The Annapolis Lead Mine covers 200 acres near Annapolis, Missouri. Lead mining from 1919 to 1940 left over one million tons of waste that contaminated soils, sediments, surface water, and solid waste with lead, arsenic, cadmium, and zinc. The site was added to the EPA's National Priorities List in July 2004. Lead is the primary human health concern, with the main risk coming from ingesting contaminated soil. This risk is especially serious for children from birth through age seven because lead can harm nervous system development and cause intelligence deficits, learning problems, hyperactivity, slowed growth, and hearing problems.
The site is divided into three operable units. Operable Unit 1 covers the mining area, where workers capped contaminated material, excavated some soils, stabilized and realigned the creek, and planted native vegetation including over 1,000 trees. Operable Unit 2 at Big Creek required no action. Operable Unit 3 in the town of Annapolis involved excavating and disposing of contaminated material from residential yards and the creek flood plain. Physical construction of the cleanup was finished in September 2007. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources operates and maintains the mining area under an EPA-approved plan, with that work estimated to continue through November 2028.
Human exposure to lead is currently under control. All cleanup goals for current and reasonably expected future land uses have been met, and the site achieved "Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use" status in September 2019. Groundwater migration is not a concern. The EPA deleted the site from the National Priorities List in September 2020. Institutional controls, including environmental covenants and deed notices, remain in place on properties with residual contamination in non-residential areas to prevent incompatible land uses.
The most recent Five-Year Review was completed in 2022 and found that cleanup actions are protective of human health and the environment over the long term. The sources differ slightly on the exact completion date, citing both July 26, 2022 and June 2022. The next Five-Year Review is scheduled for completion between June and August 2027, with the review process beginning in June 2026. The EPA and Missouri Department of Natural Resources conduct annual inspections at the site. Current activities include routine maintenance of the repository and inspection of institutional controls.
Community members can follow site progress through Five-Year Reviews and will be notified if significant changes to the remedy occur. Public records are available at the EPA Region 7 Records Center in Lenexa, Kansas. For questions, residents can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, Remedial Project Managers, or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources representative.
