| Houston, Texas — Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee is urging residents of the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens to attend a community meeting hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discuss the results of soil testing conducted by EPA and Union Pacific at schools, parks, and recreational areas, as well as future plans for the investigation . The EPA has been investigating potential contamination in the neighborhood surrounding the former Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) creosote wood-treating site. At the meeting, EPA officials will provide an update on the progress of their site investigation and share a summary of the testing results. The meeting will take place on Thursday, February 27, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Carl R. Walker, Jr. Multipurpose Center. “Community members who live near this site deserve full transparency from the EPA, and this open meeting is an important step in this process,” said County Attorney Menefee. “I’ll be at the Carl R. Walker, Jr. Multipurpose Center this Thursday evening, and I’m hopeful for a strong turnout. It’s critical that residents have the opportunity to ask the EPA questions about the testing that’s been done and what comes next.” The EPA and Union Pacific are conducting multiple rounds of sampling to determine how contaminated vapors may have traveled through groundwater. This testing has included schools, parks, and other public areas. For more details on the EPA’s investigation and to view testing results, visit the EPA’s website. |