Flatwater Free Press
Coverage of Flatwater Free Press in the Nexus archive.
- More Than Half the Homes in East Omaha Have Unsafe Lead Levels. That Doesn’t Mean the EPA Will Clean Them Up.
More than half the yards in a section of Omaha, Nebraska, near an old lead smelter still show contamination levels that can pose risks to children. Current EPA policy for the Superfund site only requires cleanup when lead concentrations exceed 400 parts per million, even though scientific research shows lower exposures can cause serious health issues like IQ loss and heart attacks.
- Lead Contamination Is Still a Problem in Omaha. Why Is the City Cleaning Up Some Yards and Not Others?
Residents in Omaha, Nebraska, have found inconsistent responses from the city and EPA regarding lead contamination cleanup in their yards, despite tests showing levels exceeding EPA thresholds. Some properties received retesting and cleanup, while others were denied based on EPA rules or location in non-priority zones.
- The EPA Heralds Its Omaha Cleanup as a Success. But We Found Many Yards Still Have Toxic Levels of Lead.
The EPA has labeled its Omaha lead cleanup as successful, but recent tests reveal many yards still exceed lead levels deemed safe. Despite a $273 million cleanup effort since 1999, 1 in 10 remediated yards tested by ProPublica and Flatwater Free Press showed lead above original guidelines, and nearly a quarter met criteria for further study under new Trump-era standards.
- What You Should Know About Lead Contamination in Omaha, Nebraska
A lead smelter and factories in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, contaminated soil for over a century, leading to lead poisoning risks. The EPA and Omaha have attempted cleanup efforts, but in 2019, the EPA acknowledged its plan may be insufficient, prompting a reevaluation. Journalists from ProPublica and Flatwater Free Press tested over 600 yards, revealing public unawareness of the Superfund site's risks.
- Omaha Is Home to a Massive Superfund Site. Most Kids Living There Aren’t Tested for Lead.
Omaha, Nebraska, faces significant lead contamination due to a Superfund site, yet most children aren't tested for lead. A lack of universal testing laws in Nebraska contrasts with 13 other states that require lead screening for all kindergarten-aged children, leading to missed cases of elevated lead levels.