The EPA Was Considering a Lead Cleanup in Omaha. Then Trump Shifted Guidance
a day ago
- #Omaha-pollution
- #EPA-cleanup
- #lead-contamination
- Omaha has the largest residential lead cleanup site in the U.S. due to over a century of pollution from a smelter and other plants, totaling 400 million pounds of lead.
- The EPA under Biden lowered the lead level threshold for cleanup to 200 parts per million, potentially qualifying 27,000 more properties, but the Trump administration raised it back to 600 parts per million.
- Lead exposure in children can cause severe developmental issues, including IQ loss and speech delays, as seen in Crystalyn Prine’s 5-year-old son.
- The cleanup efforts in Omaha have been inconsistent, with only a fraction of contaminated properties addressed, leaving many families at risk.
- The Trump administration's new lead cleanup guidance may reduce the number of properties cleaned, prioritizing cost and efficiency over public health.
- Many Omaha residents are unaware of the lead contamination in their yards, and disclosure rules are often insufficient.
- The cleanup's future remains uncertain, with funding and political priorities playing significant roles in decision-making.