Garland ISD released a letter to parents Monday, July 26, regarding lead and arsenic contamination at Park Crest Elementary School. The letter said that the contamination was the result of the operation of the Globe-Union battery manufacturing plant – which closed in 1995.
Approximate timeline of events
2019
The Environmental Protection Agency conducted a preliminary assessment in 2019 to determine the potential threat to public health and the environment around the Globe-Union facility at 1111 Shiloh Road.
February 2020
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Environmental Protection Agency collected soil samples from nearby waterways.
June 2020
Garland ISD was notified by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that there were no chemicals of concern detected at numbers above acceptable levels. See letter from TCEQ to Garland ISD below.
A letter from GISD to Park Crest parents said that they then hired Terracon to conduct an independent assessment. Areas of lead contamination were identified near the creek and outside the school’s fence line according to information in the letter from GISD to parents. At that point, signage was added and the fence was reinforced to keep students out of the contaminated area.
No date disclosed
The district’s letter to Park Crest parents then stated that the district “subsequently” received updated information from the Environmental Protection Agency. A copy of the letter is below.
February 2021
The Environmental Protection Agency and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality partnered to collect more soil samples at the Globe Union site as well as from connected waterways.
Results of February 2021 test samples are below along with a map of the Park Crest ES area. The areas are indicated on the map and each area that tested high for lead or arsenic is also listed below with the corresponding area name and the contaminant level.
Both the EPA and Texas Department of State Health Services reviewed the results. The entities agreed that levels of arsenic and lead were higher than the recommended cleanup levels in some areas. For safety, lead levels should not exceed 400 ppm. Arsenic levels should not exceed 24 ppm.
The EPA letter indicated that soil from the property may need to be removed and that the EPA will be in touch with GISD to discuss the next steps.
July 26, 2021
GISD released a letter to parents indicating that they had received a new notification from the EPA that warned that there were areas of elevated arsenic on the campus. The map below indicates areas where both lead and arsenic were detected on the Park Crest property. There are a couple of areas where elevated levels of both lead and arsenic are present.
The district’s statement indicates that out of an abundance of caution, further safety measures were to be completed July 24-25. A higher fence would be installed around the basketball court area so that students are not chasing bouncing basketballs into the contaminated area.
There is also a campus garden at Park Crest ES that was fenced off for at least 90 days.
GISD has not announced plans to relocate the children to another campus while awaiting further direction from the EPA. The EPA attached fact sheets to the letter to Garland ISD that describe steps to prevent people from exposure to lead and arsenic as well as potential health risks.
Meetings scheduled
A virtual community meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5. Please go to https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=14728 and click on the meeting notice in the document area to the right for login information to attend the virtual meeting.
An in person meeting will be held at Park Crest ES. GISD will announce the date and time when confirmed.
The lead and arsenic levels for contaminated areas are listed below:
| Area | Depth | Arsenic | Lead |
| 001-CS1 | 0-1 | 430 | |
| 002-CS1 | 0-1 | 30.4 | |
| 003-CN1 | 0-1 | 687 | |
| 003-CS1 | 0-1 | 34.7 | 3300 |
| 003-CS1 | 0-1 | 25.6 | 3800 |
| 005-CS1 | 0-1 | 26.9 | 727 |
| 005-GRD | 0-1 | 1300 | |
| 005-GRD | 1-6 | 765 | |
| 006-CS1 | 0-1 | 672 | |
| 006-GRD | 0-1 | 622 | |
| 006-GRD | 6-12 | 535 | |
| 007-CN1 | 0-1 | 690 | |
| 007-CS1 | 0-1 | 1090 | |
| 007-CS1 | 0-1 | 806 | |
| 008-CN1 | 0-1 | 1020 | |
| 008-CS1 | 0-1 | 714 | |
| 009-CN1 | 0-1 | 625 | |
| 009-CS1 | 0-1 | 1460 | |
| 010-CN1 | 0-1 | 1810 | |
| 010-CS1 | 0-1 | 1910 | |
| 010-GRD | 0-1 | 467 | |
| 010-GRD | 1-6 | 784 | |
| 013-CN1 | 0-1 | 6430 | |
| 013-CS1 | 0-1 | 712 | |
| 034-GRD | 0-1 | 32.9 | |
| 034-GRD | 1-6 | 57.5 | |
| 035-GRD | 0-1 | 44,7 | |
| 035-GRD | 1-6 | 30,6 | |
| 036-GRD | 0-1 | 27.5 | |
| 036-GRD | 1-6 | 35.6 | |
| 040-GRD | 0-1 | 40.9 | |
| 042-GRD | 0-1 | 25.8 | |
| 042-GRD | 0-1 | 27.3 | |
| 043-GRD | 0.1 | 36.2 | |
| 046-GRD | 1.6 | 25.3 |
Park Crest ES area map – areas labeled CS are on south side of the creek. Areas labeled CN are on north side of the creek.
Letter from EPA to GISD:
Letter from GISD to Park Crest parents:
TCEQ letter:
