Butte News

EPA wants to remediate Anaconda yards and houses of lead

Posted: Oct 18, 2012 7:12 PM by Katy Harris KXLF News
Updated: Oct 18, 2012 9:15 PM

The EPA has proposed a plan to remove lead materials from up to 500 properties in Anaconda.
In 2005 Anaconda residents raised concern about lead contaminants in their property.
"Primarily lead was the primary driver of cleanup in Butte so I think there always was a question about lead levels in Anaconda," says Anaconda EPA Superfund Project Manager Charlie Coleman.
The EPA and ARCO began sampling almost 2,000 residential soils and found elevated lead levels.
Now the EPA wants to cleanup as many as 500 residential soils.
The lead comes from Anaconda smelter emissions.
The Anaconda EPA Superfund Project Manager says that people's yards are just the starting point for cleanup.
EPA's new plan will also address lead paint in Anaconda homes.
"Not only does it address the contaminants in yards and in the soils but also allows us to look at other sources of lead like lead paint, and things like that, that potentially affect children in the community," adds Coleman.
Anaconda resident Stan Kangas says, "It would be a good thing if there was a health issue. By all means, yes I think that would be a good thing. Everyone should be concerned about the health of their community and especially their children."
Lead cleanup in Anaconda homes and lawns could begin as early as 2014.
A public comment meeting about the lead cleanup will be Wednesday, October 24th.
It will start at 6:30 at the Metcalf Center in Anaconda.