Southwest Jefferson County Mining National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site, Jefferson County, Missouri – Fact Sheet, May 2022

Lead Testing and Cleanup Opportunity for Residential Soils and Private Drinking Water Wells

Remedial Actions

Overview

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is remediating (cleaning up) lead-contaminated soil in residential yards within the Southwest Jefferson County Mining National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site. (See sampling and site maps at right.) Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful if inhaled or swallowed; it is the main contaminant of concern. Lead is classified by EPA as a probable human carcinogen and is a cumulative toxicant. Lead exposure can pose serious health risks, particularly for young children 7 years old and younger, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid exposure to lead to protect their children. (See additional information below, including "What Can I Do?" infographic.)

EPA is asking residential property owners for access to conduct the FREE lead testing. If your property has been tested and is eligible for remediation (400 parts per million [ppm] of lead or higher), EPA’s contractor will perform the cleanup for free. Residential properties also include child high-use areas (child care facilities, parks and playgrounds). To schedule your property or private well for free testing, please contact a representative listed below. Sampling and cleanup are performed at no cost to property owners.

Background and Site Update

The Southwest Jefferson County Mining NPL Site is part of the Old Lead Belt in southeastern Missouri, which was one of the world’s largest lead mining districts, where mining began in the early 1700s and produced over 9 million tons of lead. (See bottom map at right.)

Extensive lead mining, milling, and smelting activities contaminated soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater with elevated levels of heavy metals, primarily lead, prompting the need for state and EPA involvement. Some county residents have unknowingly purchased lead-contaminated soil and/or gravel for use in yards, driveways, parking areas, and playgrounds.

To protect human health and the environment from the dangers of lead at the site, EPA has sampled (tested) over 5,273 residential yards for lead contamination, and over 1,322 yards have been cleaned up since work began in 2007. Many more properties are eligible for remediation.

EPA aims to sample as many residential and child high-use areas as possible for potential lead contamination. Approximately 1,348 private drinking water wells have been tested for elevated lead levels in the groundwater. EPA has provided bottled water to prevent residents from drinking elevated levels of lead in their well water.

EPA is finalizing a Remedial Investigation (RI) and Feasibility Study (FS) to address potential lead contamination in private, domestic drinking water wells across the site. (See remedial process diagram at right.) Once ready, EPA will share the results with the community in a Proposed Plan for public comment. EPA will host a Public Meeting for community input. Additionally, EPA is preparing an RI/FS and Proposed Plan for the Big River. For updates, contact the Community Involvement Coordinator (CIC) to join our email list (see EPA Site Contacts below).

Health Risks and Testing for Children

Children are more vulnerable to lead poisoning than adults because their nervous systems are still developing. Children can be exposed to lead in their environment and before birth from lead in their mother’s body. At lower levels of exposure, lead can decrease mental development, especially learning, intelligence and behavior. Physical growth may also be decreased. A child who swallows large amounts of lead may develop anemia, severe stomachache, muscle weakness, and brain damage. Exposure to lead during pregnancy can also result in premature births. Some effects of lead poisoning in a child may continue into adulthood.

It is important that children under 7 be tested annually, because lead-poisoned children do not always look or act sick. The only way to know if your child has elevated blood lead levels is to have his or her blood tested. Your doctor can do a simple blood test to check your child, or you, for lead exposure.

Talk to your pediatrician, general physician, or local health agency about testing your child. To arrange for lead screening of your children, please contact one of the Jefferson County Health Department locations in these cities: Hillsboro, 405 Main Street; Arnold, 1818 Lonedell Road; High Ridge, 5684 Missouri PP; or contact them by phone at 636-797-3737.

Lead Testing Contact Information

To arrange for FREE testing of your residential yard and/or private drinking water well, please contact EPA’s contractor:

TetraTech; 636-797-8446; email: lauren.jackson@tetratech.com

EPA Site Contacts

Questions, comments, or requests for site information can be submitted to EPA:

Elizabeth Kramer
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 7 (ORA/OPA)
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 913-551-7186
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
Email: kramer.elizabeth@epa.gov

image of Big River floodplain FS SEMO NPL sites map

Greg Bach
Remedial Project Manager
U.S. EPA Region 7 (SEMD/LMSE)
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 913-551-7291
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
Email: bach.greg@epa.gov

For Lead and Site Information

How Will EPA Clean Up My Property?

If your residential property qualifies for cleanup (also known as remediation), EPA will include an access agreement with a sampling results letter. By signing and returning the access agreement, owners are taking the first step in the process to allow the EPA contractor to clean up the affected areas of the property. This work is conducted at no cost to the property owner.

Step 1: The EPA contractor will schedule a time to meet with the property owner, review the affected areas of the yard, answer any questions, and address any concerns.

Step 2: The EPA contractor will ask the owner to sign a checklist and give them final permission to start the work. Once utilities are located, the cleanup may begin within a few weeks, weather permitting. The contractor’s checklist of items to discuss will include the location of private utilities installed by the homeowner at the property and determining the best way to move equipment in and out. It is the sole responsibility of the contractor to have utilities marked and work around them as necessary. If the contractor damages utilities, they will repair the utilities at no cost to the property owner.

Step 3: The cleanup generally includes excavating up to 1 foot of soil from areas that qualify for cleanup, unless it is a garden. If a garden is still above the EPA lead “action level” at 1 foot of depth, it will be excavated to 2 feet.

Step 4: The EPA contractor will sample the base of excavation and, if the concentrations of lead are 1,200 ppm or greater, the contractor will place a highly visible barrier at that depth prior to backfilling. If the soil is disturbed in the future, the barrier will warn people that contaminated soil remains below the barrier.

Step 5: The EPA contractor will then replace these areas with clean soil, return the grade to the original contours, and restore the lawn. Note: The contractor is only permitted to restore the property to its original condition and is required to repair or replace any items damaged during the cleanup process. They will assist with watering to establish grass, but the property owner is responsible for maintaining the growing lawn.

Step 6: Once the restoration work is complete, the EPA contractor will request a final meeting with the property owner to review the work and sign a final checklist to confirm satisfactory completion.