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ANACONDA- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to remove lead materials from up to 500 properties in the small mining town.

Anaconda residents raised concern about lead contaminants in their property back in 2005.

"Primarily lead was the primary driver of clean up in Butte, so I think there always was a question about lead levels in Anaconda," says Anaconda EPA Superfund Project Manager Charlie Coleman.

The EPA and ARCO began sampling almost 2,000 residential soils and found elevated lead levels from Anaconda smelter emissions.

Now the EPA wants to clean up as many as 500 residential soils. Coleman says that people's yards are just the starting point for clean up, and EPA's new plan will also address lead paint in Anaconda homes.

"Not only does it address the contaminants in yards and in the soils but also allows us to look at other sources of lead like lead paint, and things like that, that potentially affect children in the community," added Coleman.

"It would be a good thing if there was a health issue. By all means, yes I think that would be a good thing. Everyone should be concerned about the health of their community and especially their children," Anaconda resident Stan Kangas said.

Lead cleanup in Anaconda homes and lawns could begin as early as 2014. A public comment meeting about the lead cleanup will be Wednesday, October 24 at 6:30 at the Metcalf Center in Anaconda.