35 more areas of Durham parks to be fenced off due to lead contamination, new EPA guidelines
Durham will fence off more parkland due to the ongoing lead contamination problem.
According to documents provided to WRAL News, additional fencing will be added to 35 areas in five parks with high lead levels. This is due to new regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA recently lowered recommended screening levels and strengthened guidance for investigating and cleaning up lead-contaminated soil in residential areas where children live and play from 400ppm and above to 200ppm and above.
Additional areas will be fenced off at the following parks:
- Lyon Park
- East End Park
- Walltown Park
- East Durham Park
- Northgate Park
The document also provided the following "risk scores" for these five Durham parks:
- Lyon Park: 274
- East End Park: 173
- Walltown Park: 173
- East Durham Park: 83
- Northgate Park: 83
The document said these scores do not necessarily reflect the amount of lead or hazardous materials within the park but help the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) establish priority based on risk scores.
According to the document, examples of the criteria used to score include:
- Potable drinking wells on site within 1,000 feet of contamination
- Schools and churches on site or within 1,000 feet of contamination
Researchers at Duke University first discovered the lead at the parks during a research study in 2022.
All five of the affected parks qualify for the state's pre-regulatory landfill program, which offers resources and funding to fix the issue.
The parks had the fencing put in place in June. The Durham City Council discussed further testing of the parks in early January, but some residents are concerned that digging up the parks will release more lead.
In January, the NCDEQ began surveying each park’s entire footprint through 0.25-acre grids to examine the top 12 inches of soil.
"Samples are currently being analyzed and a report is being prepared by NCDEQ, with an estimated completion date being April 2024," the document said.
The results of this report will be used by NCDEQ staff to draft a report for remediation solutions. The document said the report will be made available for public comment and community collaboration prior to approval and implementation.
The document said city leaders have requested that the Durham County Department of Public Health provide additional blood lead testing, which ceased in October 2023.
Concerned citizens are trying to form a group so they can be involved in the decision-making process, but the city is instead proposing to meet with a small delegation of the group's choosing. The document said city leaders will meet with the delegation no later than Feb. 15.
What to do if you think your child has been exposed
Lead exposure is difficult to see, according to the CDC, as most children show no obvious, immediate symptoms.
However, Bravo said those who are concerned can go to the doctor and have their child or children take a blood test to check the levels of lead in their system.
Many private insurance policies cover the cost of testing for lead in blood and the cost of blood lead testing for children enrolled in Medicaid is covered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, according to the CDC.
Richter proposed temporary measures to protect children at the three affected parks, such as fencing along the creek sides of all the parks, as well as the entire area of East Durham Park due to high concentration of lead.
