The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the residents of the South Prescott Neighborhood of West Oakland, will begin the the lead clean-up and restoration of up to 150 properties in June 2011. At no cost to property owners, the project is expected to continue for 18-24 months with each lot taking 1-2 weeks to complete.

The project has three key objectives:

TO PROTECT CHILDREN’S HEALTH

• Unhealthy levels of lead are found in the soil in many residential communities around the country including in the South Prescott neighborhood.
• Lead ingestion in young children can result in neurological damage and cognitive impairment.
• Lead contamination in communities is due to the historic use of lead paint and leaded fuel and other lead containing.
• The lead problem in the South Prescott neighborhood will be addressed by a phosphate immobilization treatment.
• The soil treatment will lower and/or eliminate the lead risk to children’s health
• The EPA will be using a material made from fish bone (Apatite II) which will be mixed into the soil using a rototiller

TO MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY

• The project has been carefully designed to incorporate resources, processes, and materials that will avoid major disruption to the community and to the environment.
• Project Vehicles include a Bio-diesel truck and a zero emission electric truck.
• The project Field Office and rechargeable vehicles are powered by solar energy.
• Solar panels on the Field Office are expected to generate enough electricity to power the entire project and also send energy back into the electric grid; thereby creating a neutral or even a negative carbon footprint.
• Nearly 100% of the Field Office furniture including desks, chairs, bookshelves, tables, stands, and wall fixtures are reclaimed and reused furniture.
• The large multi-use wooden deck on the Field Office is made from 100% recycled lumber and the ground cover is recycled concrete gravel.
• The large planters in the front are re-purposed scrap metal found onsite and the raised garden beds are made from renewable cedar.

TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY BY UTILIZING LOCAL RESOURCES

• The project is to be managed from within the local community.
• EPA has designed the Field Office as a community resource to provide up-to-date information of the project progress as well as meeting space and educational materials.
• Local resources have been enlisted to facilitate the project including community organizations, and educational institutions.
• The primary contractor for the project is SFS Chemical Safety, Inc., a local, SBA 8(a) and 8(m) certified woman-owned small business.
• The work force includes graduates of the Cypress-Mandela Training Center and residents of South Prescott.
• Oakland-area based vendors and contractors are being utilized to support the project including the solar installation, deck construction, security, employment screening, garden design, site maintenance.
• 90% of workers on the project are East Bay residents.
• Community voices have led the formation of this project and community action has shaped it’s direction.