Two metal smelters operated in Caney, Kansas in the early 1900s, processing lead and zinc ore from the nearby Tri-State Mining District. Smelter waste spread through the town via air deposition, water runoff, and use of waste materials as road base and sidewalk fill. This left lead in the soil of residential yards, driveways, and alleyways across much of the community. The site was added to the National Priorities List in September 2020.
Lead is the primary contaminant of concern. It was found in soil at residential properties, driveways, and alleys. In 2015, EPA sampling found lead above 400 parts per million at 73 of 279 properties tested. In January 2024, EPA lowered its residential soil screening level to 200 ppm, or 100 ppm at properties with multiple lead exposure sources. Over 1,000 residential properties in Caney have been sampled to date. Young children face the greatest risk because they absorb four to five times more ingested lead than adults. Lead poisoning in young children can cause slowed growth, hearing problems, nervous system damage, learning difficulties, behavioral problems, and decreased intelligence.
The site is divided into two operable units. Operable Unit 1 covers residential yards, driveways, alleys, schools, and child high-use areas with soil lead above 200 ppm. A Record of Decision was issued in September 2022, selecting excavation, offsite disposal, and institutional controls as the cleanup methods. A remedial action contract was awarded in March 2024, and work began in summer 2024. As of the report date, 100 residential properties have been cleaned up. Completion of this work is estimated between late 2027 and early 2028. Operable Unit 2 covers the former smelter property and abandoned railroad segments. A Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study began in November 2024, examining lead, arsenic, cadmium, and zinc in soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater. A Record of Decision for OU2 is planned by 2029. Human exposure is not currently under control at the site, meaning contamination at unsafe levels remains with potential for exposure.
Remediation work involves excavating contaminated soil, replacing it with clean soil, and revegetating with hydroseed. The EPA takes steps to avoid damage to property features such as fences and sewers, and replaces anything damaged on a like-for-like basis. Bricks throughout Caney are laid in smelter waste and are highly contaminated. They will be remediated at each property owner's discretion. The Montgomery County Health Department can arrange lead testing for children at (620) 251-4210. For questions, contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager.
