EPA says new round of East Helena yard cleanups to start this week

Crews will be tearing out and replacing yards that, through sampling, were found to have 400 parts per million or higher soil-lead content within the East Helena Superfund site boundary.

The EPA has already performed remediation in hundreds of East Helena yards under the prior 1,000-ppm action level, which was removed in 2024, and the soil cleanup level of 500 ppm was reduced to 400 ppm the same year, allowing more properties to qualify for remediation.

The EPA said Monday that cleanups will focus on priority properties where the highest levels of lead were found, where there are significant exposure concerns or where vulnerable populations — including children and the elderly — live and could be exposed.

Crews will remove yards down to 18 or 24 inches and place the waste on the slag pile near for the former ASARCO smelter, where the soil might be used as a protective cover for the slag pile, the EPA said. Cleanups are expected to take three to four days depending on the yard size, though larger properties could take up to a week.

The agency said each yard will be cleaned on an individual basis with close consultation between Weston and property owners. Sampling and cleanups can only occur when a property owner gives written permission.

Weston said in April its local Property Coordination Team and East Helena project office would be the point of contact for residents. Helena-based Olympus Technical Services will be supporting the Weston team’s construction efforts, and Weston said it would be working to offer summer day camp vouchers during scheduled work activities.

“This work directly affects families and neighborhoods, and we take that responsibility seriously,” Weston Program Manager Elizabeth Wessling said in a statement. “Our focus is on clear communication, careful execution and delivering results in a way that respects the community.”

Yard cleanup crews are expected to work until October depending on weather, according to a community presentation EPA officials gave to East Helena residents earlier this year.

“Accelerating cleanups in communities is a major priority for EPA, and today’s announcement shows how collaboration and smart project management can lead to major progress in achieving EPA’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment,” EPA Region 8 Regional Administrator Cyrus Western said in a statement. “EPA is proud to deliver quality cleanups to the vibrant and growing community of East Helena, helping protect the community and reduce the potential for lead exposure.”