By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DEERFIELD TWP. - In the wake of a destructive windstorm that caused more than $300,000 in damages last month, Kings school official may also be stuck with the bill for cleaning up toxic lead from their school grounds.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials have told Kings officials they are one of five parties that may be held partially, or entirely, responsible for paying for the removal of toxic lead shot from the Warren County district's junior and senior high school grounds.

Until the 1960s the school site was a shooting range. Before that, it was a testing grounds for a nearby munitions factory.

Superintendent Charles Mason told the school board the district faces a Nov. 14 deadline to answer a detailed EPA questionnaire regarding the district's knowledge of the site's history.

Kings officials estimated insurance claims could total more than $500,000 for the Sept. 27 wind storm. "This could mean more expense for the district," Mason said.

But he emphasized that the EPA's review process may determine that the contamination of parts of the 63-acre school grounds - including the Kings football stadium - is not Kings' liability, but that of previous owners. Other possible responsible parties identified by EPA are: Remington Arms Co.; DuPont Co., Walnut Park Corporation in Cincinnati and the state of Ohio.

EPA officials declined to speculate how long it will take to determine who pays.

But according to a Sept. 30 letter from Richard Karl, chief of the EPA's Region Five Emergency Response Branch in Chicago, EPA officials want quick action because of the lead threat.

Sites found to have dangerous levels of lead by EPA investigators in mid-August were immediately fenced and roped off from students and the public with warning signs posted. Since then, school, EPA and local health officials have said nearby school grounds are safe.

EPA spokesman Mick Hans said his agency is reluctant to provide an estimate for the cleanup because more testing is needed to determine the extent of contamination.

Nor would Hans provide a time frame for when the EPA will decide who will pay.

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com