U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency removed lead-contaminated soil at the property of the former Conn Band Instruments facility.
During
the cleanup, EPA excavated, treated and transported lead-contaminated soil off-site for proper disposal. Workers followed strict rules to keep nearby roads and properties free from contaminated soil
and debris.
EPA completed the work in June 2026.
Background
The
Conn Band Instruments site is at 1101 East Beardsley Ave. in Elkhart, Indiana.
The property is an empty lot on 10 acres of land.
Conn
Band Instruments was at one time the largest instrument manufacturing facility
in the world. It stopped operations in 1978. The city acquired the property in
2019 and demolished the remaining structure. The city is redeveloping the
property through a Brownfields grant. Brownfields projects put previously
contaminated properties back into productive use.
The city discovered high
levels of lead in the soil and requested EPA assistance in 2025.
