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.