The Environmental Protection Agency will be conducting
cleanup work at a south side Pueblo park starting Tuesday, December 12. The EPA
sampled soil at Benedict Park back in April. On Wednesday, December 13, they
will perform what it calls “a time-critical removal action.” According to the
EPA, it will clean up the eastern play area in Benedict Park, located at 310 E.
Mesa Avenue, where soils at a foot or more beneath the surface have shown
elevated levels of arsenic. The contamination does not present at immediate
risk to park users, as it is covered by a foot-and-a-half of gravel. The EPA
has determined that its best to remove soil from the area to protect against
future erosion or upward movement of contaminated soil during freeze-thaw
cycles. The play area cleanup will involve the removal of the pea gravel, and
testing, removal and replacement of about 12 inches of soil beneath the
gravel. A geotextile barrier will then
be placed on the soil, along with new gravel, and finally, the replacement of
the existing playground equipment. The cleanup work is expected to last from
one to two weeks. Benedict Park will be closed during the clean-up
process.