Over Half of Omaha's Superfund Yards Still Exceed Safe Lead Levels

A joint survey of 388 residences within Omaha’s designated Superfund area found that 208 yards contain lead above 100 parts per million, a threshold newer health guidelines suggest is necessary to safeguard children. The EPA’s existing remediation policy, set in 2009, only requires excavation when soil surpasses 400 ppm, meaning many contaminated yards remain untreated. Residents such as Natalie Thorpe, whose three-year-old was diagnosed with elevated lead, describe feeling vulnerable despite assurances that the site has been addressed.

EPA spokesperson Kellen Ashford emphasized that soil removal is just one element of a broader strategy that includes a public lead registry and funded health-department interventions. Recent EPA testing indicates that up to 84% of the 36,000-plus properties in the Superfund zone may exceed the 100 ppm level, prompting a new investigation whose findings are expected by October 2027. Experts argue that updated science and stronger political will are needed to lower cleanup thresholds and provide lasting protection.