Ep63: Christen Civiletto - Thundering Waters, Niagara’s Toxic Legacy, and What’s Happening Right Now

John sits down with Christen Civiletto, Niagara Falls-born environmental attorney and author of Thundering Waters: The Toxic Legacy of Niagara County, published by Princeton University Press. Christen has spent 23 years researching the 89-plus documented hazardous waste sites in Niagara Falls after her father was diagnosed with a rare ionizing radiation-related cancer. The conversation is timely: recorded in early August 2026 as radioactive contamination is being confirmed in homes across the Town of Niagara in real time.Christen walks through the full arc of how Niagara Falls became one of the most contaminated places in the country: the industrial visionaries who turned cheap hydroelectric power and salt deposits into a chemical manufacturing hub, the companies that knew their workers were getting sick and kept producing anyway, the 21,800 tons of hazardous waste dumped into Love Canal, the liner that is now in year 42 of a 20-year warranty, and the waiver residents in the Town of Niagara were handed before anyone would test their yards. She also gives practical guidance for anyone living in the area right now: what to look for in your basement, who to call, and how to use her interactive map to understand what is buried near your home.MAP LINKhttps://c-mcshane.github.io/Thundering-Waters/web/map.htmlFIELD NARRATIVE LINKhttps://c-mcshane.github.io/Thundering-Waters/Niagara_Site_Narratives_updated.htmlEnjoying the episode?Subscribe, leave a review, and share Angles with John Richmond with a friend.🎧 New episodes every week.Visit www.richmondvona.com/angles-podcast/ for more📱 Follow us on Instagram:@anglesjohnrichmond@johnrichmondlaw@richmondvona🎥 Follow us on TikTok:@richmondvona@johnrichmondesq📺 Watch on YouTube: @angleswithjohnrichmondFollow us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576886611238Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and educational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the guest and host are their own and do not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Angles Podcast does not endorse any specific health claims, products, services, or treatments mentioned in this episode. Listeners should consult qualified professionals for advice tailored to their individual circumstances.