Residential Soil Lead Directive for CERCLA Sites and RCRA Hazardous Waste Cleanup Facilities

On October 16, 2025, OLEM issued a directive providing updated guidance and establishing a new approach to accelerate cleanup of lead contaminated soil on residential properties at CERCLA (also known as Superfund) sites and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste cleanup facilities.

The directive establishes:

• A regional removal management level of 600 parts per million for lead in residential soil.
• A regional screening level of 200 parts per million for lead in residential soil.
• A target children’s blood lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter to determine preliminary remediation goals.
• A series of process improvements to accelerate response actions.

This directive supersedes the January 2024 Updated Soil Lead Guidance for CERCLA sites and RCRA Corrective Action Facilities.

• Residential Soil Lead Directive for CERCLA Sites and RCRA Hazardous Waste Cleanup Facilities
• Read the news release.