The Lawrence Public School District has shut down four baseball fields at Lawrence High School/Middle School campus to clean up soil contamination found on the fields.
The school district reported in a statement that the fields had tested positive for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and arsenic. The cause if the contamination is unknown and currently under investigation.
PAHs, which are frequently associated with incomplete burning of organic materials, can be found in gasoline and diesel exhaust, tobacco and cigarette smoke, wood- burning fireplace smoke, coal tar and coal tar pitch, burning trash fumes and even charcoal-broiled meats. Arsenic, meanwhile is a naturally-occurring chemical that can also be introduced by man-made means.
The district initially discovered contamination in early March as part of a project to install synthetic turf on the varsity baseball field (Field 1) and the football field. During soil testing, the district’s environmental consultant identified an area on Field 1 that was above the allowable limits for a compound known as Benzopyrene. No contamination was found on the football field.
“As a matter of diligence, the district decided to test all soils on all playing surfaces within the 52 acre LMS/LHS campus,” stated a release by the school district. During the time of testing, all fields remained unused by the district.
The tests identified a total of six soil samples on fields 1, 2, 3 and 5. During the spring sports season, these fields are used for varsity, JV and middle school baseball and varsity softball. The administration is not allowing the contaminated fields to be used until such time as the anticipated clean-up is complete.
The effort to clean the areas of contaminants is underway. The district is currently in the process of identifying the extent of the contamination. The results of the delineation process, designed to determine the extent of the problem, are anticipated to be delivered next week. Once the extent of the problem is known, the administration and Board of Education will begin the process of remediating the contaminated soils. The form of remediation will be determined based on the type of contaminant being addressed. The district will communicate the time, methods, and means of remediation once the final plan for remediation has been formed. Business Administrator Tom Eldridge will coordinate all remediation efforts.
Athletic Programs will continue. Athletic Director Alyson Fischer has secured alternate locations for high school baseball and softball practices and games and will continue to work to secure alternate locations for middle school baseball. Once those locations are in place, Fischer will draft new event schedules reflecting necessary date, location, and/or time changes. Fischer will communicate the new schedules to our many constituents as soon as possible.
Please address questions about this news release to Tom Eldridge, business administrator/board secretary, at (609) 671-5420.
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