FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Team Saritha
Email: [email protected]
NEW YORK — New York – Aug. 28…New York State attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy, who served as Counsel to The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling under President Barack Obama, meets with Niagara residents on a fact-finding tour last week to learn more about widespread radioactive contamination discovered during a 2024 aerial environmental survey. As many as 1,400 homes may be affected, according to recent reports.
“I know firsthand, from my investigation of the BP Oil Spill, how distressing it can be when environmental contamination hits a local community. That’s why, the moment the Buffalo News story dropped about the spreading of contaminants, I changed my plans and headed to Niagara to hear from the people on the ground. Local residents are, naturally, alarmed and wondering what happened, who is responsible, and how to protect themselves and their families. What I heard in their voices was fear and uncertainty,” Ms. Komatireddy said. “I saw that fear and uncertainty during Deepwater Horizon, and only clear and accurate information can address it. These families deserve transparency and accountability.”
The Attorney General has an Environmental Protection Bureau with a staff that includes some 40 lawyers and 10 scientists. The Environmental Protection Bureau has the power to conduct investigations into violations of state and federal environmental laws and bring legal action to enforce both. The Bureau also develops and litigates contaminated site cleanup cost recovery actions against responsible parties.
“The Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau can play a constructive role, alongside state and federal agencies, to achieve that transparency and accountability. When I am Attorney General, I will do my part to help these families.”
The Komatireddy campaign noted that AG James has been absent in Niagara: “Letitia James has been nowhere on the Niagara contamination emergency.”
In addition, Komatireddy announced her support for legislation to classify nuclear and radioactive waste as hazardous waste so it can be remediated using the state’s Hazardous Waste Superfund. The legislation has been introduced by New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (Senate Bill S. 10672).
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