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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent

It is possible that 10 percent of the residents of Eureka have been affected by lead and heavy metal poisoning.

Robert Steele, commissioner, has been keeping tabs on the testing being done in Eureka by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau of Reclamation.

"The state allows for 3 percent resident contamination&emdash;that is the state standard," said Steele.

Contamination at the lower level may have occurred because of other than soil or water contamination.

Soil sampling is now being done, said Steele. The sampling should be completed by the end of Nov. 2000.

"They have taken samples of the soil around my home," said Joseph Bernini, commissioner.

Bernini, who is a long-time resident of the community, said he was one of the 453 property owners, 80 percent of the community, who had given permission for the sampling, though in his case, it may have come too late to do him any good.

"I have lived in Eureka most of my adult life," he said. "If I have lead and heavy metal poisoning, I will probably not benefit from discovering it now."

However, the young people of the community would benefit, he said.

The results of the blood lead testing will be individually mailed to the participants. Those who have high levels of lead evident in their blood will be contacted over the telephone by employees of the Utah Department of Public Health.

When the soil sampling is completed, said Bernini, it would be another month before the results were analyzed, the data accumulated and made available to the public.

"The analysis will include producing a map for each property owner that will show the results of the soil sampling," said Bernini.

Steele said the EPA and Bureau of Reclamation have set up a trailer in Eureka which is being used to analyze the soil samples. The trailer has equipment used to dry the samples and to analyze and store the resulting information on a computer.

"A public meeting is planned for January to discuss the results of the sampling," said Steele. "At the meeting, the results of the sampling will be discussed and, if necessary, the plans for cleaning up any property will be outlined."