Newton County Mine Tailings Site MISSOURI EPA ID# MOD981507585 EPA Region 7 City: Joplin, Granby, Racine, Seneca, Spring City, Wentworth County: Newton County Missouri Other Names: 12/23/2008 3 o SITE DESCRIPTION The Newton County Mine Tailings site is located in southwest Missouri in the Tri-State Mining District. From approximately 1850 to 1950, lead, cadmium, and zinc mining were major industries in Newton County and the land is marked by numerous open mine shafts, tailings piles, and underground mine workings. The extensive mining activity resulted in underground mine openings with exposed lead, cadmium, and zinc ores. The mines were located below the water table and during periods of operations were kept dry by pumping ground water from the shafts. Following abandonment of the mines, pumping ceased, the water table returned to its natural levels, and the ground water came in contact with abandoned underground mines and exposed ore. Lead, cadmium, and zinc ground water contamination resulted when the oxygenated water leached metals from the exposed ores in the abandoned mines. Further contamination resulted from lead, cadmium, and zinc leaching from surface waste piles into the ground water through the numerous constructed mine shafts throughout the county. Based on current sampling information, the contaminated ground water encompasses approximately 160 square miles. Approximately 1,800 residential homes that rely on individual private water wells are located within the site. Site Responsibility: NPL LISTING HISTORY This site is being addressed through Federal and potentially responsible parties' (PRPs) actions. Proposed Date: 04/30/2003 Final Date: 09/29/2003 Deleted Date: ------- THREATS AND CONTAMINANTS Following reports of elevated blood lead levels in children in surrounding counties with similar mining histories, EPA conducted limited sampling around the city of Granby in 1995, followed by more extensive ground water and soil sampling throughout Newton County in 1998 and 2000. The upper aquifer is the sole source of drinking water for private residential wells throughout most of Newton County. Based on the sampling data, at least 700 residential wells are contaminated with lead or cadmium above health based action levels of 15 parts per million (ppm) lead and 5 ppm of cadmium. In addition to the ground water contamination, several hundred residential properties have elevated levels of lead and cadmium in the yard soil. CLEANUP APPROACH Response Action Status Removal actions conducted in 1999-2003 included excavation of contaminated soils from approximately 300 residential properties. The criteria for removal included properties with soil samples containing lead concentrations equal to or greater than 400 ppm. The removal actions at the residential properties have been completed. No further soil remedial action at these properties is anticipated. EPA has been providing bottled water to homes where private water well sample results exceeded action levels. EPA completed an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for the site, which identified cleanup alternatives for the contaminated private water wells. The EE/CA specified installation of public water supplies for the site to replace private water wells. Installation of the public water lines began in late 2003 and is expected to continue through 2009. EPA will also be installing deep water wells (replacements) in isolated areas where water lines are inaccessible. 7TV ------- Site Facts: ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS Cleanup of yard soil at contaminated residential properties has been completed. Installation of public water supplies to homes with contaminated private water wells began in late 2003, and is expected to take six years to complete. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Efforts to involve the community at this site have been extensive and have resulted in improved community involvement and decision-making. EPA is working with the Environmental Task Force of Jasper and Newton Counties, which was originally formed by the Joplin City Council as a Community Advisory Group (CAG). Through the CAG, EPA seeks to achieve direct, regular and meaningful consultation with citizens throughout all stages of site activities. The citizens groups' membership consists of local citizens, bankers, realtors, business owners, county commissioners, county and city health department employees, local health care providers, state legislative representatives, city council members from several local cities, school district representatives, and a planning and zoning board member. In general, EPA provides documents generated from site activities including the remedial investigation report, risk assessments and feasibility study, to name a few, for review and comment to the groups. EPA and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources regularly meet with the groups in a public forum to update the members on site activities and discuss site issues. ------- Superfund Records Center 901 N. 5th St. Kansas City, KS 66101 Mail Stop SUPR (913)551-7166 REGIONAL CONTACTS SITE MANAGER: E-MAIL ADDRESS: PHONE NUMBER: COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COORDINATOR: PHONE NUMBER: E-MAIL ADDRESS: STATE CONTACT: PHONE NUMBER: Mark Doolan/SUPR/R7/USEPA/US doolan.mark@epa.gov (913)551-7169 Debbie Kring (913)551-7725 kring.debbie@epa.gov MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION STATE: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: EPA ORGANIZATION: MO 07RZ 07 SFD- SUPR/FF SE MODIFICATIONS Created by: Mark Created Date: Doolan/ SUPR/R7/U SEPA/U S Last Modified by: Dave Drake/R7/USEPA/US Last Modified Date: 06/30/2003 11:06 AM 12/23/2008 11:04 AM ------- |