Southside Chattanooga Lead Site press event showcases cleanup progress through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investment
Publilshed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (January 22, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlighted the cleanup progress at the Southside Chattanooga Lead Site (SSCL) and over $56 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds issued by the Biden-Harris Administration to accelerate the cleanup.
“Southside Chattanooga Lead is one of just 28 Superfund Sites across the region selected to received BIL funds. Today, almost $70 million has been invested to address legacy contamination at this Site, and $36.3 million of that has come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with more money on the way,” said Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “This additional investment (BIL) has allowed EPA to add additional cleanup crews to expedite the cleanup and address more properties in a shorter period, and to deliver lasting public health protections for this community.”
“The Tennessee Department Energy & Conservation (TDEC) greatly appreciates the partnership with EPA and the City of Chattanooga to advance the cleanup of contaminated properties to benefit Tennesseans,” said TDEC Deputy Commissioner Greg Young.
SSCL has used Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding since 2022. This is the largest residential lead site in the region. The site consists of residential neighborhoods and non-residential communal areas (parks, schools, playgrounds, childcare centers), where soils have been impacted by lead-bearing foundry material. The pace of cleanup is being significantly accelerated due to the increased funding from BIL.
As of January 17, 2024, a total of 813 properties of 1,346 properties known to have lead concentrations exceeding the site-specific cleanup level have been remediated. To date 3,032 of approximately 5,424 properties within the Site boundary have been sampled. Cleanups are on track to meet or exceed the fiscal year 2024 cleanup goal of 250 properties. As of December 2023, we have disposed of ~154,091 tons of contaminated soil.
Read the full article at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/southside-chattanooga-lead-site-press-event-showcases-cleanup-progress-through
