In our effort to continue keeping our parents and staff informed, I wish to share with you the

confirmed results of an Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) evaluation of soil

samples from Kautz Field and adjacent properties. This IDEM letter confirmed the presence of arsenic,

and relates that the arsenic levels contained in the soil at the downtown Kokomo site are “safe for current

uses” and do not pose an unacceptable risk to the students and staff at Central Middle School. Although

this is not a clean site, IDEM states that our current uses of the facility are acceptable. The IDEM letter

noted that the fact that the football field and adjoining land were covered with grass lowers any potential

risk.

Click here for the letter from the IDEM.

The letter from IDEM officials noted that the mere presence on Kautz Field by patrons, students,

and/or staff members does not result in excessive exposure to arsenic. IDEM states that risk calculations

are based on the assumption that students and/or staff members are “orally ingesting” (eating) large

quantities of soil containing arsenic. Because arsenic is a naturally occurring metal, an IDEM official

informed us that “most people would have higher intakes of arsenic from food” than from exposure to this

soil. Since the intended purposes of the site do not include eating the soil, the IDEM believes that “its

calculations are both conservative and health-protective, and that the use of the football field (Kautz

Field) is appropriate.”

When I was informed that the Kautz Field site potentially contained arsenic in the soil, I

requested that IDEM do an arsenic evaluation. The IDEM evaluation was supervised by IDEM officials

and paid for by PPG (Pittsburgh Plate Glass), whose original facilities were contiguous to this site. We

will continue working with government officials concerning what options exist to maintain our safe

campus at the downtown site. Those options will include asking IDEM to conduct additional sampling

and analysis. We appreciate the cooperation we have received from the City of Kokomo, IDEM, and

PPG.