Region 7	Fact Sheet
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PR0	Nine Tribal Nations	August 2007
EPA CLEANUP ACTIVITIES
UNITED ZINC #1 SUPERFUND SITE
IOLA, KANSAS
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
EPA began a discussion with state and
local officials in 2006 regarding lead
contamination in the city of lola, Kansas.
The lead was a result of lead smelting
operations at one of the southeast
Kansas smelters called United Zinc.
United Zinc was one of several zinc
operations in the area. Historical
records indicate that the site originally
housed machinery and buildings for the
lead smelting operations.
All onsite smelter facilities have been
removed from the site, and the property
has been graded and leveled. The site
covers approximately 17 acres and
includes ten separate parcels of land.
EPA began sampling properties in late
April 2006 in the lola community.
Approximately 260 homes, day-care,
schools, and commercial areas were
screened. Properties were screened
throughout the city to identify trends or
potential pathways of contamination.
Results showed elevated lead
concentrations throughout the city, with
higher concentrations prevailing in older
neighborhoods.
Sixty-nine properties, or 27 percent of
the properties tested exceeded EPA's
action level of 400 parts per million
(ppm) of lead contamination. Of the
sixty nine properties exceeding 400
ppm, 32 of the properties had children
occupying the residence. The highest
lead concentrations were found south of
Highway 54 and east of Kentucky
Street, with concentrations greater than
1,000 ppm.
The primary contaminants of concern
are lead and lead compounds. EPA
conducted six surface soil samples from
across the site in June 2006 to
determine the degree and rate at which
lead is absorbed into a living system.
More specifically, an additional test was
performed to define the relative strength
of lead in surface soil.
EPA conducted cleanups on residential
properties exceeding 800 ppm of lead.
EPA took this action to reduce the
potential risk of exposing children to the
lead in the soil. This level is consistent
with the guidance discussed in EPA's
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (OSWER) "Superfund
Lead-Contaminated Residential Sites
Handbook," dated August 2003.
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EPA hosted two public meetings in April
2006 and September 2006 and updated
the community on EPA activities. A fact
sheet was developed to address the
most Frequently Asked Questions about
EPA activities at the site.
TIME-CRITICAL REMOVAL
EPA began removal of lead
contaminated properties on August 15,
2006. The effort began at the McKinley
and Jefferson Elementary Schools and
one daycare facility. By August 19,
2006, both schools and the daycare
facility were completed. Response
actions performed in accordance with
this action were prioritized as follows:
•	Residential properties where the soil
contains lead concentrations equal
to or greater than 800 ppm.
•	High child impact areas such as
schools and daycare facilities with
soil containing lead concentrations
over 400 ppm.
•	Residences where a child resides
with a blood lead level greater than
10 ppm, and soil containing lead
concentrations over 400 ppm.
CURRENT EPA STATUS
EPA has completed excavation of
properties in lola. On June 29, 2007 all
equipment and personnel was
demobilized from the site. There were
129 properties that met or exceeded the
action criteria and excavated. Of the
129 properties, 20 were considered high
child impact areas.
All properties with signed access
agreements received from residents
prior to June 22 were screened. EPA
was able to excavate all properties that
were screened and that met the removal
action criteria. EPA screened
approximately 1686 properties during
the course of the cleanup. This number
is primarily residential properties within
the lola community. There are
approximately 700 residences that EPA
was unable to contact either by
knocking on the door, telephone
attempts, and/or dropping off
information packets at the property.
An additional cleanup action was
conducted at McKinley Elementary
School. On June 4, 2007, it was
brought to the attention of EPA that the
School District Maintenance Department
had completed some soil disturbance
work on the school grounds. Based on
the original sampling effort in mid-April
2006,	McKinley School was found to
have lead levels exceeding 400 ppm,
and was excavated in designated areas
of the grounds on August 19, 2006.
During the months of April and June
2007,	the school conducted work
resulting in the spreading of lead-
contaminated soils throughout the
school playground. As a result, those
areas were sampled and found to have
soils exceeding 5500 ppm. EPA
determined that a hazard was present
warranting an emergency cleanup
action. This separate action began on
June 21 and was completed the
following day June 22, 2007.
The total amount of soil excavated
during the course of this cleanup was
20,159.08 tons.
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PLANNED REMOVAL ACTIONS
EPA will continue to work with City
Officials on the listing process to
address the additional 400 plus
properties that fell below the cleanup
action criteria but exceed 400 ppm.
NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL)
When a Superfund site is discovered,
cleanup can fall under two programs:
removal or remedial. Removal actions
address immediate threats to human
health or the environment posed by
contamination. Remedial actions
address sites that require extensive and
potentially long-term cleanup.
Under the Superfund program, a site
may qualify for placement on the
National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL
is a list of hazardous waste sites that
present the most serious threats to
human health and the environment.
Once a site is listed on the NPL, it is
eligible to compete for cleanup funds
from the Superfund Trust Fund. In order
for a site to be included on the NPL, it
has to score sufficiently on the Hazard
Ranking System (HRS).
The HRS is a numerical scoring system
used to determine the threat associated
with actual or potential releases of
hazardous substances at a superfund
site. If the site scores 28.5 or above, it
is eligible to be placed on the NPL.
The primary intent of the HRS is to
guide EPA in determining which sites
warrant further investigation and
cleanup. The HRS evaluates exposure
pathways and the potential risk to
human health and the environment.
The pathways are ground water, soil, air
and surface water.
Additional support from the city and
state is needed for a site to be listed on
the NPL. In the case of United Zinc #1,
once EPA receives support from the
City of lola and the State of Kansas,
EPA will be able to start a HRS
package. In order for EPA to propose a
site on the NPL, the Governor of the
state where the site is located must
support the listing.
When a site is proposed on the NPL,
there is a 60-day comment period.
During the 60-day comment period, the
public may comment on the HRS
package. Once EPA receives all the
comments, EPA prepares a document
to respond back to the comments
presented. The site then is finalized on
the NPL.
If you have questions or need additional
information, contact:
Belinda Young
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of Public Affairs
901 N. Fifth Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
(800) 223-0425
young.belinda@epa.gov
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