Site Investigation
Jewett White Lead Company Site
Port Richmond, Staten Island, New York
Community Update
September 2009
Results
In early June, EPA collected a total of
248 soil samples from the Port
Richmond Community. Soil samples
were also collected from the backyards
of 13 homes located immediately next
to the site in the one block area bound
by Park Avenue, Ann Street and
Heberton Avenue.
Lead was found at an average concen-
tration of 549 parts per million (ppm)
in the top soils of the backyards
sampled. This level of lead is higher
than the EPA screening level of 400
ppm for lead in residential high use
bare soil areas.
Lead was detected in the grassy areas
sampled both in the background and in
the area surrounding the site. The lead
levels seen in the grassy area closest to
the site are comparable to the levels
detected in the background area.
The average concentration of lead in
the six-block area closest to the site is
666 ppm, while the average concentra-
tion of lead seen in the background
area is 788 ppm.
Lead was found at much lower levels
in the road grit collected from the
street curb lines. The overall average
lead found in the road grit collected
from all areas is 177 ppm, while the
one block area surrounding the site
was 132 ppm.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing this notice to
update you regarding the progress made at the Jewett White Lead
Company site.
Site Investigation
EPA collected soil samples in the Port Richmond Community during
the week of June 8th to June 12th to determine if the lead found in
soils at the former Jewett White Lead Company site located at 2000
Richmond Terrace (on the corner of Richmond Terrace and Park
Avenue) has affected the surrounding neighborhood.
A total of 248 soil samples were collected from the backyards of
homes closest to the site and from the grassy areas on sidewalks in
a six-block area closest to the site. Background samples were
collected in other grassy sidewalk areas approximately one-quarter
mile away from the site. All sampling activities were coordinated with
local and state officials.
Although we have found elevated levels of lead in the community we
have not yet been able to tie these directly to the Jewett White Lead
site. We're continuing tests to see if we can identify the lead by us-
ing a sort of "fingerprint" that would tell us if Jewett was a significant
contributing source. If Jewett is found to be a significant contributing
source to the lead found in the community, EPA will take appropriate
action to address the associated health risks. It is likely, however,
that at least some of the lead comes from other sources, including
lead-based paint and lead left over in the environment from when we
still used leaded gasoline. Once the investigation is complete, a
decision on whether additional sampling or a cleanup is needed will
be made.
Simple Steps to Reduce Your Lead Exposure
EPA and the State and City health departments recommend that the
following steps be followed to reduce your exposure to lead:
• Keep children away from all bare soil areas, and cover any bare
soil areas that may be on your property. Plant grass seed or
place sod on the bare soil. Maintaining any grass already
present in your yard will also prevent contact with the soil.
• Have all children between the ages of six months and six years
tested regularly for lead.
• Adults and children should frequently wash hands and face,
especially after they come inside from the yard, and before
www.EPA.gov/region2/superfund/removal/jewettwhitelead
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Community Update
September 2009
Any Questions:
Kim Staiger
On-Scene Coordinator
732-452-6415
staiger.kimberly@epa.gov
Wanda Ayala
Community Involvement Coordinator
212-637-3676
ayala.wanda@epa.gov
Toll-Free 1-800-346-5009
For Health Related Questions:
Chris Duroski
New York State Department of Health
800-458-1158 ext. 27860
New York City Department of Health
and Mental Hygiene
Dial 3-1-1 and ask for the Lead
Poisoning Prevention Program
EPA Regional Public Liaison:
EPA Region 2 has designated a public
liaison as a point-of-contact for
community concerns and questions
about the federal Superfund program in
New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To support
this effort, the Agency has established a
24-hour, toll-free number that the public
can call to request information, express
concerns, or register complaints about
Superfund. The public liaison for
EPA's Region 2 office is:
George Zachos
732-321-6621 or 888-283-7626
Zachos.george@epa.gov
Visit EPA's Web sites at:
www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/removal/
jewettwhitelead
eating or drinking.
• If you are a smoker, wash your hands before smoking.
• Remove shoes at the door to prevent tracking in dirt.
• Use a damp mop and cloths to keep floors, children's toys and
other surfaces clear of dust.
• Don't let your children play on the lawn right after you have
mowed or raked it, because soil could be on the grass clippings
or on the material that you raked.
Steps to Reduce Lead Exposure While Gardening
If you have a garden or plan to have a garden, you can take the
following steps to minimize your exposure to the lead present in the
soils:
1. If the soil is acidic, add lime to the garden to reduce the acidity.
Acidic soil increases the amount of lead available to plants;
2. Add organic matter such as compost, manure, or phosphate
containing fertilizers to garden soil. The organic matter binds
lead and reduces the amount available to plants. Organic mulch,
such as straw, grass clippings, or wood chips can reduce the
dust and the "splatter" of soil onto leafy vegetables from rain.
Using a phosphate containing fertilizer in the yard will help grass
grow and bind lead to the soil;
3. Because fruiting vegetables (like tomatoes, cucumbers or
peppers) take up less lead from the soil than leafy vegetable or
root crops, you may choose to grow more fruiting vegetables
instead of leaf or root crops;
4. Discard the outer lower leaves of leafy crops and peel all root
crops;
5. Thoroughly wash vegetables before eating to help remove any
dirt that may contain lead. Adding a little vinegar to the wash
water helps remove lead more effectively.
Lead-Based Paint Hazards
The presence of lead-based paint on the inside or outside surfaces
of a home can be a significant source of lead exposure to residents,
especially children if the paint is peeling or in poor condition. EPA
recommends that residents have their homes tested for the presence
of lead-based paint.
Site Background
The former Jewett White Lead Company site is an unpaved vacant
lot located at 2000 Richmond Terrace, in the Borough of Staten
Island, New York. It was used by John Jewett & Sons White Lead
Company and National Lead Industries to produce white lead. Vari-
ous other businesses operated at this location including Sedutto's
Ice Cream factory.
www.EPA.gov/region2/superfund/removal/jewettwhitelead
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