Jacobsville Lead Cleanup extends beyond Neighborhood

It appears the lead contamination in yards around Evansville stretches much farther than Jacobsville. The Environmental Protection Agency targeted the north side neighborhood for high concentrations of lead earlier in the year. Now theyre digging up single homes outside that area. Theres something going on just beyond the walls of Ronald Ritters home that makes him nervous. "Theyve been out there for the last 2 days removing the top soil." It isnt your average yard work. These are contractors from the Environmental Protection Agency. "They were testing the soil for lead based contamination." Its all part of the EPAs efforts to clean up the contaminated soil in the Jacobsville Neighborhood. Except Ritters home in the 500 block of Bayard Park Drive is a mile away from Jacobsville. Turns out the problem stretches about a four mile area. The US EPA says it should have been called the Evansville Lead Cleanup. "The sight name is a bit of a nomenclatures," says Project Manager Kevin Turner. Theyre targeting about 80 to 90 individual yards in older neighborhoods around the city including the one just behind Ritters home. Its news to him. "Im concerned because no one in this area has been notified. The EPA says theyve done general press releases but says going door to door would be a good idea. So does Ritter. "Im wondering what kind of health issues," because theres not much barrier between the contaminated dirt and Ritters back yard. Ritter says when the weathers a little nicer he likes to use this area to grow vegetables, but now just a few feet away thats where theyve testing the soil for lead. "I wonder if Ive been ingesting some of that through those vegetables." Unless youre a pregnant woman or a senior citizen the EPA says this dirt shouldnt be a concern. But when the bulldozers show up in your neighbors backyard, Ritter can testify some notice would be nice. The EPA says this is only the first phase of the program. The EPA out of Chicago is holding a press conference with the city next month to let the public know whats next.