Report: EPA didn't alert to lead dangers

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CLEVELAND, April 19 (UPI) -- The Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators knew of lead contamination in hundreds of U.S. towns but did not notify residents, USA Today reported.

A 14-month investigation by USA Today found government officials failed to research the danger of soil contamination in neighborhoods surrounding many of more than 400 lead smelter locations operating in the 1930s to 1960s.

When federal regulators tested for and found high levels of lead in some locations -- as they did at sites in Philadelphia, Cleveland and Chicago -- they failed to notify residents of the possible risk or order cleanups, the newspaper said Thursday.

"I needed to know that," said Ken Shefton, of Cleveland, whose son was diagnosed with a high blood level. "I've got a couple of kids that don't like to do nothing but roll around in the dirt."

Elizabeth Southerland, director of assessment and remediation for the EPA's Superfund program said the USA Today investigation has alerted the government entity it needs to take another look.

"I am convinced we have addressed the highest-risk sites," she said. "Absolutely and positively, we are open to reassessing sites that we now feel, based on your information, need another look."