Wild Heritage Horizons

New York State DEC, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, announced that flights of a single-engine, low-flying plane called the Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) will Resume starting on June 24th, 2024 in Western New York. These flights were suspended in the fall of 2023 for weather concerns.

The Flights of the ASPECT are being conducted in Erie and Niagara counties “at an altitude of approximately 500 feet above ground level for about one month, including weekends.” Says the DEC’s press release. Sensors on the plane will be used to detect any radiological material on the ground. DEC states that “Photographs of property will not be taken during the flyover”.

More information on the ASPECT and images of the aircraft can be found here.

During World War II atomic weapon components were manufactured in Western New York along with other industries using radiologic materials. A survey was conducted in 1984 looking for radiological materials from waste and bi-product. DEC states that this survey is being conducted “out of an abundance of caution to provide the most current and scientific information…”

To Read NYS DEC’s press release click here.

If you live in Eerie or Niagara counties, and see a plane flying low over your area this summer, chances are it is the ASPECT flying to collect the data needed for this survey. DEC, coordinating with the EPA stated that they will “continue to keep the community informed as this evaluation progresses.”