Any suggestions on lead contamination issues...

[Tater Salad]

I'm not sure what to say/not say about this issue. Any suggestions would be a real help.

There's a small town near St. Louis called Herculaneum that has been undergoing clean-up for lead contamination from a local smelter (Doe Run). There are proposed buyouts near the plant, soil clean-up, residential interior clean-up, etc.

I've been avoiding this area like the plague, as it seems to be a liability nightmare waiting to happen.

Now, there's another small town nearby called Pevely. I accepted an assignment thinking it was part of a different school district and found out that the subject is part of the school district of Herculaneum and the kids have to go into the clean-up areas for the Jr. & Sr. High Schools. There is talk that the town will request superfund status if the latest round of clean-up doesn't help (if there will be a superfund) but this action hasn't happened as of yet.

Since Pevely is not part of Herculaneum or the clean-up, do I talk about it? The kids could go to a private school or home-school, so they wouldn't necessarily be going to leadville every day. Anybody seen this before? How did/would you address this, if at all?

 

[Tater Salad]

Well, I guess you can't always believe the news snippits...

I was under the impression this wasn't a superfund area from news reports that they were attempting to be added to the list.

I went to the EPA website and found reports for the area under "Major Superfund" reports.

Hope nothing from last year comes back & bights me...

 

[jtrotta]

Funny you should bring this up, as we have an area here in one of the towns. with similar issues. It's been going on for almost two years now, and personally I avoid the nightmare. It's been all over the local news and some residents have been trying to "Sell" (of course this would be the most likely time to try & get out- while it's being splashed all over the news- DUHH) and claim they are suffering a "Loss In Value" do to the contamination issue's. Because of the current Pro/Con issues- IMHO - I avoid the area.


8)

 

[Tater Salad]

I've been trying to avoid it! I live so close to the lead belt that you think you're avoiding an area and something like this comes up.

Do you have any areas like mine, that aren't in the clean-up but the kids go to school in that area?

I'm only concerned because we are talking 40-70k value ranges on these homes; most of these kids go to public schools. Their parents can choose to not drive through that town, but the kids...

If I don't hear back, I'm planning on mentioning the issue in the adjacent town, that the subject is part of the public school district located in this town, and any depreciation from the "Duuuuh, I think I'll try to sell" constituents in the area. Another one bites the dust.

Now, to tackle that black stuff that was growing in the basement. I love my job.

 

[Jeff Horton]

Dont have to deal with anything like that here but CLEARLY DISCLOSE anything you know! Don't hold back on any thing regardless how small. And remember you not qualified in Enviromental issues. (are you??).