Love Canal

By mascott86

  • Origins of Love Canal

    It began as a plan to connect the Upper and Lower Niagara Rivers and generate hydropower.

  • Love Canal Becomes a Dumpsite

    Hooker Chemical Corporation as well as the city of Niagara and the U.S. Military used the canal as a dumpsite for chemical waste.

  • Covering It Up

    Hooker covered the dumpsite and sold the land for $1 to the New York Board of Education. They placed a disclaimer on the sale saying it contained chemical waste.

  • 99th Street Elementary

    99th Street Elementary School was built on top of the dumpsite.

  • Residence in Love Canal

    800 private homes and 240 low-income apartments were built around Love Canal.

  • Toxic Waste Discovered

    Study revealed toxic chemical residue in the air at the canal's southern end. High levels of PCBs were discovered in the sewer system.

  • Public Health Warning

    New York State Department of Health recommended that the school be closed, pregnant women and children under the age of 2 be evacuated, residents don't eat out of their gardens, and don't enter their basement.

  • Presidential Order

    Jimmy Carter orders evacuation of Love Canal.

  • CERCLA Act

    Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act of 1980 was passed. The EPA is managing clean up and the companies are required to pay for the costs.