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Fact Sheet
April 2009
EPA Holds Public Meeting to present results of the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Report, Federal Mine Tailings Superfund Site, St. Francois County, Missouri
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will hold a Public Meeting to present results of the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) Report findings at St. Joe State Park. This Report was prepared by the Doe Run Company and the State of Missouri, both potentially-responsible parties (PRPs) at the Federal Mine Tailings Superfund Site in St. Francois County.
The meeting will initiate the 30-day public comment period, which is the opportunity for citizens to share input, raise concerns, and provide comments on the EE/CA Report findings. EPA will also take comments by mail, e-mail, telephone, and/or during the meeting itself. A transcriber will be at the meeting to record comments. The public comment period will close on May 14, 2009.
PLANNED RESPONSE ACTIONS
The primary objective of the EE/CA includes evaluating alternatives for stabilizing mine waste (also known as tailings or chat), while controlling wind erosion and storm water runoff at St. Joe State Park.
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday, April 16, 2009
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Central High School
116 Rebel Drive
Park Hills, Missouri
Recommended actions from this Report include:
- Removal of creek side tailings deposits.
- Construction of a storm water retention basin.
- Regrading and stabilization of steep slopes.
- Drainage channel improvements.
- Trail network remediation.
- Establishment of vegetation.
- Controls put in place to prevent public access.
BACKGROUND
The Federal Mine Tailings Site is one of the six major mine waste areas located in a region known as the Old Lead Belt. Historical mining activities were conducted in this region for the greater part of 70 years, leaving behind tailings and chat containing elevated levels of lead and zinc that pose a threat to human health and the environment.
This Report is solely dedicated to the response actions required at St. Joe State Park. The park is made up of 8,200 acres, of which an estimated 1,000 acres are contaminated with mine waste. In its current state, areas of the site are unsecured, and the tailings and chat are migrating off-site via wind erosion, as well as storm water and surface runoff.
HEALTH INFORMATION
The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (MDHSS) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recommend limiting exposure of young children to lead sources such as lead-contaminated soil and the tailings and chat found at the Park.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The administrative record and site-related documents for the Federal Mine Tailings Superfund Site are available for review at the following locations:
St. Francois County Health Department
1025 West Main
Park Hills, Missouri
EPA Region 7 Records Center
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas
Written comments on the EE/CA Report should be submitted to:
Debbie Kring
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA - Region 7
Office of Public Affairs
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
(913) 551-7725 or
Toll-free @ 1-800-223-0425
E-mail: kring.debbie@epa.gov
EPA Region 7 is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the public meeting, please notify the EPA Reasonable Accommodations Coordinator, Sharon Nible at (1-800-223-0425), or by e-mail @ nible.sharon@epa.gov at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. Speech or hearing impaired individuals should e-mail or call using the local relay service.