The Environmental Protection Agency plans to tighten restrictions on lead dust in homes. But it wouldn't affect those by Superfund sites like USS Lead in East Chicago.

A new study shows the historical blood lead levels of children in East Chicago's Superfund site remained higher than those in the rest of the city.

The Environmental Protection Agency says replacing only some of the lead pipes leading to a home doesn't reduce lead contamination in drinking water and can even make it worse when the old pipes are disturbed.

The plan presented Wednesday eliminates 170 of the county's 523 precincts, including 54 in Gary, 33 in Hammond and 14 in East Chicago.

The EPA said in a statement that it "continues to evaluate data and hopes to announce a cleanup plan for public comment in late summer or early fall."

The soil has high levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and zinc. EPA estimates the cleanup will cost more than $26 million.

The public voiced frustration about arsenic and lead contamination, demolition of the West Calumet Housing Complex and possible groundwater contamination.

Demolition began Monday afternoon on East Chicago's West Calumet Housing Complex, but the U.S.S. Lead Superfund site still leaves former residents concerned for their future.

City officials expect to finish many of the improvements by May and complete others over the summer.

Officials from the EPA and other federal agencies will join the city of East Chicago and its housing authority at the event.