By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A worker in protective gear excavates topsoil at Kings High School in Kings Mills on Wednesday. Lead in the soil came from a shooting club that once used the property. (Michael Snyder photo)

Workers have begun removing toxic, lead-contaminated soil near Kings Junior and Senior High School, which closed the school's football stadium, baseball and softball fields last fall.

A crew of up to eight workers, contracted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, began the $2 million lead cleanup earlier this week with some workers wearing protective air masks as they unearth the soil, said Steven Renninger, EPA on-scene coordinator.

"It's just a precaution. We are doing air monitoring in the area now. And once we get the results later this week, they will remove their masks," said Renninger.

Up to 10,000 tons of lead-contaminated soil is expected to be removed from the former site of the George E. King Stadium and nearby baseball and softball fields just south of the Warren County high school on Columbia Road. EPA officials estimate the cleanup will be completed by June 30.

EPA officials have also set up air monitoring equipment around the two schools to ensure student safety, and the federal Superfund cleanup site is clearly marked as off-limits to the public for health and safety reasons.

In August, the discovery of lead contamination, which came from a private shooting club that used the property before the Kings school district purchased the land in the 1960s, forced the high school football team and soccer squad to play at nearby Galbreath Field. That is likely to continue next school year.

A tentative agreement between Kings and the EPA would have the cleanup cost covered by federal money.