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An environmental report poses a new problem for the site proposed for the David Beckham Major League football stadium in Miami: tests show that the soil is much more toxic than expected.
According to the Miami Herald, the analysis revealed an arsenic contamination exceeding double the legal limit and dangerous debris in surface soil samples at the Melreese Golf Course, where people have been playing since over 50 years old. The 131-acre site is under consideration for a $ 1 billion commercial complex and sprawling stadium that would provide a home for the MLS team in Beckham, Inter Miami.
According to the consultant's report, the pollution under the grass at the golf course was caused by contaminated ash from a long-standing municipal incinerator. In some places, the contamination is close to the surface and can reach 15 cm deep.
The conclusions worse than expected were reported Monday to the municipal commissioners.
"This is the largest contaminated park in the city's portfolio," said Commission Chair Ken Russell. "This is a concern."
Environmental firm EE & G, engaged by Inter Miami, has collected more than 140 soil samples in recent months. In addition to arsenic, concentrations of barium and lead above the legal limits were found.
"The debris included fragments of tile, metal and glass, mixed with fine-grained sands, which often showed a rusty color," EE & G found. "Intermittent wood fragments were encountered with concrete and other non-native materials, but no traces of municipal waste. "
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said he was happy that the site had been tested and said the city had chosen another consulting firm, AECOM, to do its own analysis of the results. The firm will also be paid by Inter Miami.
"Basically, the site has a lot more contamination than is commercially reasonable," Suarez said.
The results could increase cleaning costs to $ 50 million on the site, team officials told Suarez. The Herald indicated that it was unclear whether the additional costs would make stadium and commercial complex projects impracticable. Inter Miami said it would not seek to get dollars from cities to pay for cleaning.
Environmental concerns arise as the city negotiates a 99-year lease for a commercial complex that would allow a 25,000-seat stadium, an office park, a shopping mall, and rooftop football parking lots.
Inter Miami's lawyers expect to offer a lease on September 12, which would require the approval of four of the five commissioners.
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