E.P.A. Region Seven to Host Informational Sessions March Four and Five for Big River Mine Tailings, Madison Co. Mines Superfund Sites

(Lenexa, Kan., Feb. 25, 2013) - E.P.A. Region seven will host separate Public Availability Meetings next week in Park Hills and Fredericktown, Mo., to update area residents on the progress of sampling and remediating lead-contaminated residential properties and other cleanup work at the Big River Mine Tailings and Madison Co. Mines Superfund sites.

Residents interested in the latest information about the Big River Mine Tailings Location are encouraged to attend the session from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 4, at the Saint Francois Co. Health Department, 1025 Main Street, in Park Hills.

Residents interested in the Madison Co. Mines Location are encouraged to attend a separate session from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, at the Madison Co. Health Department, 806 West College Avenue, in Fredericktown.

To complete its cleanups of lead contamination at these 2 sites, E.P.A. is attempting to obtain permission from residential property owners to allow access to their properties for free soil sampling. If sampling indicates a problem with elevated lead levels in soil, E.P.A. will remove the contaminated soil and replace it with clean soil, at no cost to property owners.

Currently, approximately 4,000 residential properties remain unsampled in Saint Francois County, and about 500 such properties remain unsampled in Madison County. As EPA's long-term cleanup work at both sites approaches completion, the opportunities for property owners to gain free soil sampling and remediation work will eventually come to an end.

The March four and five public meetings will also provide the opportunity for residents of all ages to gain free blood lead testing, courtesy of state and Co. health departments. E.P.A. especially encourages the testing of children seven years and younger.

Residents seeking more information in advance of the meetings should contact E.P.A. Region seven Community Involvement Coordinator Debbie Kring toll-free at 1-800-223-0425, or at [email protected].

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