The Honeywell corporation will join the Riverkeeper and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in funding the project. Jay Kelly manages the Honeywell plant in Buffalo. He said the company recognized that private partners are needed to make the project successful.

The agreement will allow sampling to continue along six miles of some of the worst polluted portions of the river between Cazenovia creek and the city ship canal. Julie Barrett O'Neill is executive director for Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. She said it is a complicated problem that needs thorough analysis.

She said the study might conclude that a combination of remedies is needed, possibly including dredging, capping and water treatments. Results of the study are expected by January with actual clean-up not beginning until late next year or early 2010.

Barrett said the cleanup will take at least five years and "tens of millions" of dollars to complete. Even then, she said the river will not be pristine.

United States Congressman Brian Higgins was on hand to announce Congress's support for that effort over the long haul. He said a total 750 million dollar package over five years was recently approved for Buffalo and 41 other waterway cleanups.

Higgins said the local partnership will also be an enticement for Congress to continue its support.

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