ROBERT P. CASEY, JR. TURE, NUTRITION, ano rons Wnited States Senate WASHINGTON, DC 20510 April 3, 2017 The Honorable Seott Pruitt Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 Dear Administrator Pruit write to bring your attention to a recent study conducted by the Metropolitan State University of Denver that examined lead levels in soils near the site of the former Exide secondary lead smelter in Laureldale, Pennsylvania. am troubled by some of the findings in this study, which appear to indicate that some residents continue to be exposed to dangerous levels of lead. ‘The Environmental Protection Agency issued an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) to Exide in 2000. This Order required Exide investigate the extent of lead contamination in area soils, and clean up properties that were adversely impacted by the facility’s lead emissions. In 2002, Exide began conducting a risk assessment that specifically targeted residences with children aged seven and younger, as this population is most vulnerable to lead exposure. EPA approved Exide’s risk assessment and a soil lead level of 650 parts per million (ppm) for residential properties in 2007. In approving this plan, EPA stated that soil lead levels of 650 ppm and less do not pose a health risk and don’t require remediation. In light of the fact that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reduced the blood lead “level of concern” for children from 10 micrograms to $ micrograms in 2012, several years after EPA approved a 650 ppm lead level for this cleanup, I request a response as to whether EPA. believes the 650 ppm level approved in this case is sufficient to protect public health, Furthermore, I encourage you to consider whether the approved lead levels at other remediation sites around the country need to be revised, based on CDC’s revision of the blood lead “level of concern,”Finally, I request an explanation as to why some of the properties included in the cleanup continue to test positive for high lead concentration levels. [also ask that EPA conduct its own testing in the area, and conduct a thorough review of the remediation effort in order to ensure that all properties that ought to be included in the cleanup are included, Thank you for your attention to this important issue. Sincerely, iol. Coreg Sr, Robert P. Casey, Jr United States Senator