Soil Cleanup to Begin at
Terrell Homes
Barth Smelting Corporation Site
Newark, New Jersey
Community Update
November 2013
Public Meeting
The EPA will be hosting a public meeting to
provide information about the residential soil
sampling conducted throughout the Terrell
Homes and future cleanup actions.
Representatives from the EPA, Newark
Housing Authority, and Newark Department
of Child and Family Wellbeing will also be
available to meet with you to discuss any
concerns you may have about the Barth
Smelting Site.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Terrell Homes Community Room
35 Riverview Court
Newark, NJ 07105
For information on this meeting, please
contact Sophia Kelley at (212) 637-3670.
The EPA encourages all residents of Terrell
Homes to attend and participate in the public
meeting.
If you would like additional
information, please contact:
Sophia Kelley
EPA Community Involvement
Coordinator
(212) 637-3670
kellev.iessicasophia@epa.gov
Kimberly Staiger
EPA On-Scene Coordinator
(732) 452-6415
staiger.kimberlv@epa.gov
SITE INVESTIGATION
In December 2012, the EPA sampled soil at the
Terrell Homes playground area. Soil sampling
results show that lead levels are above the EPA's
Residential Screening Level of 400 parts per
million (ppm) in surface soils in the old
playground areas at the Terrell Homes housing
complex.
Additional soil sampling was conducted
throughout the unpaved areas of Terrell Homes in
March/April, 2013. Elevated levels of lead were
found in the grassy area next to the Community
Building. All areas where lead contamination is
present in the unpaved areas have been fenced off
to restrict access.
More targeted soil sampling was conducted in
May and August 2013 to determine how much
SOIL CLEANUP
The EPA will begin a cleanup of the fenced off
areas at the Terrell Homes property to address the
high levels of lead in the soil. The EPA anticipates
starting the cleanup the week of December 2,
2013.
The cleanup will involve the installation of a soil
retaining wall, removing the top one foot of lead
contaminated soil within the fenced areas,
replacing it with clean soil, and restoring the
grassy areas to prior conditions. These actions will
greatly reduce possible exposure to lead in soil at
Terrell Homes
Air monitoring and dust suppression will be
performed during all phases of the soil removal to
prevent releases of lead dust into the community
Please note that parking restrictions will
be in place along Riverview Court during
the cleanup.
www.epa.qov/reqion2/superfund/removal/barth/

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Community Update
November 2013
If you would like information on
general environmental concerns or
the federal Superfund hazardous
waste program, have concerns or
complaints about the Superfund
program, or if you seek assistance in
resolving site-specific issues that
were not fully addressed by the
EPA, please contact:
George Zachos
U.S. EPA
Regional Public Liaison
(732)321-6621
zachos. george@epa. gov
Or toll free at (888) 283-7626
For health related questions,
please call:
Peter Dillon Jr
City of Newark Health Department
Director of Inspections
Department of Child and Family
Well-Being
(973) 733-4315
Shonda Bryant
City of Newark Health Department
Childhood Lead Poisoning
Prevention Program Coordinator
(973) 733-5323
Free blood lead screening is
available Monday to Friday for
children ages 0-6 years at the
Newark Department of Child and
Family Well Being (located in the
WIC Office, ask for the lead
screening lab):
110 William Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
STEPS TO REDUCE YOUR LEAD EXPOSURE
Keep children away from the fenced off areas at
Terrell Homes, until the cleanup is complete. Low
levels of lead contamination in soil are not unusual
throughout many urban areas. Lead is present in the
unfenced areas of Terrell Homes, but at
concentrations that are lower than the EPA's
residential screening level for lead of 400 ppm, and
lower than background areas not impacted by the
Barth Smelting Site.
However, since children are very sensitive to the
effects of lead, practical measures should be taken to
minimize exposure to lead in soil. The EPA
recommends:
•	Removing shoes at the door to prevent tracking in
any dirt that may be on your shoes;
•	Washing hands and face, especially after coming
in from outside and before eating or drinking;
•	Washing frequently toys and other objects young
children handle and put in their mouths;
•	Cleaning the floors and windowsills by using a
damp mop or sponge; and
•	Keeping children away from bare soil when
playing outdoors.
If you have any concerns about lead exposure, please
contact the City of Newark Health Department for
more information at (973) 733-5323, or visit
http://www.ni.gov/health/fhs/newborn/lead.shtml
HISTORIC OPERATIONS
The New Jersey Zinc & Iron Company operated on the
property now occupied by Terrell Homes, the neighboring
property at 99 Chapel Street, and a small portion of the
Riverfront Park. The zinc facility operated on this location
from 1848 to 1910. When New Jersey Zinc & Iron
Company closed, the buildings were demolished and the
property was sub-divided and sold.
From 1946 to 1982, Barth Smelting Corporation operated
on the 99 Chapel Street property producing brass and
bronze ingots and non-ferrous metals and alloys. Currently
a cargo securing company operates on this property.
www.epa.qov/reqion2/superfund/removal/barth/

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