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Proposal Calls for Addition of Southwest Jefferson County (Mo.) Mining Site to Superfund's National Priorities List

Release Date: 04/08/2009
Contact Information: Dianna Whitaker, (913) 551-7598, [email protected]

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., April 8, 2009) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced its proposal to add the Southwest Jefferson County (Mo.) Mining Site to the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). An NPL listing notifies the public that EPA believes a site requires further study and possible cleanup under EPA's Superfund program.

Mining activities in Jefferson County, Mo., have contributed to elevated levels of lead in soil, ground and surface water in this area. Some county residents have also unknowingly purchased lead-contaminated soil for property and landscaping improvements. For the past year, EPA has been excavating soil at residences with the highest levels of contamination.

EPA Region 7 Acting Administrator William Rice said, "Adding this site to the National Priorities List would make additional federal resources available to help protect Missouri residents from high concentrations of lead in soil and drinking water."

Listing the Jefferson County site guarantees the public an opportunity to participate in cleanup decisions. Affected communities are also eligible for technical assistance grants from the EPA to help understand technical documents and to promote community involvement at the site. The comment period for this proposal is open from April 9 to June 9, 2009.

The EPA Headquarters Docket maintains documents which support the Agency's proposal to add the site to the NPL. These materials can be accessed at http://www.regulations.gov and by following the online instructions for submitting comments.

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