The Fort Hartford Coal Company Stone Quarry covers about 850 acres near Olaton, Kentucky. It was added to the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency's) National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990 after storage of salt cake fines, a mining byproduct, contaminated the air, groundwater, and surface water. The site was deleted from the NPL in August 2023, meaning cleanup goals have been met and no further remedial action is required at this time.
The EPA identified 28 contaminants of concern at the site. Groundwater holds the widest range, including metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, and selenium, plus organic compounds like benzene and styrene. Surface water contains aluminum, iron, manganese, sodium, sulfate, and chloride. Ammonia is present in both groundwater and air. These contaminants were found during the remedial investigation covering the site's single study area, known as Operable Unit 01.
Cleanup work started in 1990 and included grading, repairing mine roof collapses, closing 26 sinkholes, and installing a pump-and-treat system. The EPA selected a formal cleanup plan in 1995, then revised it in 1999 to drop an air containment requirement after ammonia levels declined. Between 2015 and 2018, the responsible party built chemical treatment buildings and automated control systems to manage ammonia and chloride levels and adjust pH to meet discharge permit requirements. The remedy focuses on keeping moisture away from stored materials inside the mine, reducing groundwater contamination through natural processes, and preventing public exposure. A public water line now serves residences and businesses nearby, so contamination no longer threatens people in the area.
The EPA's 2017 five-year review found the site protective of human health and the environment. However, the review also noted that ammonia and chloride levels in groundwater need further reduction, and that the operations and maintenance plan must be updated with revised performance standards. An environmental covenant restricts land use and prohibits groundwater use. Groundwater monitoring and routine in-mine inspections continue as ongoing maintenance. The next five-year review is estimated between August and October 2027.
Community members can stay involved through public notices, public meetings, and interviews that the EPA uses to share updates and gather input. People with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. Paper records related to the site are also available at the County Records Clerks Office in Hartford, Kentucky.
