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EPA Places Washington County Lead District-Furnace Creek on the Federal Cleanup Priorities List

Release Date: 03/08/2011
Contact Information: Dave Bryan, (913) 551-7433, bryan.david@epa.gov


Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., March 8, 2011) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced its decision to place the Washington County Lead District-Furnace Creek site in Washington County, Missouri, on the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

The NPL is a list of the nation's hazardous waste sites with the highest priority for cleanup. This site is eligible for extensive, long-term response action money authorized by Congress under the Superfund program. 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, Missouri.

Mining activities in Washington County have contributed to elevated levels of lead in soil and ground water in this area.

Inclusion of the Furnace Creek Site on the NPL guarantees the public an opportunity to participate in cleanup decisions. Affected communities also become eligible for technical assistance grants from EPA to help understand technical documents and promote community involvement. EPA's Technical Assistance Grant Program provides up to $50,000 for a qualified citizens group to hire independent technical advisors. The advisors can help citizens interpret complex environmental data, understand site hazards, and critique various cleanup technologies. For additional information about the Technical Assistance Grant Program, contact Hattie Thomas at (913) 551-7762 or thomas.hattie@epa.gov.