EPA Declares Fifth Ward's Hester House Soil Safe, Residents Remain Skeptical

Months after toxins detected, recent soil tests at Fifth Ward community center return safe levels

The Environmental Protection Agency conducted additional testing on plots of the greenspace situated behind the Julia C. Hester House after previous samples revealed levels of dioxin, a highly toxic chemical compound, that exceeded the EPA's screening levels for children. Some nearby residents expressed skepticism about the latest testing results.

EPA Clears Houston's Fifth Ward Site Months After Dioxin Scare

An EPA study conducted at Hester House had revealed dioxin levels—known carcinogens—measuring five times higher than the federal screening limit for children’s safety. The post EPA Clears Houston’s Fifth Ward Site Months After Dioxin Scare appeared first on Texas Scorecard.

EPA declares Fifth Ward's Hester House soil safe, residents remain skeptical

The EPA has declared the soil at Fifth Ward's Hester House safe, following months of testing that initially raised alarms about cancer-causing chemicals, but local residents remain cautious.

EPA, Commissioner Rodney Ellis declare Hester House contaminant-free, but residents disagree

After several months of speculation and testing for soil contaminants at the Julia C. Hester House, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis declared the area safe.During a meeting on June 3 hosted by Ellis and held at Hester House, Fifth Ward residents heard directly from and asked questions of EPA representative Casey Luckett-Synder. Yet, many walked away doubting the area’s safety and requested the…