet you know, through the years, we've never up until this point, had a commercial aviation disaster in Western New York, but these first responders continue to have drill after drill through the years, and I don't care how many drills you have. I think when you come across the real McCoy, it's like a ton of bricks. This is it. We got a job to do but then you realize the emotional toll of what's going on to the victims. Yeah, and that's going to go away. I mean that I hope people know that. That's going to stay and need attention for months and perhaps years. Yeah, and counseling may very much be in order for some folks here. Now. Let's talk about children. Because they see it on television. They've heard they're hearing about it in school. A lot of them have parents who fly or they have been on airplanes or they even have airplanes flying over their house. How are children to deal with this? Well, I think the first thing we really ought to talk about his let's let's limit their exposure to some of the stories and some of the discussions. I mean, as this unfolds, it may be quite inappropriate to have them know some of the details that are available. But on the other hand, having said that, it's important that when we do talk to them, we are clear and concise, confident with what we know and what we don't know. And give them accurate information in ways that they can understand. And I agree with you the news is not for children and for small children. Don't let them sit there and soak it up. But Jen, we want to thank you so much. And we want to remind folks because we've been talking about counseling that we have grief counselor standing by right now. They will be on the phones up until eight o'clock tonight. They're at the life Transition Center. And they are available to take calls at 8366460 Jen we thank you so much. The number again is 8366460. And on Wednesday, hospice is holding a special seminar to help this community cope with the tragedy of flight 3407. It will take place from five to six at the hospice buffalo Education Center. That's on Como Park Boulevard in Cheektowaga. No one needs to register you can just literally walk in and we'd like to let you know that horizon Health Services is holding free support groups for the next four Saturdays from 930 to 1030. At the boulevard Counseling Center, this is near maple road in the town of Tonawanda. For more information you may call 831 1800. You'll find all of this on our website wiv.com. And as Western New Yorkers work through their grief, federal investigators continue their search for answers. For more on that now we're going to head to Amherst and to our news for investigative reporter Luke Moretti, Luke. Well, the reality is it could take many months before we know what caused this horrific plane crash. Investigators continue searching for answers. And that includes talking to pilots who were flying in the area that night. We went on to ask him what I seen they experienced what flight conditions they experience and so forth. So we're putting out these questionnaires. We're putting them dispatchers we're gonna go out and start doing interviews of the accident dispatcher and and other folks involved with this. And this is again a process it's going to take place over the next several weeks. Now as investigators tried to put together the pieces of the puzzle, they're looking at a lot of different factors and that includes icing. 53407 stripped a buffalo appears to be uneventful until its final 26 seconds we now know that 11 minutes after takeoff from Newark, the pilot in control turned down the aircraft's de icing system he left he left it on the remainder of the flight this is a very sophisticated de icing system on the Q 400. And he had an audit properly and it was working properly that as far as we can you know determine when the crew left new work. The weather was late to moderate icing in the Buffalo area. The visibility was three miles with snow in light mist. It was really not a bad weather day and they chose to launch but recordings analyzed by investigators indicate the crew had commented about significant ice buildup on the planes windshield and wings. We know the plane was on autopilot, but was turned off when the plane stall prevention system kicked in. At that point, a terrifying sequence of events begins to unfold is the aircraft gyrates wildly in roll to the left 46 degrees now and then a roll back to the right 105 degrees. Investigators say the turboprop planes rapidly falling 800 feet in five seconds. The pole inside the cabin was twice the force of gravity. As for how icing on the wings and windshield affected the pilots ability to control it in the final minutes is still unclear. However the NTSB recommends that the autopilot be disengaged in icing conditions so that you have the manual feel for what might be changing in your flight regime. Because of the ice. But the FAA which regulates aviation has not yet made that recommendation a hard fast rule to say that they should not have been flying on autopilot is not correct. I mean, it's up to the airlines it's up to the FAA it has not been changed, you know become a rule yet. That you will disengage the autopilot. The NTSB Steve ... says several airlines have changed their procedures when it comes to isin. What does the manufacturer of this particular aircraft say about that? The only restriction that they see the manufacturer of this airplane and that they write about is that disengage the autopilot in severe icing conditions, but severe icing is something investigators haven't found yet based on pilot reports from other airplanes. Now investigators are hoping to be finished at the crash site in clearance by Wednesday afternoon. They're hoping to get done before a big storm moves into the area but they say they'll stay as long as they have to. And once again a final determination on this won't be known for many months to come. We're live in Amherst tonight Luke Moretti news for all right thank you, Luke. And one way or another this tragedy has had an impact on every person who calls western New York home that is so true. If you would like to send your condolences to the victims families, you can do so on our website wiv.com. You'll also find more information there about support groups and other places where you can turn for help dealing with such devastation. And we want to thank you for joining us tonight as we remember the 50 extraordinary people who have touched so many lives. We're going to leave you now with the angelic sounds of the Clarence Senior High School chorus and the lasting images of a tragedy that has united this community and changed so many lives. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 4 The Families Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource WIVB-TV Description An account of the resource Four days after a plane crashed in the Buffalo suburb of Clarence, New York, claiming the lives of all forty-nine people on board and a man on the ground, WIVB-TV- Channel 4 presented a one hour special honoring the memory of those who perished. “4 The Families” included eulogies from relatives and friends and the latest details on the crash investigation. Colgan Air Flight 3407 was on its way from Newark, New Jersey to the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Colgan Air was a regional company servicing Continental Airlines. Shortly before the crash, the crew had reported a buildup of ice on the aircraft's wings and windshield. The Bombardier Q400 two-engine turbo-prop failed to recover from a stall and crashed into a house on Long Street in Clarence Center. Three people were in the house. A mother and her daughter were able to escape. The father did not survive. The accident occurred at 10:17 pm, about five miles from the Buffalo airport. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board would later attribute the crash to pilot error. Instead of pointing the nose of the plane downward and applying full power, the proper reaction to an aerodynamic stall, Captain Marvin Renslow pulled back on the control column pointing the nose upward causing the plane to pitch and roll. It quickly lost altitude and crashed. Among those killed in the crash were Allison Des Forges, a human rights investigator and an expert on the Rwandan genocide, Beverly Eckert, named co-chair of the 9/11 Family Steering Committee after her husband was killed in the September 11 attacks, Susan Wehle, the first American female Jewish Renewal cantor, and jazz musicians Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett, who were en route to a concert with Chuck Mangione and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Jacquie Walker, Jacquie (Anchor) Postles, Don (Anchor) Holmes, Melissa (Reporter) Richert, George (Reporter) Newberg, Rich (Reporter) Vaughters, Al (Reporter) Schultz, Lorey (Reporter) Arena, Joe (Reporter) McClintick, Michele Hairston, Mylous (Reporter) Cruze, Tricia (Reporter) Moretti, Luke (Reporter) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009-02-16 Subject The topic of the resource Aircraft accidents--New York (State)--Clarence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving image Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/a8fa6930c56ada2afe7a525a72ed6764.mp4 4de5603a36c5eddc300b5668ff44d6f8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 54:21 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Manny Fried : Life Reflections Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Writer, Reporter) Description An account of the resource <strong>Interview One</strong><br />Manny Fried turns 80 and reflects on his life and the struggles he endured after being blacklisted from 1956 to 1972 for his political beliefs. He says that growing up as one of nine children, “We were taught to be honest and stick up for your rights.” In his books and plays he writes about relationships inside the labor movement. “I tried hard to be a voice for the American worker,” he tells Rich Newberg.<br /><br />He talks about refusing to answer any questions by the House Un-American Activities Committee, and about receiving support from Albert Einstein. Fried says the committee did not have a constitutional right to exist. He says he has no regrets, even though his life has been tough. He says, “I’ve tried to embody my experience in plays I write and the novels I write.”<br /><br />The interview is conducted at the Alleyway Theater before scenes are rehearsed for his play “Big Ben Hood.” Fried says the underlying theme is, “The need to be true to yourself, the need to have integrity, and the need to make a choice and not try to stand on the fence.”<br /><br />When the interview ends, the actors on stage celebrate Manny Fried's birthday, surprising him with a song and a cake. He joins them on stage and blows out the candles with one breath. The actors, including Jim Santella, pay tribute to Fried, pointing out his honesty and integrity.<br />March 1, 1993<br />Interview Runs: 12:36<br />21:18 including b-roll<br /><br /><strong>Interview Two</strong><br />In 1994 Manny Fried is interviewed by Rich Newberg at home, where he discusses his lawsuit against the FBI and the price he paid for being labeled “the most dangerous man in Western New York.”<br /><br />At age 81, he discusses the lawsuit he filed against the FBI based on testimony he learned two years earlier from a former FBI worker. He says the woman told him that the FBI set up 25 agents to follow him around the clock, bug his conversations, read his mail and work toward getting him indicted.<br /><br />Fried says the most important goal of his lawsuit is to “have them admit what they did... and to make amends and so it’s not easy for them to do it again.” He says former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, through his agents, damaged his marriage and convinced neighbors not to allow their children to play with his children. Fried says the agents assigned to his case also convinced friends of his wife Rhoda, who came from an upper class Buffalo family, to stop socializing with her. He says they went to her friends’ employers or clients and pressured them to stay away from the Fried family.<br /><br />Rhoda’s family owned the upscale Park Lane Restaurant and apartment building on Gates Circle in Buffalo. She had been a part owner but was barred from entering the restaurant according to Fried, after a priest called for a boycott of the establishment.<br />Fried blames the actions of government agents for breaking his wife’s spirit and believes they were probably responsible for her death. He says she had become an alcoholic and a heavy smoker and eventually had a stroke.<br /><br />He says he has no regrets having been a member of the Communist Party in Western New York, whose goals locally he says were to “better the standard of living, the wages and the working conditions of the people here.” But he adds, “The only sense of guilt I have about this whole thing is what my wife and kids went through and the part I played in sticking up for these ideals.” He says, “They went through hell on account of it and that bothers me yet!”<br /><br />The number one hope expresses at age 81 is that “working people are able to get decent jobs and don’t have to worry where their bread’s coming from.” He adds, “I want people to have enough to eat. I want them to have decent homes. I want them to get along. That’s what I want.”<br /><br />[June 9, 1994] <br />[Interview Runs: 31:01] <br />[32:58 including b-roll] Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1993-03-01 1994-06-09 Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2023-11-15 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Subject The topic of the resource Labor--New York (State)--Buffalo. Playwriting. https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/fee5730134e3ddcf8c81795400549e48.mp4 ee470dc63e68d429d0ad9b353467303c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 07:11 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Manny Fried: A Guiding Presence Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Writer, Reporter) Description An account of the resource When Manny Fried was blacklisted during the McCarthy era in the 1950s, he says the union rank and file he represented as an organizer stood by him. He said he never lost hope in the American people because of that support. He was being investigated for his association with the Communist Party. His refusal to answer questions from the House Un-American Activities Committee earned the respect of Albert Einstein, who sent him a note on April 16, 1954 saying, “You did the right thing and fulfilled your duty as a citizen.” After finding it impossible to find work in the US, Fried took a job with a Canadian company as a life insurance salesmen. He established his voice as a playwright, author, actor and teacher. He began teaching creative writing at Buffalo State College in 1972. Later in life he sued the FBI for emotional and financial damage, claiming he and his family were harassed and intimidated by twenty-five agents under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover. Fried’s book, “The Un-American,” retells the nightmare he and his family were made to endure. When Manny Fried passed away in 2011 at the age of 97, Buffalo News columnist Colin Dabkowski wrote, “He remained a guiding presence in Buffalo’s theater, literary and social activist communities and was widely regarded as the most important figure on Buffalo’s theater scene.” Manny Fried told his story to Rich Newberg, who produced three reports in 1993 and 1994. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1993-03-01 1994-06-02 1994-06-09 Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2023-11-15 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Subject The topic of the resource Labor--New York (State)--Buffalo. Playwriting. https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/9ea7933e8e1eb453241febe8fe866278.mp4 d64c57cc1d0b67bb43cbd197d2b1bc72 https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/5e530ab1829aeae5f202735886780346.vtt 6b38f76260c22097e5e234f6819a2760 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Vehicular Manslaughter Trial of Lyndon Goodell Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich Description An account of the resource In August, 1988, Lyndon Goodell was found guilty of being under the influence of alcohol when the car he was driving smashed head on into a driver-education car. On June 10, 1987, three 17 year old Pembroke, New York High School students and their 55 year old instructor were killed. Victims' relatives attended every day of the fifteen day trial in Batavia, New York. The jury took two days to deliberate. The jury had to determine that it was 23 year old Goodell behind the wheel. His passenger, Carol Rokicki, was with him at the time of the accident. She had been granted immunity by the prosecution in exchange for her testimony. Defense attorney Fern Acomb said it was Rokicki who supplied the alcohol and had the keys to the car, and that she was driving at the time of the crash. However, it was Goodell's chest injuries that convinced the jury that he was in the driver's seat. The manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter convictions of Goodell were based on the belief that he knew, or should have known that his reckless drunken driving had the potential to kill. District Attorney Robert Noonan said, "...a guilty verdict on all counts was the only verdict that I would have been happy with." The victims' relatives comforted each other after the two week trial ended with a guilty verdict. Tricia Collins, whose husband Patrick was killed in the accident, expressed the hope the trial would serve as a powerful lesson that drinking and driving can lead to tragic consequences. Genesee County Judge Glenn Morton sentenced Goodell to 7 1/2 to 15 years in state prison. A wrongful-death settlement totaling $340,000 dollars was paid out by insurance companies to the families of all four of the victims. Goodell kept maintaining that he was not driving, but lost subsequent appeals. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Reeve, Richard (Reporter) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988-08 Subject The topic of the resource Goodell, Lyndon Drunk Driving Trials (Manslaughter)--New York (State) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/e1e94b4b768b591ac6dd1ba5a851cbe8.mp4 5b7e7eebd115268fc6e4128fd9114032 https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/133e423ff384f978332668714fe27d82.vtt 7d0b80e3e5913483dd52f8aa0a8b68de Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Rescue of Heather Mercer Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich Description An account of the resource The Rescue of Heather Mercer Heather Mercer and her friend and co-worker Dayna Curry, were American aid workers arrested in Afghanistan by the Taliban on August 3, 2001. They were part of the Antioch International Movement of Churches and employed by a German-based Christian aid organization called Shelter Now International. Following their arrest, six other Western aid workers and sixteen co-workers from Afghanistan were taken into custody and charged with preaching Christianity, a crime potentially punishable by death under Taliban law. The workers were initially held as prisoners in Kabul. When Northern Alliance forces took control of Kabul on November 13, 2001, the aid workers from Afghanistan were freed. The Western aid workers, however, were moved by the Taliban to a prison in Ghazni. There, anti-Taliban forces freed those prisoners as well. They were airlifted to safety in Islamabad, Pakistan. Heather Mercer grew up in suburban Virginia, outside of Washington. Her parents were divorced. Heather's mother, Deborah Eddy from Lewiston, and her grandmother, Norma Anderson from Niagara Falls, worked tirelessly for Heather's release. Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry were welcomed home by President Bush and invited to join him at the White House. The president said, "They had a calling to serve the poorest of the poor." Heather commented, "We know we're here because of the prayers of people all over the country, all over the world!" Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hill, Ahmir (Graphic artist) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2001-11-26 Subject The topic of the resource Humanitarian aid workers--Afghanistan Mercer, Heather Taliban Shelter Now (Organization) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/33be723dfee0b95efcbd4bad116fbab9.mp4 94acc3964967ea6f979747200fc5349f https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/1637bfd7d3474906da35dec0744107dd.vtt b505637e745ab022a6e3bded528bae0a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Hunt for Ralph "Bucky" Phillips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich Description An account of the resource This series of reports compiled by retired WIVB-TV senior correspondent Rich Newberg documents the escape of Ralph "Bucky" Phillips from jail and the subsequent manhunt that cost a New York State Trooper his life. Two other Troopers had been shot and wounded by Phillips. It was one of the largest manhunts in the nation, lasting more than five months. Mr. Newberg's report on the funeral of Trooper Joseph Longobardo is included, as well as many stories documenting the progression of events leading up to Phillips' capture. Ralph "Bucky" Phillips had appeared on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Background On April 2, 2006, Ralph "Bucky" Phillips escaped from the Erie County Correctional Facility by using a can opener to cut through the metal roof of the kitchen. He had been arrested on a parole violation following a burglary conviction in 2005. Although his criminal record also included grand larceny and other crimes, he was initially not considered to be a violent person by friends and relatives, according to early reports. Some believed he was intent on patching up his relationship with his daughter and grandchildren. During the initial phases of his escape, the public became fixated on Phillips' ability to allude police, who at times were hot on his trail. Feeding into his "folk hero" status, one restaurant established the to-go "Bucky Burger," for those "On the Run." T-shirts were marketed saying "Run, Bucky, Run!" A song with the same title was written. The Bucky Phillips saga turned dark when he shot and wounded New York State Trooper Sean Brown near Elmira on June 10, 2006. Trooper Brown was approaching a stolen Ford Mustang Phillips was driving. A second shooting took place in the Chautauqua County town of Pomfret on August 31st. State Troopers Donald Baker Jr. and Joseph Longobardo were hit during a house stakeout of a relative of Phillips. Longobardo later died from his wounds. Phillips was captured by Pennsylvania State Police on September 8, 2006. He surrendered in a wooded area with his hands raised. While in custody and taken in for processing, there were still supporters who cheered him on, much to the disgust of troopers. On November 29, 2006, Phillips pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. He was sentenced in Chautauqua County Court to life without parole. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2006-04-02 2006-09-08 Subject The topic of the resource Escaped prisoners Phillips, Ralph James Fugitives from justice. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Language A language of the resource eng