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Fact Sheet
July 2005
National Mine Tailings Superfund Site
Park Hills, Missouri
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will hold a Public
Meeting for the National Mine Tailings Superfund Site in Park Hills, Missouri
on Thursday, July 14, 2005. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the
Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) Report. A 30-day
public comment period will begin on the same day and end on August 13,
2005. This comment period is your opportunity to raise issues
on the EE/CA for this site. Additional questions can be directed to EPA
by contacting: Debbie Kring, Community Involvement Coordinator at 1-800-223-0425.
Public Meeting EPA invites you to a public meeting: Thursday, July 14, 2005 Staff members involved at the site will be available to discuss
site activities and answer your questions. Your comments
during and after the meeting are encouraged. |
PLANNED OPTIONS/RESPONSES
The main objective of the EE/CA is to evaluate alternatives for stabilizing the mine waste, called tailings and chat, while controlling wind erosion and storm water runoff. The EE/CA report recommends an alternative that will stop the blowing of chat and tailings from the site.
BACKGROUND
The St. Francois County Mining Area is located in a region known as the Old Lead Belt. The area consists of six major tailings sites, with the National Mine Tailings site being one of them. Mining activities commenced at this site in 1894, and the National mill operated until 1936. The EPA has determined that a non-time-critical removal action is required for this site because the tailings and chat contain levels of lead and zinc that pose a threat to public health and the environment. In its current state, the site is unsecured and the tailings and chat are migrating off site via wind erosion and surface runoff.
HEALTH INFORMATION
The Missouri Department of Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry recommend limiting exposure of young children to lead sources such as soil, tailings and chat found at the site. This can be accomplished in the following ways:
• Children should not eat, drink or play in areas of known contamination;
• Wash children's hands after they play outside and before they
eat;
• Wash toys periodically and encourage children not to put toys
in their mouths; and
• Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces
often. Use a mop or sponge with warm water and a general all-
purpose cleaner.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The administrative record and site-related documents for the National
Mine Tailings site and the St. Francois County Mining Area are available
for review at: The St. Francois County Health Department, 1025 West Main,
Park Hills, Missouri; the Desloge Public Library, 209 North Desloge Drive,
Desloge, Missouri; and the EPA Region 7 Records Center, 901 N. 5th Street.,
Kansas City, Kansas.
Written comments on the EE/CA should be submitted to:
Debbie Kring, Community Involvement
Coordinator – U.S. EPA – Region 7
Office of External Programs
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
kring.debbie@epa.gov
