EPA Proposes Lower Cleanup Level for Pueblo Homes
EPA proposal lowers the existing residential cleanup level and initiates a 30-day public comment period
DENVER – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection EPA (EPA) proposed changes to the residential cleanup level for lead at the Colorado Smelter Superfund site. EPA’s proposal lowers the cleanup level for lead in residential soil to 240 parts per million (ppm) from the current cleanup level of 350 ppm. The proposal would also lower the cleanup level for indoor dust to 110 ppm from the current cleanup level of 275 ppm.
The proposed change reflects EPA’s continued effort to use the latest science to improve protections for people living near the site. Residential sampling remains available while the agency’s proposal goes through public comment and finalization. Properties that were previously sampled but did not meet the former cleanup threshold would also be reevaluated under the new standards. EPA does not anticipate revisiting yards that received whole-yard cleanups.
"This proposal moves the project forward using the latest science and stronger protective standards to better safeguard human health. Families shouldn't have to worry if their children are playing in lead-contaminated soil," said EPA Regional Administrator Cyrus Western. "We are committed to getting faster results to protect human health, which acts on the latest gold-standard science, and will provide real results to citizens of Pueblo."
In October 2025, EPA released the Residential Soil Lead Directive for CERCLA Sites and RCRA Hazardous Waste Cleanup Facilities (2025 Directive) to enable faster decisions that are built to quickly address risks posed by lead in residential soil and interior dust. The 2025 Directive evaluates and incorporates site-specific conditions to develop and select protective cleanup levels, which will help accelerate cleanups and deliver health and environmental protections to communities. In addition, the 2025 directive focuses on combining cleanups of lead contaminated soil with the education and action of individuals, communities, and government partners to provide an effective overall strategy for reducing blood-lead levels in children. The updated approach outlined in this Directive formalizes the use of these layers of protection to encourage early response in areas of greatest concern and to leverage the expertise and resources of state and local partners for long-term protection that provides greater certainty to communities and other stakeholders.
The proposed changes modify the existing cleanup plan outlined in the 2017 Interim Record of Decision (IROD). EPA’s proposed revised cleanup levels are listed in the Explanation of Significant Differences (pdf) (1.2 MB), which is available for public review.
"By reducing the cleanup levels, EPA is taking a big step towards preventing lead exposure in Pueblo," said Pueblo Health Department Lead Program Manager Aaron Martinez. "We've partnered with EPA for years to conduct healthy home visits and provide education on lead safety. We're glad to see this proposal protects even the most sensitive populations."
EPA’s current cleanup approach includes multiple layers of protection and continues to prioritize residences with vulnerable populations, including homes with young children and pregnant or nursing mothers.
EPA’s proposal will undergo a 30-day public comment period, which will run from 9/1/26 to 10/1/26. EPA encourages residents and other interested parties to review the available documents and participate in the comment period.
Please submit comments one of the following ways:
- Via email: chan.sydney@epa.gov
- Via hard copy mail
- Sydney Chan, EPA, SEM-RB-A
- 1595 Wynkoop Street
- Denver, CO 80202
To learn more about these changes, please join the EPA at the upcoming Open Houses in Pueblo. The first Open House will held on September 8 from 4:30 – 6:00 pm at the Rawlings Library Branch (100 E Abriendo Ave, Pueblo, CO 81004) in the Friends of the Library Room. The second Open House will be held on September 9 from 11:30 – 1:00pm at Neighborworks of Southern Colorado (1241 E Routt Ave, Pueblo, CO 81004). Please note that although verbal comments cannot be accepted at the Open Houses, written comments are welcomed.
Following the conclusion of the public comment period, EPA will consider all public comments and provide responses in a formal Responsiveness Summary in the Explanation of Significant Differences.
EPA’s proposal is available for review on the Colorado Smelter webpage. This document is also available for review at the EPA’s Denver office (1595 Wynkoop St, Denver, Colorado) and will be available at the Rawlins Main Library Branch (100 E Abriendo Ave, Pueblo, Colorado).
Background
Since the 1970s, EPA has worked alongside partners at the federal, state, Tribal, and local levels to protect children’s health and make progress in reducing lead exposures and lead-related health risks. Despite improvements over the last 50 years, ongoing exposures to lead where our families live, work, and play present a health risk, especially to children.
To combat this issue, in 2025 the Trump EPA reestablished a committee of senior leaders across the agency’s program offices and ten regions to drive success in reducing children’s exposure to lead. This renewed agency-wide focus is centered around strengthening cooperative federalism, streamlining actionable risk communications, and unleashing private sector innovation to protect human health and the environment.
Please see epa.gov/lead for additional information.
