FEMA to pay for lead testing at 100 homes destroyed in Eaton fire, after months of saying it was unnecessary

"The U.S. EPA plans to conduct lead testing at 100 homes destroyed by the Eaton fire. For months, federal disaster officials leading the fire cleanup claimed soil testing was unnecessary. The change in policy follows the discovery of inspection reports alleging that federal cleanup workers violated protocols, potentially leaving toxic contaminants on properties. But environmental experts question the efficacy of EPA's testing approach, which does not align with the standards used after California wildfires in the past."

"The EPA plan, presented to a small group of environmental experts and community members on Jan. 5, said the agency would randomly select 100 sites from the 5,600 homes that had burned down in the Eaton fire and where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversaw the removal of ash, debris and a layer of soil. The soil samples would be collected near the surface and about 6 inches below ground."

"In a remarkable reversal, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay for soil testing for lead at 100 homes that were destroyed by the Eaton fire and cleaned up by federal disaster workers. The forthcoming announcement would mark an about-face for FEMA officials, who repeatedly resisted calls to test properties for toxic substances after federal contractors finished removing fire debris."

Federal agencies will conduct lead testing at 100 homes destroyed in the Eaton fire after federal inspection reports alleged cleanup workers violated protocols and may have left or moved contaminants. The EPA will randomly select 100 of 5,600 properties where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversaw removal of ash, debris and a layer of soil. Samples will be taken near the surface and about six inches down, with sampling beginning next week and results published in April. Environmental experts and local advocates question whether the limited testing matches standards used after California wildfires and whether it will determine rebuilding safety.

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