U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency is removing lead-contaminated soil at the
former Conn Band Instruments facility.
During
the cleanup, EPA will:
- Put a fence up at the site.
- Excavate lead-contaminated soil.
- Transport soil for proper disposal off-site or treat
soil onsite to remove the lead.
- Monitor air quality for worker and public safety.
- Wet roads and work areas to control dust.
- Inspect equipment and trucks leaving the work area to
minimize contamination leaving the site.
Residents
may notice truck traffic in the area during working hours. Workers follow
strict rules to keep nearby roads and properties free from contaminated soil
and debris. EPA expects to complete the work in summer 2026.
Background
The
Conn Band Instruments site is at 1101 East Beardsley Ave. in Elkhart, Indiana.
The property is an empty lot on 10 acres of land.
Conn
Band Instruments was at one time the largest instrument manufacturing facility
in the world. It stopped operations in 1978. The city acquired the property in
2019 and demolished the remaining structure. The city is redeveloping the
property through a brownfields grant. Brownfields projects put previously
contaminated properties back into productive use. The city discovered high
levels of lead in the soil and requested EPA assistance in April 2025.
