TACOMA, Wash. - A Tacoma smelter that's been gone for almost 15 years is still raising fears of lead contamination, especially in children.  Pierce County is now getting a financial boost to start testing children and ease those fears. 

The Environmental Protection Agency hopes to find out if there is a problem, thanks to a nationwide testing effort that will soon get under way.

Starting in February, the Tacoma Health Department will set up screening centers throughout the Tacoma area, focusing particularly on poor neighborhoods and those near the old Asarco smelter.

The Asarco smelter stack was torn down in 1993.  It was the beginning of what was a massive hazardous waste cleanup.  Fourteen years later, the Environmental Protection Agency is still concerned lead tainted soil may have an affect in the area, posing a danger to children. 

"In Tacoma there are suspected but undocumented children with high lead levels," said Barbara Ross, EPA.

Over the next two years, the Tacoma Health Department will reportedly screen at least 800 children for lead.   A $406,000 grant approved last month will also help pay for educating poor communities where many people may still live in old houses with lead paint. 

This is a major step.  According to published reports, doctors in Pierce County typically don't test children for lead.  But the EPA suspects there are elevated blood lead levels in Tacoma.  

The health department is also expected to set up partnerships with community organizations to get word out on testing.

Testing will also be done in Spokane and other communities in Oregon.