Soil Cleanup of Residential and Common-Use Areas in Northport

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Published: Monday, 11 January 2021 20:41

Metals smelting dating back to the turn of the century contaminated soils in the town of Northport, putting children’s health at risk. Building on work initiated in 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted another round of cleanup in the town.

EPA cleaned up soil on 15 properties within Northport town limits from August 3 through September 25, 2020.  With consent of property owners, the cleanup included residential properties and common use areas at Lyn Kaste Gould Memorial Park, the lawn at the Northport Community Library, the play area at the Northport Community Garden, the lawn at the Northport American Legion vacant lot, and the lawn at the Northport Welcome Center.

EPA contractors replaced contaminated soil with clean soil in close coordination and communication with property owners. EPA controlled dust by spraying water and monitoring the air to ensure dust suppression was effective. Following the removal action, the EPA On-scene Coordinator conducted a walk-through with each property owner or representative to describe the excavation, backfill, and restoration work.

In 2004 EPA offered voluntary soil testing to Northport residents. 191 properties were sampled, and 33 properties were eligible for emergency soil removal and replacement with lead results greater than 1,000 ppm (parts per million).

Areas for the 2020 soil removal were identified based on an October 2019 review of 2004 data reports of properties within Northport town limits with lead levels near or above 700 ppm. The threshold of 700 ppm is the same level EPA used when working with Teck American to clean up 18 residential properties outside of Northport town limits from 2015 – 2018. Use of this lower threshold represents advances in scientific understanding of the adverse developmental effects of lead to young children and babies.