"Toxic heavy metals found on the construction site of a planned $55 million replacement for the former Booker T. Washington High School in New Orleans will require the removal of 3 feet of soil in areas that won't be covered by the new building's concrete foundation or parking lots, according to a report submitted on behalf of the Recovery School District to the state Department of Environmental Quality."

"The contaminants -- including antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc -- were found in levels greater than state and federal safety standards allow all across the South Roman Street site, according to an August report filed by CB&I Environmental & Infrastructure Inc., and a July report submitted by Leaaf Environmental LLC.

The Leaaf report concluded that 'the concentrations of metals will need to be managed before the site can be used for a school.'"

Mark Schleifstein reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune October 30, 2013. [2]