Master Metals Cleanup Continues in Detroit

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has completed the second phase of lead contamination testing in Detroit’s Krainzwood neighborhood.

Since March, EPA has collected 370 soil samples from 109 residential properties and another 187 samples from Atkinson Elementary School, a park next to the school and the Sojourner Truth housing complex.

Residential properties with lead levels above 400 parts per million will receive letters from EPA explaining the results and EPA’s plans for removing the contaminated soil.

Preliminary data suggests more than half of the residential properties and two areas in the Sojourner Truth complex have lead levels above 400 ppm. EPA will announce official laboratory analysis results soon. The school and park properties did not contain any samples above 400 parts per million.

On a separate track from the residential work, cleanup at the former Master Metals site continues. Currently, contaminated concrete pads are being demolished and prepared for shipping, along with contaminated soil, to an approved waste facility. EPA expects to finish cleanup at the Master