Southside Chattanooga Lead

Overview

Past foundry operations left lead-contaminated soil across residential neighborhoods on Chattanooga's southside. Foundries once gave residents waste materials, including spent sand, dust, and slag, to use as fill and topsoil. That practice spread contamination unevenly across eight neighborhoods: Alton Park, Cowart Place, East Lake, Highland Park, Jefferson Heights, Oak Grove, Southside Gardens, and Richmond. The EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in September 2018 after soil testing began in 2011, triggered by a resident with an elevated blood lead level.

Lead in soil is the only contaminant of concern identified at the site. The EPA has determined it poses an unacceptable risk to human health. Human exposure is not under control, meaning unsafe contamination levels exist and people could reasonably be exposed. Groundwater migration, however, is under control and contamination has not spread beyond its original area.

Cleanup involves digging out lead-contaminated soil to a depth of up to two feet, hauling it to an approved disposal facility, and backfilling with clean material. The EPA prioritizes properties with lead concentrations at or above 1,200 mg/kg first, followed by lower concentrations at homes with children ages 0 to 6, then all remaining properties above the site-specific cleanup level. As of December 2025, the EPA has sampled 4,110 properties and completed cleanup on 1,171. Several removal actions are already finished, covering Jefferson Heights, Highland Park, and Alton Park. The main site-wide remedial action began in September 2019 and is estimated to continue through May 2026. A five-year review was conducted in September 2024. Physical construction has not been completed, and the site is not yet ready for its anticipated use.

Residents can request free yard sampling by contacting the EPA. A results letter will be mailed within 90 days of collection. Cleanup is provided at no cost. While work continues, residents can reduce exposure by wiping shoes before entering the home, damp mopping floors, washing children's hands after outdoor play, and keeping grass or mulch cover on bare soil. Most vegetables grown in affected soil are safe if washed, but carrots should not be grown there and root vegetables should be peeled. Raised-bed gardens filled with clean soil are safe.

The EPA provides sampling authorization forms, fact sheets, and informational videos in English and Spanish. A health consultation draft from the Tennessee Department of Health is available for public review. Community involvement includes public notices, meetings, and interviews. Anyone with questions can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.