Newton County Mine Tailings

Overview

More than 100 years of lead and zinc mining, milling, and smelting left hundreds of acres of waste across a stretch covering over 600 square miles in Newton and Lawrence counties in Missouri. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 2003, and active cleanup has been underway since 2014. The main contaminants are lead, cadmium, and zinc. They are found in soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater, and mine waste. People can be exposed by touching or ingesting contaminated materials or breathing contaminated dust.

Cleanup has made real progress. About 2.5 million cubic yards of mine waste and contaminated soil have been excavated, and more than 375 acres of mined land have been restored. Starting in 1998, the EPA provided bottled water to homes with contaminated wells, then built public water supply systems to replace those wells. Around 100 deep-aquifer wells were also installed where public water lines were not practical. Lead-contaminated yard soil was removed from roughly 100 properties starting in 1999, while responsible parties cleaned up about 300 more properties.

The site is split into five operable units (OUs). OU1 covers historical responsible party actions and OU2 addresses mining, milling, and smelting waste. Both have cleanup decisions from June 2010, updated in 2018 and 2020. Cleanup methods include capping waste in place, consolidating material, excavation, drainage controls, revegetation, and institutional controls. One removal project is expected to run through mid to late 2027. OU3 covers surface water and sediment in the Spring River and Lost Creek watersheds, with an interim cleanup decision planned for 2034. OU4 addresses groundwater, where an investigation that started in May 2021 is expected to finish in spring 2027. OU5 covers residential yards, with cleanup scheduled to begin in mid 2026 and run into early 2027.

The most recent Five-Year Review was completed in November 2024. Current performance measures show that human exposure is not yet under control, groundwater migration is not stabilized, physical construction is not complete, and the site is not ready for unrestricted use. Environmental covenants restrict use of capped waste areas, managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Community members can stay informed about public comment periods, open houses, and workshops as they are announced. The EPA also offers free technical assistance through the Technical Assistance Services for Communities program, which connects residents with independent experts to help them understand site issues and EPA actions. The Community Involvement Coordinator is available to answer questions.