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Fact Sheet
May 2007
Second Five-Year Review to Begin, Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt Superfund Site, Jasper County, Missouri
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts regular five-year reviews on Superfund sites where cleanups have been completed. These reviews are required by the Superfund law [42 U.S.C. Section 9621(c)]. EPA Region 7 has initiated its second five-year review of the Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt Superfund Site in Jasper County, Missouri.
SITE BACKGROUND
The Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt Site is part of the Tri-State Mining District, which covers approximately 2,500-square miles in southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma. Mining, milling, and smelting of lead and zinc ores began in the 1850s. Continuing until the 1970s, it generated over 150 million tons of wastes. Nine million tons of these wastes remain today. At least 17 smelters operated within the site, mostly in the Joplin area.
Disposal of the wastes contaminated ground water, surface water, and surface soil with heavy metal hazardous substances, which can cause significant risks to human health and the environment.
Private shallow ground water wells provided drinking water for about 500 homes. EPA identified at least 100 of those wells with lead and cadmium contamination exceeding health-based action levels.
Approximately 2,600 residential yards were contaminated with lead above acceptable levels.
CLEANUP ACTIONS UNDER REVIEW
EPA established four operable units (OUs) to address the risks associated with the contaminated water and soil.
- OU-1 addresses mine and mill waste piles located at the site.
- OU-2 and OU-3 address lead contaminated residential yard soils in the mining and smelting areas.
- OU-4 addresses contaminated ground water and private water wells.
The actions for OU-1 include funding the Missouri Department of Transportation to use about 100,000 cubic yards of mining wastes as fill for construction of a highway through a portion of the site. The remaining wastes are addressed in the Record of Decision for OU-1.
For OU 2 and OU3, EPA conducted cleanup actions of residential yard soils from 1995 to 2001. Soil removal and replacement was completed at 2,600 residential yards. Notably, child lead poisoning cases within the site have significantly reduced in children under the age of six.
For OU-4, EPA initially provided bottled water to homes with contaminated private wells. A public water system was completed in 2006 and now serves about 500 homes.
FIVE-YEAR REVIEW
During this second five-year review, EPA will study site information and inspect the site to determine if the cleanup actions taken to date continue to remain protective of human health and the environment.
EPA encourages members of the community to ask questions and report any concerns about the site. A final report will be prepared at the end of the review and will be available at the site information repositories.
FUTURE WORK
EPA encourages members of the community to ask questions and report any concerns about the site. A final report will be prepared at the end of the review and will be available at the site information repositories.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Administrative Records associated with the various cleanups are available at the following locations during normal business hours:
Joplin Public Library
300 Main St.
Joplin, Mo.
Webb City Public Library
101 S. Liberty St.
Webb City, Mo.
Carl Junction City Hall
105 N. Main St.
Carl Junction, Mo.
EPA Records Center
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, Kan.
Questions or requests for information can be submitted to:
Fritz Hirter
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Toll-free: (800) 223-0425
E-mail: hirter.fritz@epa.gov
Mark Doolan
Project Manager, Superfund Division
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Toll-free: (800) 223-0425
E-mail: doolan.mark@epa.gov
