Kansas Superfund Site: Cherokee County
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Do you need a Toxic Tort Lawyer in The Sunflower State? The U.S. E.P.A. has designated Cherokee County in Kansas as a Superfund site due to its levels of toxic pollution and threat to the environment. You can read the report for the site below.
Some Superfund sites are on the National Priority Site Lists. The National Priorities List ("NPL") is the list of hazardous waste sites in the United States eligible for long-term remedial action financed under the federal Superfund program. Environmental Protection Agency regulations outline a formal process for assessing hazardous waste sites and placing them on the NPL. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation.
Sites are listed on the NPL upon completion of Hazard Ranking System (HRS) screening, public solicitation of comments about the proposed site, and after all comments have been addressed. EPA may delete a final NPL site if it determines that no further response is required to protect human health or the environment. Sites where a remediation was completed through the Superfund program are typically deleted from the NPL.
Living near Superfund Sites in Kansas may place you and your family more vulnerable to developing a disease from proximity to the site and experiencing a loss of value for your property, but action is being taken to fight back: The EPA says,
[We have] set up a "Post Construction Completion" (or PCC) strategy to ensure that Superfund response actions provide for the long-term protection of human health and the environment. EPA's Post Construction Completion activities also involve optimizing remedies to increase effectiveness and/or reduce cost without sacrificing long-term protection of human health and the environment.Regardless, most of the Superfund sites continue to pose a threat the health of those near-by.
By choosing Weitz & Luxenberg, you can trust the legal experience of skilled Toxic Tort lawyers who will help fight back against polluters and get you and your community the compensation and remediation to which you are entitled.
Below you can read the EPA report for the Cherokee County Superfund site. If you, a loved one, or someone in your community has gotten sick due to toxic pollution in Cherokee County, or if your property has lost value because of contamination, you are better off with a toxic tort lawyer who knows the people of the State of Kansas . Learn more about your legal options by filling out this simple form. There is no obligation, and your case will be evaluated within 24 hours. To refer a friend, neighbor, or loved one, follow this link to let them know about the environmental toxic tort lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg.
Cherokee County
This site is not a Federal Facility.
Cherokee County
Kansas
Epa Id# Ksd980741862
EPA Region 7
City: Galena
County: Cherokee County
Other Names: Tar Creek Area Site
Tri-State Mining District
Site Description
The Cherokee County site is a former mining area covering about 115 square miles. It is part of a
larger area sometimes called the Tri-State Mining District, which encompasses approximately
2,500 square miles in southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma.
Over one hundred years of widespread lead and zinc mining created piles of mine tailings which
cover 4,000 acres in southeastern Cherokee County. The mine tailings contain lead, zinc, and
cadmium which have leached into the shallow groundwater. Runoff from the waste piles also
moves contaminants into nearby streams. The EPA has divided this mega-site into six subsites that
correspond to six general mining locations. The six subsites have been grouped into seven
operable units. Cleanup work is essentially complete at the Galena subsite, in the east-central
portion of the entire site. This 25 square mile area had large tracts of mine and mill wastes, water
filled craters where the ground collapsed, open mineshafts, and pits which have now been
remediated. Residential soils in the town of Galena are impacted by mining and milling wastes in
addition to wind deposited smelter wastes from a former operating smelter. Wastes have affected
the quality of the shallow groundwater which was a primary drinking source for residents of the
area. Surface water and surficial soils have also been impacted by mining wastes. Several heavy
metals have been found in water samples from private wells and residential soils have also been
impacted with metals. Surrounding lands are used for residences, business, light industry, farming,
and grazing. Of the approximate 23,000 people living in Cherokee County, 3,800 of them reside
in Galena. Galena's city water does not contain contaminants.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through Federal and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
Npl Listinghistory
Proposed Date:12/30/82
Final Date:
Deleted Date:
09/08/83
Threats And Contaminants
Acidic waters in mine shafts throughout the site, tailing piles, surface waters in the
mine pits, and streams draining the site contain significant concentrations of lead,
zinc, and cadmium. Surficial soils are contaminated with mining, milling, and
smelting wastes. Risks to public health include incidentally ingesting soil, mine
wastes, and contaminated dust, or ingesting contaminated surface waters,
foodstuffs, or groundwater. Acid mine drainage containing dissolved heavy metals
contributes to the transport of heavy metals into the Spring River, Short Creek, Tar
Creek, and Shoal Creek. Ecological impacts have been demonstrated and the
uppermost aquifer is contaminated. Polluted mine water also surfaces in
Oklahoma's portion of Tar Creek. The former smelter near Galena was responsible
for the airborne distribution of lead and cadmium in residential areas. Mining and
milling wastes have also been imported into residential areas for use as fill,
landscaping, and road construction materials. Wind and water action have also
transported the various types of mining wastes into other areas.
Cleanup Approach
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The EPA installed water treatment units on eight contaminated wells in
Galena in 1986. In 1987, the EPA conducted a county wide study of wells and a water supply
monitoring program for public and private sources of water. This study showed that two more
homes needed the treatment units. These were removed upon completion of an alternate water
supply remedy. The EPA completed a time-critical removal action for metals impacted residential
soils in 1995. This action was performed in the residential areas of Galena and consisted of a total
of 62 properties which included six day-care centers. All immediate actions have been completed
and were performed at the Galena subsite.
Alternate Water Supply: The EPA selected an approach for supplying an alternate source of
water to rural Galena residents in 1987. It featured the following: collecting clean groundwater
through existing wells owned by the city; distributing that water through a pipeline network to the
houses, businesses, and farms within the subsite, but outside the municipal water system;
rehabilitating two wells needed for the project; and drilling a new well if the existing wells could
not be modified. Based on public comments, the EPA decided to amend the cleanup actions to
include construction of two new deep aquifer wells to collect water as well as two water storage
tanks and the formation of a rural water district. These wells are being maintained and operated
independently of the City of Galena. Construction of the two deep aquifer wells and the two
water storage tanks was completed in 1992. Water line easement acquisition activities began in
1991 and were completed in 1993. This work is complete and is in the Operation and
Maintenance phase. Over 400 residences were provided with a permanent source of clean
drinking water. Later additions to the system have increased the total number of hook-ups to
over 500.
Treece Subsite: The EPA initiated investigation activities at the Treece subsite in 1988. The
parties potentially responsible for contamination of this area took over the study in early 1990.
This investigation explored the nature and extent of soil and water pollution at the subsite and
recommended the best strategies for final cleanup. The study of the Baxter Springs Subsite was
grouped with the Treece subsite. The investigation was completed in the summer of 1994, and a
remedy was selected in August 1997. Negotiations with the responsible parties were conducted
in 1998/1999. The responsible parties agreed to perform the cleanup in 1999 and formalized this
commitment by entering into a Consent Decree with EPA. Remedy implementation began in late
1999 and was completed in 2000. Approximately 150 residential properties were sampled and 41
properties were remediated. The Treece residential cleanup was fully completed in 2000.
Baxter Springs Subsite: The EPA initiated an investigation at the Baxter Springs subsite in
1987. The parties potentially responsible for contamination of this area took over the study in
conjunction with the Treece investigation in early 1990. This study explored the nature and
extent of soil and water pollution at the subsite and recommended the best strategies for final
cleanup. As with the Treece subsite, a remedy was selected in August 1997. The Baxter Springs
and Treece Subsite cleanup actions have been grouped into a single Record of Decision. The
responsible parties will perform the cleanup for the Baxter Springs subsite which began in late
1999 and is continuing. Approximately 130 residential properties have been tested and 42
properties remediated to date. The residential component is ongoing and the mine waste cleanup
portion is at the 95% design stage. The mine waste design will be completed in 2001 followed by
the start of a mine waste cleanup action. The Consent Decree discussed in the Treece Subsite
summary also includes the Baxter Springs actions.
Galena Groundwater and Surface Water: In 1989, the EPA, with the agreement of the State
of Kansas, selected a remedy for reducing impacts to the groundwater and surface water in the
Galena subsite. It included the following: selectively moving and placing mine wastes in areas
away from surface water bodies; capping wastes with less impacted materials followed by
revegetation; diverting surface streams away from the contaminants; recontouring the land surface
to control runoff and erosion; and investigating deep aquifer wells. The investigation and design
of cleanup activities were completed in early 1993. Implementation of cleanup activities began in
June 1993 and involved plugging four wells and cleaning up one well while the mine tailings
actions included the cleanup of approximately 900 acres of mining and milling wastes. Cleanup
was completed in late 1994. This work is final and is now in the Operation and Maintenance
phase.
Galena Residential Soils: Residential yards have been contaminated in Galena from a historic
primary lead/zinc smelter in addition to the presence and importation of mine wastes. The EPA
investigated the nature and extent of contamination and completed characterization reports in
1996. The EPA selected the cleanup approach for metals impacted residential yards in July 1996.
The remedy included excavation and disposal of contaminated soils followed by placement of
clean backfill and grass sod or seed. The approach also included an evaluation of the feasibility of
using phosphate treatment methods in the future in lieu of excavation. A total of 602 residential
properties were remediated from 1997 to 1999. This cleanup was essentially completed in 1999;
however, approximately 50 additional properties were remediated in 2000 and 2001. The
operation and maintenance phase will begin in 2001.
Badger, Lawton, Waco, and Crestline Subsites: These subsites are grouped into a single
operable unit and are likely the final work effort for the Cherokee County site. These subsites
were addressed last due to their relatively small area and rural location away from population
centers. The characterization phase for these subsites began in late 1998 and is ongoing. All
fieldwork was completed in 1999 and the draft characterization report was submitted in 1999.
Review of the draft report necessitated the collection of additional field data in 2000 and the
submission of an expanded report in 2001. The cleanup will likely involve a presumptive remedy
approach based on the previous efforts at the site. The characterization and feasibility study
phases are expected to be complete in 2001.
Site Facts:
The EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to the potentially responsible
parties in May 1990 to design the groundwater and surface water cleanup activities
at the Galena subsite. However, the EPA assumed control of the remedy design in
July 1990, because the parties failed to comply with the Order. Subsequent cost
recovery and bankruptcy actions have successfully recovered funds from
potentially responsible parties. The EPA and the potentially responsible parties
executed an Administrative Order on Consent in May 1990 that required the
parties to investigate the Baxter Springs and Treece subsites. Another
Administrative Order on Consent was executed in September 1998 which required
responsible parties to characterize the Badger, Lawton, Waco, and Crestline
subsites. A total of four Records of Decision have been released for various
operable units of the Cherokee County site. Two of these decision documents
have been fully implemented, one is essentially complete, and the fourth Record of
Decision began implementation in 1999. A fifth Record of Decision is planned for
late 2001 and will likely be the final operable unit cleanup decision document at the
site.
Environmental Progress
Two Records of Decision have been fully implemented and are now in the operation
and maintenance phase. A third Record of Decision is essentially complete and will enter the
operation and maintenance phase in 2001. The alternate water supply for the Galena subsite has
been completed and a rural water district was formed. Over 500 homes have now been connected
to the system. Cleanup of approximately 900 acres of surface mine wastes in Galena has been
completed. These activities have reduced the potential for exposure to contaminants at the
Cherokee County site while remaining investigations and cleanups are underway. The residential
soil cleanup in Galena will be completed in 2001 and will be the third Record of Decision that is
fully implemented; over 700 residential properties have been remediated at the Galena subsite.
Cleanup actions pursuant to the fourth Cherokee County Record of Decision began in 1999 at
the Baxter Springs and Treece Subsites and have resulted in the remediation of over 80 residential
properties. Characterization work began in 1998 at the final subsites to be studied, the Badger,
Lawton, Waco, and Crestline areas. All field work at these areas was completed in 2000, and the
characterization report is currently under review.
Site Repository
Galena Public Library, 315 W.
Seventh, Galena,
Ks
Johnston Public Library, 210 West Kansas City,
Ks
6610110th, Baxter Springs,
Ks
Superfund Records Center
901 N. 5th St.
Mail Stop SUPR
(913)551-4038
Regional
Site Manager:
Dave Drake
E-Mail Address:
drake.dave@epa.gov.
(913) 551-7626
Community Involvement
Coordinator:
Hattie Thomas
Phone Number:
(913) 551-7762
Public Information Center:
1-800-223-0425
E-Mail Address:
thomas.hattie@epa.gov.
State Contact:
Leo Henning
Phone Number:
(785) 296-1914
Miscellaneous Information
State:
Ks
Ks
0737
Congressional District:
02
Epa Organization:
Sfd-Supr/Ffse
Modifications
source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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see also:
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