Union Pacific has begun the process of testing soil surrounding the former Houston Wood Preserving site in Fifth Ward.
The crew, overseen by officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, started at the Boyce-Dorian Park Wednesday morning.
The process of collecting the dirt is what you’d imagine. They’re using hand augers, shovels, and spoons to collect soil samples from depths ranging from ground level to 12 inches below the surface. Sampling will take place on the HWPW site and across five designated zones determined by the EPA which include homes, schools, parks, and recreation centers.
The park is the first spot, because it’s a ‘high access’ area.
“We’ll be doing this through September,” U.S. E.P.A. Project Manager Casey Luckett Snyder. “We’re starting in parks and schools. We’re going to the Hester House tomorrow, the community center and following that we’ll be doing soil sampling in residential yards.”
The two groups would like to test 342 residential properties near the old Houston Wood Preserving site but only 180 have agreed to allow crews on their property.
Luckett Snyder said the percentage of yeses is on pair with previous testing they’ve done on different projects.
However, longtime resident turned activist Sandra Edwards believes more people aren’t volunteering due to lack of trust.
“They messed up by letting people build out here. They messed up and let people get permits out here. And they stopped a lot of stuff. They’re like, ‘they’re trying to relocate us, while we’re moving, you’re bringing people in.’ So, it brings up a lot of red flags, a lot of questions were asked, and they didn’t have answers to it,” Edwards said. “A lot of people are like, ‘I’m just going to forget it.’”
Despite frustrations, Edwards says she’s eager to get the results.
“I’m just anxious and excited at the same time. It’s a whole lot of emotions balled up into one because this is long overdue,” she said. “I’m excited but I just want the results. I’m anxious. I want the results. I want the results.”
