Public Notice: Cherokee County National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site, Cherokee County, Kansas

Summary

Seventh Five-Year Review Completed

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 has completed the Seventh Five-Year Review (FYR) for the Cherokee County National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site (site) in the southeastern corner of Cherokee County, Kansas. FYRs are required by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, when hazardous substances remain on-site above levels that allow unrestricted use and unlimited exposure. FYRs provide an opportunity to evaluate the site’s cleanup decision to determine whether it remains protective of human health and the environment. This FYR was completed in September 2025.

The site is in the Tri-State Lead and Zinc Mining District (TSMD), where historic mining and smelting have caused widespread lead contamination. Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful if inhaled or ingested and can pose serious health risks, particularly to children under 7 years old, as well as pregnant women and nursing mothers. EPA continues to test and clean up affected areas.

EPA is deferring protectiveness of the site remedies for Operable Units 3-7 (OUs 3-7) at this time, until further information is obtained by taking additional action. To obtain additional information, EPA plans to: 1) establish a methodical approach to implement and review site institutional controls (ICs) under an updated county-wide IC plan; 2) revise and/or create operation and maintenance (O&M) plans for each OU to address current O&M needs, as required by the Records of Decision (RODs); 3) identify new drinking water supply wells within the site boundaries, test any identified wells, and address any impacted wells; 4) identify new residential developments within the site boundaries, test residential yards, and address any impacted areas; 5) evaluate harm to plants to develop revegetation recommendations and determine if additional cleanup is needed for soils with elevated zinc levels within OU7; and 6) re-evaluate risks to water life, land life, and human health at the Galena subsite and develop recommendations based on findings. A FYR Addendum is expected to take two years, with an updated protectiveness determination by September 2027. EPA will continue to coordinate with tribal, state, and local partners to plan and finalize ICs to protect from subsurface lead hazards after remediation (cleanup) at certain residential yards.

EPA asks that residents contact us (contacts listed below) about testing your yard and/or private well. Contact EPA at 816-588-0564, 1-800-223-0425, or via email at: r7-tsmd@epa.gov; or call EPA’s lead testing contractor, Tetra Tech, at 620-284-1357. EPA also encourages parents and caregivers to have children under 7 tested for elevated blood lead levels annually. You can contact the Cherokee County Health Department at 620- 429-3087 for more information or another health care professionals to arrange for a simple blood test.

Information Repository: Detailed site information, including all FYRs, is available to the public at web repositories. To view project documents, please visit EPA’s Site Profile page. If you do not have internet access, please visit a local public library, such as the Galena Public Library, 217 W. 7th St., Galena, KS (620-783-5132). Learn more about the NPL.

Contact EPA: If you have questions about the site or the FYR process, please contact EPA Community Involvement Coordinator (CIC) Hilary Elizabeth Kramer at kramer.elizabeth@epa.gov or 816-589-5534 or EPA Remedial Project Manager (RPM) Thomas Kaley at kaley.thomas@epa.gov or 816-588-0564.

U.S. EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425