Love Canal Collections at the University Archives

Love Canal Area Revitilization Agency (LCARA) Records, 1980-2003
MS 74

  Historical Note | Scope and Content Note | Collection Arrangement | View full finding aid

Historical Note:
The Love Canal Area Revitalization Agency (LCARA) was government agency established by New York Governor, Hugh Carey on June 18, 1980 to organize the rehabilitation effort of the properties in the Emergency Declaration Area of Love Canal.

After the area was determined to be habitable, LCARA developed a Master Plan and Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for the new planned community. Using this plan, LCARA began to repair and renovate buildings within "Ring 2". "Ring 2" was the second ring of homes around the Love Canal site to be evacuated. After repairs were made, LCARA sold homes to citizens and established the new Black Creek Community.

LCARA was officially disbanded in 2003 by New York State Legislation and a closing ceremony was held in the Black Creek Community.

Scope and Content Note:
This collection contains the several drafts and final copies of the Love Canal Area Master Plan and Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS). The Master Plan is a comprehensive document covering areas of a municipality's planned growth and future, including infrastructure and zoning. The GEIS accessed the cumulative impact of the chemical waste site and its lasting secondary effects on the area.

Several related governmental reports (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Congressional reports) on Love Canal are contained within the collection as well.

The collection also contains: minutes from 1982-1999 of LCARA board and committee meetings; cassette tape recordings of meetings; the Technical Review Committee's Habitability Study's original findings and reports; historical items related to Love Canal and Hooker Chemical; and documentation of the closing ceremonies.

Arrangement:

Series I. Reports

Subseries A. Love Canal Area Revitalization Agency Master Plan

Subseries B. Other related Love Canal reports

Series II. Meetings

Series III. Black Creek Community

Subseries A. Appraisal

Series IV. LCARA Committees

Subseries A. Land Use Advisory Committee

Subseries B. Long Range Planning Committee

Subseries C. Technical Review Committee
    -- Habitability Study

Series V. Collected documents

Subseries A. Hooker Chemical

Series VI. Closing ceremony