The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an open house event ahead of planned soil testing in the Memphis neighborhood of Binghampton, where possible lead and arsenic contamination from the long-defunct U.S. Fireworks plant is a concern. The communal gathering, slated for the evening of March 18, is designed to brief residents on the upcoming environmental investigation, as reported by Action News 5.
Residents of the affected areas have been informed via mail about potential issues stemming from past industrial activities. The U.S. Fireworks company manufactured pyrotechnics from the 1920s until 1941 on a site that, has since been redeveloped with homes and businesses. The EPA, in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), will start the actual soil testing during the week of April 15, with the event taking place at the Lester Community Center, located at 317 Tillman St., between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m., according to FOX 13 Memphis.
This isn't the first time the site's soil has come under scrutiny. Tests performed roughly ten years ago indicated contaminant levels below the threshold of concern, but newer technology has spurred a fresh round of checks. The primary contaminants being investigated are heavy metals associated with the manufacturing of fireworks, which include toxic elements such as lead and arsenic.
During the open house, residents will be able to sign necessary permission forms for sampling their property, and representatives will be on hand to answer questions. Sampling will go on throughout the summer, with results expected by late summer 2024. In a statement obtained by EPA Newsreleases, individual results will be communicated directly with the affected residents, and, should the findings indicate a broader impact, the study area may see an expansion to include additional properties.
