The Los Banos Unified School District thought it was finished with the environmental cleanup of Pacheco Park. Now lead has been found in the dirt.</p><p>In December, dirt contaminated with pesticides near the recreation, Scout Hut and Milliken Museum buildings was dug out and refilled with soil left over from a Public Works Department basin project. </p><p>Although fences surrounding the park's buildings have been taken down, Superintendent Steve Tietjen said there's more work to be done. He said lead has been found in the soil near the museum garage. Lead-based paint, used on buildings at the park years ago, is believed to be the culprit.</p><p>The contaminated dirt is being kept in a stockpile near the museum. Where it is taken next depends on testing, Tietjen said. </p><p>"It'll go to a landfill in Hanford or a landfill in Buttonwillow," Tietjen said. "It's a matter of the levels of lead around the museum garage."</p><p>He said the school district's contractor for the project, Ranchwood Construction, will speak with officials operating the landfills to figure out what amount of lead contamination is accepted at their facilities. </p><p>Where the dirt goes matters. The district is hoping to complete the environmental cleanup for $200,000. The farther the dirt is transported, the more the cost rises. Hanford is 100 miles from Los Banos and Buttonwillow is 142 miles outside of town. </p><p>The district wants to sell the park to the city. </p><p>In May, the Department of Environmental Health of Merced County stepped in and required the Los Banos Unified School District to conduct soil and air testing for harmful insecticides at the park. The testing is typical for land transfers. </p><p>The dirt surrounding the park's buildings and the air inside were tested for chlordane and dieldrin, insecticides commonly used and later banned in the 1980s.</p><p>The dirt removal, which began last month, included ongoing testing to determine the depth of the contamination. </p><p>Tietjen said once the stockpiled dirt is moved, further testing must be done to ensure the surrounding area is not contaminated. </p><p>"The site has to be certified as clean," he said. "We're hoping that can happen by late February and escrow can be closed." </p><p>Reporter Corey Pride can be reached at (209) 388-6563.