By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DEERFIELD TWP. - As much as 10 tons of lead-contaminated soil - up to two feet below the surface - has to be removed from Kings Junior and Senior High School grounds.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state health officials told more than 70 residents during a public presentation at the high school that site preparation will begin today and that the large-scale soil removal will begin early next month.

Steven Renninger, on-scene coordinator for the agency, said the soil removal could be completed by June 30, and almost all the estimated $2 million cost will likely be covered by federal money.

Renninger assured residents that students at the Kings Junior and Senior High School off of Columbia Road will not be exposed to any airborne lead particles from the site, which was a shooting club for decades until the school district bought the property in the late 1960s.

Lead concentrations from spent ammunition atop and beneath the soil is highest at the baseball field, where testing showed contamination levels at 96,600 parts per million -- "well above what public health agencies consider to be a health threat" Renninger told the audience. Kings football field showed contamination of 34,400 parts per million.

Since the lead's discovery in August, the football team has played its games at nearby Galbreath Field and school officials said sports teams may play there again next school year.

Kings officials are conducting preliminary examinations of possible stadium replacements that may include artificial turf and expansion above the previous 2,000-seat capacity.

"It'll definitely be a big hit to the district to replace all those facilities," board member Toby Darkins Jr. said.

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com