First Results Released in Pueblo’s Colorado Smelter Superfund Sites

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Historic photo of the Colorado Smelter
Historic photo of the Colorado Smelter

The Environmental Protection Agency has released results from the first round of sampling in Pueblo’s Colorado Smelter Superfund site.

The EPA tested outdoor soil and indoor dust at 102 homes. 19 had high lead levels. Steve Wharton with the EPA says these initial properties tested were from across the Superfund site.

"We have approximately 1900 homes within the study area to look at, so it’s really too early to see any particular trend as far as location," says Wharton.

Wharton expects cleanup to begin inside the homes with high lead levels later this month. Cleanup of outdoor soils will likely begin next year.

Sampling results for more properties will be announced soon and EPA plans to continue testing this summer.