Soil in Durkeeville residents' yards being replaced as part of poisoned area cleanup

The Environmental Protection Agency in Jacksonville is finally addressing issues of soil contamination in some local neighborhoods.

Previously Action News Jax told viewers the cleanup project was underway near the old Fairfax Street Wood Treaters Facility. Wednesday morning some people woke up to the project happening right on their front lawn.

MORE: Cleanup at Durkeeville Superfund site expected complete by the end of the year | State to handle toxic cleanup at elementary school next to Superfund site

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Neighbors in the area, like Roosevelt Watson III, said it’s been a slow and steady process but many people are glad to finally see the change happening.

People who live on 15th and Fairfax streets woke up to loud construction Wednesday morning.

It’s because several homes on the block are beginning to have the soil dug up in the front and some in the back of their homes. This comes after the EPA said operations at the former plant resulted in arsenic contamination of nearby soil and water for decades.

“It’s been a slow tedious process. They said it’s not contaminating to us but it has to be if they’re coming to remove the soil,” Watson said.

Although the site and noise is a headache for some, neighbors are glad to watch it unfold.

Watson has lived here for almost two years and hadn’t heard about the contamination prior to moving in. However, once he learned the EPA found dozens of homes and even a nearby school had toxins in the soil, it's changed the quality of life for his family.

“I have a very large yard and can’t really enjoy it because you just don’t know about the contaminants,” Watson said.

Some neighbors in the area claim their family members got sick because of the toxins.

With the new soil being brought in, Watson is hoping he and his family never have to experience that.“It’s going to feel fantastic I’m an outdoorsman, I like to do my tai chi and backflips, and then I will be able to bring the baby outside,” Watson said.

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