The Environmental Protection Agency says 800 household yards in Anaconda could be contaminated with high levels of lead and the agency is now working on a plan of action to clean it up.
EPA project manager for the Anaconda area, Charlie Coleman, says in 2008 soil samples came back with higher levels of lead than they had in the 1990s when the EPA's original record of decision for clean up in the area was finalized. He says they tested between 50 to 100 yards and 35 percent came back with high levels of lead. If that percentage holds true for the entire area about 800 yards would have elevated levels of lead.
A feasibility study has since been conducted, and Coleman says the next step is to develop a proposed amendment to the record of decision on how to deal with the lead contamination. Coleman says it will probably be about a $10 million cleanup project that Atlantic Richfield Company would be responsible for. But, he adds that it's nothing Anaconda residents should worry about right now.
"A lot of the homes, a lot of the most contaminated yards have been addressed. You know, given the values we're seeing with some of the re sampling, I don't believe there's an immediate risk that people should feel alarmed," Coleman said.
Coleman says the proposed amendment should be out sometime this summer and then the public will have a chance to comment on it. He expects it to be finalized in late 2011 or early 2012.
Time for some re sampling in Opportunity as well..
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