On June 10, 2022, The New Mexico Environment Department
(NMED) received a request from the New Mexico Department of Health to assess a
residential property in San Antonio, NM for potential lead contamination after
two children living on the property were found to have high blood lead levels
after receiving venous blood lead tests during an annual exam.
NMED assessed the residential property on June 17, 2022, and
collected several soil samples for laboratory analysis from various locations
on the property. The laboratory results showed concentrations of lead and
arsenic above the New Mexico's residential soil screening levels.
In July 2022, NMED requested EPA's assistance with
conducting a Removal Site Evaluation. After visiting the San Antonio area in
August 2022 and having discussions with several locals, EPA learned that there
are former mills in San Antonio and residents in the San Antonio area have
commonly used tailings from the former mills as fill material for their
properties. EPA is assessing soils and tailing stockpiles on the former mills
as well as soils on residential properties which have provided EPA permission
to sample. For property owners who wish for their property to be sampled,
please follow this link https://response.epa.gov/sites/15703/files/Consent%20for%20Access.pdf
or go to the Documents section of this website, where you can download, fill
out and return the Consent to Access form to Matt Loesel at Loesel.matthew@epa.gov - EPA will
schedule a time for the sampling of additional properties for which consent
forms have been received.
The results of the samples will be used to
determine which properties exceed the lead screening levels and may need to be
included in an EPA Removal Action which will consist of excavation and
off-site disposal of contaminated soils.
