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EPA Proposes Furnace Creek Site in Washington County, Mo., for Addition to Superfund’s National Priorities List

Release Date: 10/19/2010
Contact Information: Dianna Whitaker, (913) 551-7598, whitaker.dianna@epa.gov


Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., Oct. 19, 2010) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced its proposal to add the Washington County Lead District-Furnace Creek Site to the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The Furnace Creek site is located in a heavily mined region in eastern Missouri and primarily includes residential properties within and around the towns of Belgrade, Caledonia, Hopewell and Irondale, Mo.

Mining activities in Washington County have contributed to elevated levels of lead in soil and groundwater in this area. An NPL listing notifies the public that EPA believes a site requires further study and possible cleanup under EPA's Superfund program. Governor Nixon supports the proposal.

EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks 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.” Governor Jay Nixon supports EPA’s decision to propose the Furnace Creek site for the NPL. An NPL listing enables both EPA and Missouri to leverage resources for the benefit of citizens living in the affected area.

Inclusion of the Furnace Creek Site on the NPL would guarantee the public an opportunity to participate in cleanup decisions. Affected communities would also become eligible for technical assistance grants from EPA to help understand technical documents and promote community involvement. The public comment period for this proposal is open from October 19 to December 20, 2010.

The EPA Headquarters Docket maintains documents supporting the Agency's proposal to add the Furnace Creek Site to the NPL. These materials are available for review, along with instructions for submitting comments online, at www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm.