EPA Proposes Updated Residential Soil Cleanup at Vega Baja Superfund Site in Puerto Rico
Vega Baja, P.R. - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to update the cleanup plan for the Vega Baja Solid Waste Disposal Superfund site in Puerto Rico to better protect residents from lead in soil. EPA is taking this step after reviewing recent sampling results under current science that calls for a more protective look at lead in residential areas. Under the proposed update, EPA would clean up eight additional residential properties and sample four nearby properties to determine whether more cleanup is needed on those properties.
“Families should not have to worry about lead in the soil around their homes,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “EPA is using current science and recent sampling to guide additional cleanup where it is needed to better protect the Brisas del Rosario community.”
The Vega Baja site includes a residential area and a nearby area that was formerly used as a municipal solid waste disposal facility from 1948 to 1979. Homes were later built on portions of the former disposal area, potentially exposing residents to lead and other heavy metal contamination.
EPA selected the original soil cleanup plan in 2010. Under that plan, EPA removed contaminated soil from residential properties, placed clean soil in excavated areas and restored the properties. EPA also consolidated some contaminated soil in an area and covered it and required land-use restrictions where contamination remained in place.
The proposed update would use a similar cleanup approach as in the original plan, but uses more stringent clean up levels to dictate where soils must be addressed. EPA would remove lead-contaminated soil from the additional residential properties, dispose of the soil off-site, place clean soil in excavated areas, and restore disturbed areas with vegetation.
EPA would also install protective barriers where digging is not possible and use property restrictions where contamination remains accessible to prevent contact with contaminated soil.
EPA will hold an information session on July 17th, 2026, from 5-7 p.m., at the Pentecostal Church Monte de Sion to provide an overview of the cleanup proposal and answer community questions. In addition, the Puerto Rico Department of Health will separately conduct free finger-prick tests for lead in blood for anyone who is interested.
The proposed update (formally called an Explanation of Significant Differences) and supporting documents will be available on the Vega Baja superfund site profile page
Background
Since the 1970s, EPA has worked alongside partners at the federal, state, Tribal, and local levels to protect children’s health and make progress in reducing lead exposures and lead-related health risks. Despite improvements over the last 50 years, ongoing exposures to lead where our families live, work, and play present a health risk, especially to children.
To combat this issue, in 2025 the Trump EPA reestablished a committee of senior leaders across the agency’s program offices and ten regions to drive success in reducing children’s exposure to lead. This renewed agency-wide focus is centered around strengthening cooperative federalism, streamlining actionable risk communications, and unleashing private sector innovation to protect human health and the environment.
Please see epa.gov/lead for additional information.
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