High radiation levels have prompted officials to contact hundreds of residents near Buffalo and driven four families out of their homes — and state and federal environmental regulators say the source of the mysterious contamination could be tied to the Manhattan Project.
Niagara and Erie counties played a vital role in the development of the United States’ first nuclear weapon during World War II. The state Department of Environmental Conservation began testing the area for potentially hazardous radioactivity three years ago and began informing residents in March 2025, according to locals.
Lifelong Niagara resident Kellie Motyka said readings by state environmental officials found radiation in her home was 10 times above normal. She’s begun a process to relocate while additional sampling and evaluations continue…