EPA finds elevated levels of lead on three properties By Sara Bailey
Staff Writer
OTTAWA - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found elevated levels of lead on three properties in Ottawa and will pursue removal of contaminated soil from these sites.
U.S. EPA On-Scene Coordinator, Lori Muller, informed Ottawa Village Council members, Monday, that 14 properties have been tested this summer.
"At this time, we're going to pursue a removal on three of the properties. We have four of them that are in a holding pattern right now, and we're going to do some additional testing on the samples we've already collected from them. We also have seven other properties, and based on the samples that we've taken, we're recommending no further action at this time," said Muller.
She added that the additional testing on the other four properties will determine the level of contamination below two feet of soil.
The U.S. EPA began testing sites in Ottawa in July 2008 when it was alerted of potential hazardous materials by residents of 440 E. Second St. The residents found industrial waste, including broken glass, on the property when preparing to rebuild their house after the August 2007 flood.
Officials identified the site on Second Street, and all other contaminated properties, as past dump sites for the former GTE/Sylvania/LG Philips plant.
Determining responsibility for the contamination is a separate investigation, said Muller, and the responsible party will pay for cleanup.
"Of the three properties that we're going to pursue a removal on, one of them is a village owned property, at 235 Blanchard St. ... We did find some elevated levels of lead at the surface of that property, and the other two properties are other privately owned properties that we are going to pursue," said Muller.
