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EPA and Local El Paso/New Mexico Agencies Announce Joint Sampling Efforts

Release Date: 6/26/2001
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     In support of local El Paso and New Mexico agency efforts, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) announced joint soil sampling efforts in the  El Paso, Texas, and Sunland Park, New Mexico, area to investigate community concerns over potential heavy metal contamination.

     In response to public concern, Texas State Senator Eliot Shapleigh requested advice from a group of local health, environment, and academic officials. This group, known as the El Paso Soils Workgroup, is made up of representatives from the Texas Department of Health, the TNRCC, the El Paso City/County Health and Environment Department, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and EPA. EPA agreed to help collect samples and data.

     This week, EPA is meeting with officials from the cities of El Paso and Sunland Park, UTEP, and local school districts to request access to public properties and permission to conduct soil sampling in July. Approximately 400 samples from about 100 locations such as schools and parks will be gathered over one to two weeks and analyzed at EPA-approved laboratories. Qualified sample results are expected four to six weeks after sampling is completed.

     The EPA is part of a multi-agency workgroup which jointly developed the sampling plan.  Workgroup members include representatives from EPA, TNRCC, NMED, Texas Department of Health, New Mexico Department of Health, and local officials.

     Any future actions will be determined in joint consultation with the agencies involved based on the findings of this sampling effort, and will be made available to the public through EPA's office in El Paso at 915-533-7273 and the El Paso City/County Health Department at 915-771-5800.