The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 began the second phase of its lead screening project Wednesday, April 23, in Detroit at the closed Master Metals site.
EPA teams are canvassing the area seeking written access agreements from residents and property owners of the 166 individual properties scheduled to be sampled. City- and state-owned parcels, including Sojourner Truth Housing Complex, Atkinson Elementary School and a park adjoining the school, are also being tested.
The sampling and analysis should take about five weeks. EPA will hold another public meeting to announce the results at that time.
In a related matter, EPA has begun taking soil samples at the former Master Metals lead smelter site. Construction equipment and mobile offices will arrive May 5 in preparation for the cleanup of lead-contaminated soil at the site.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will demolish the old Master Metals office, with funding from the Clean Michigan Initiative, before the soil removal is completed.
Work is expected to be finished by late summer, at which time the empty lot will be refilled with clean soil.