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Fact Sheet
May 2005
Public Meetings about Time Critical Removal, Viburnum Trend Haul Roads
Site
Dent, Iron and Reynolds Counties, Missouri
INTRODUCTION
EPA Region 7 reached an agreement March 1, 2005, with five mining companies to begin cleanup of residential yards in the Viburnum Trend Lead Mining District, where lead concentrations exceed 1,200 parts per million (ppm) in the soils.
Plan to Attend One of Three Public Meetings June
7, 2005 -- 7 to 9 p.m. June 8, 2005 -- 7 to 9 p.m. June 9, 2005 -- 7 to 9 p.m. Representatives from EPA , the Missouri Department of Natural Resources
and federal, state and county health agencies will give presentations
from about 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Staff will then be available to answer
questions one-on-one. |
About 50 residences along various state routes in Dent, Iron, and Reynolds counties are eligible to have lead-contaminated soils excavated and replaced during this time-critical removal action. Meetings are scheduled on three consecutive nights in Centerville, Ironton and Viburnum to provide the public with several opportunities to learn more about the planned cleanup activities.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Viburnum Trend is commonly known as the New Lead Belt, which began producing lead in the early 1960s around Viburnum, Mo., and continues production to this day. Ten mines were opened along the north-south trending ore body during the next two decades. The older mines were generally established in the northern part of the trend, and the mining progressed about 40 miles southward to near Corridon, Mo.
Ore from the mines has been crushed, milled and processed to form a lead concentrate. The lead concentrate was hauled by truck or rail to one of the smelters in the region. Lead concentrate commonly contains lead at concentrations greater than 70 percent (700,000 parts per million).
The site includes residences and yards along sections of Missouri Routes 21, 32, 49, 72, B, J, KK, N and TT. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources conducted investigations and sampled properties in the Viburnum Site from 2001 to 2003. Some properties with lead contamination above 1,200 ppm were identified during the investigations.
EPA has continued screening residential yards for lead contamination along 22 different road segments since June 2004. Some 50 properties with soils that exceed 1,200 ppm for lead have been identified by state and federal sampling activities.
The properties were contaminated with high concentrations of lead from trucks transporting lead ore and concentrate because the material would often fall onto the road and adjacent yards.
CLEANUP ACTIVITIES
The agreement reached between EPA and the mining companies requires the companies to continue sampling activities, dig up and replace soil at properties where lead concentrations exceed 1,200 ppm, provide vacuums with special filters to each home where soil-lead concentrations exceed 1,200 ppm, and clean home interiors at residences where soil has been removed. EPA will oversee the activities.
HEALTH INFORMATION
Children are more sensitive to lead than adults and can develop lifelong learning disabilities or behavioral problems because of lead exposure. EPA encourages parents to have their children tested for lead exposure by contacting a private physician or the county health department. Lead exposure and its effects can be reduced by:
- Washing hands after playing outside and before meals;
- Vacuuming often and dusting with a damp cloth to help remove dust that might have lead in it; and
- Eating a diet high in calcium and iron and low in fat.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EPA encourages the community to review the administrative record. The administrative record has site reports, descriptions of activities and other documents used to determine the appropriate actions at the site. The administrative record is available during normal business hours at the Ozark Regional Library, 402 N. Main St., Ironton, Mo., and EPA Region 7, 901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, Kan. Questions about this fact sheet or the site can be addressed to:
Dianna Whitaker
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of External Programs
EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, Kan. 66101
Phone: 913-551-7003
Toll free: 1-800-223-0425
whitaker.dianna@epa.gov
Jeff Weatherford
On Scene Coordinator
Superfund Division
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kan. 66101
636-587-2215
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
weatherford.jeff@epa.gov
