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Fact Sheet
February 2006
Leadwood Mine Tailings Pile Superfund Site Leadwood, Missouri
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will hold a Public Meeting for the Leadwood Mine Tailings Pile Superfund Site in Leadwood, Missouri on Tuesday, February 28, 2006. The purpose of the meeting is to present the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) Report, answer citizen questions concerning the site, and hear comments on the EE/CA. A 30-day public comment period will begin on the same day and ends on March 30, 2006. This comment period is your opportunity to raise issues on the EE/CA for this site. Additional questions can be directed to EPA by contacting: Debbie Kring, Community Involvement Coordinator at 1-800-223-0425.
PLANNED OPTIONS/RESPONSES
The main objective of the EE/CA is to evaluate alternatives for stabilizing the mine waste, called tailings and chat, while controlling wind erosion and storm water runoff. The EE/CA report recommends an alternative that will stop the blowing of chat and tailings from the site.
BACKGROUND
The Leadwood Mine Tailings Pile Site is one of six major mine waste piles located in a region known as the Old Lead Belt. Mining activities commenced at the Leadwood site in about 1894 and continued until the mill was permanently closed around 1965. The EPA has determined that the tailings and chat at the site contain elevated levels of lead and zinc that pose a threat to public health and the environment. In its current state, the site is unsecured, and the tailings and chat are migrating off-site via wind erosion and surface runoff.
HEALTH INFORMATION
The Missouri Department of Health (MDOH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recommend limiting exposure of young children to lead sources such as lead-contaminated soil and the tailings and chat found at the site. This can be accomplished in the following ways:
- Don’t allow children to eat, drink, or play in areas of known contamination.
- Wash children's hands after they play outside and before they eat.
- Wash toys periodically and encourage children not to put toys in their mouths.
- Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces often. Use a mop or sponge with warm water and a general all-purpose cleaner.
EPA invites you to a public meeting:
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
West County High School Auditorium
768 Highway M
Leadwood, Missouri
Staff members involved at the site will be available to discuss site activities and answer your questions. Your comments during and after the meeting are encouraged.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The administrative record and site-related documents for the Leadwood Mine Tailings Pile site are available for review at the:
Leadwood City Hall
708 Bank Street
Leadwood, Missouri
EPA’s Region 7
Docket Room
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City,
Kansas
Additional records concerning other mine waste sites in St. Francois County that the EPA is investigating can be found at the:
St. Francois County Health Department
1025 West Main
Park Hill,
Missouri
Desloge Public Library
209 North Desloge Drive
Desloge, Missouri
EPA Region 7 Docket Room
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas
Written comments on the EE/CA should be submitted to:
Debbie Kring, Community Involvement
Coordinator – U.S. EPA – Region 7
Office of External Programs
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Toll Free: 1-800-223-0425
E-mail: Debbie Kring (kring.debbie@epa.gov)
