Study finds polluted soil in Tonawanda

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Tonawanda Coke plant is coming under fire once again.

On Tuesday, neighbors joined with an environmental community group to release the results of a new study conducted around homes just off of River Road. They claim the ground is polluted with high levels of hazardous chemicals and they're urging the state to test more yards.

People have been airing concerns about Tonawanda Coke for years now.

Jackie James Creedon of the Tonawanda Community Fund said, "Has this soil been tested before by the government? No! And I want to know why! They came in here and reduced the benzene, great. But, there's been no soil testing.. And why? Why does it take the community? Why does the community have to do the soil testing?"

The pollutants could come from Tonawanda Coke or the NRG Power Plant, though in recent years NRG installed state-of-the-art pollution controls.

News 4 reached out to Tonawanda Coke and was told the plant had no comment. The plant has been accused of polluting the air and was previously raided by federal authorities.