Are there ANY streets/ areas in Spring Valley that are safe (from chemical weapons)...???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My first call would be to USACE. The point of contact for further information is Project Manager Dan Noble, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District at [phone] or [e-mail].

I would ask them to not only test for Arsenic but for the EPA 13 pollutants (RCRA 13) plus perchlorate and pesticides if possible. The 13 are:

Antimony (Sb)
Arsenic (As)
Beryllium (Be)
Cadmium (Cd)
Chromium (Cr)
Copper (Cu)
Lead (Pb)
Mercury (Hg)
Nickel (Ni)
Selenium (Se)
Silver (Ag)
Thallium (Ti)
Zinc (Zn)

Typically they would stick the small probes (looks like bulb planting probe) in 6-8 places and combine a soil sample. The 4/5 cups of soil is then analyzed in a lab.

If the USACE won’t do it, then a national lab like Cornell Soil Health Lab or EMSL which also has a local lab should be able to do it or guide you further. UDC might have something too (they have regular agricultural and arsenic and lead for sure, or used to anyway).

Cornell offers EPA RCRA 8 for $30. You could explain the history and ask for the additional heavy metals and analyses. At the very least they could guide you where to get it.

We are thinking of growing vegetables but as NW anyway is basically urban land with not much information on soil in addition to the regular soil analysis (Cornell offers packages), would want to test for pesticides, heavy metals and PFAS. A lot of people just do raised beds instead.

In Spring Valley, maybe you want to test for RCRA 8 but also Thallium, Berrylium and perchlorate. Maybe some pesticide components they shot around. Here’s the link to the Cornell lab:

https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/7/9922/files/2021/11/14_Heavy_Metal_Contamination.pdf

I found the Cornell lab through the UMD extension who used to test soil but no longer do.

If that fails, there are accredited commercial labs like the one above. They tend to be very helpful if you call them.

Thanks so much for taking the time to write all this. I didn't know where to start with testing, so this is incredibly helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why risk it?

This. I know two families who lived there growing up. In one family, both parents died of cancer by the time we got to college. Not worth it.

A friend of mine grew up there and won’t live there now. She talks about all the neighbors who had cancer and absolutely believes it’s due to the munitions.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t live there. Ask longtime residents how many neighbors have battled or are battling cancer.