EPA Region 7 to Host Open House for Former United Zinc Superfund Site on Oct. 29
EPA officials will present site updates and information about the new residential soil lead guidance to the Iola community
LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 22, 2024) – Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will host an open house in Iola, Kansas, to provide community members with site cleanup updates regarding the Former United Zinc Superfund Site and information about EPA’s residential soil lead guidance.
The updated residential soil lead guidance, released in January 2024, lowered the screening level at residential properties from 400 parts per million (ppm) to 200 ppm. Screening levels are not cleanup levels, rather they are used when initially investigating a release to determine if the level of contamination warrants further investigation. Updating the screening levels ensures that EPA uses the latest and best available science to protect children living and playing near sites contaminated by lead in soil.
EPA’s open house in Iola takes place during EPA’s observance of Children’s Health Month. During the last month, EPA Region 7 has held several open houses focused on the new residential soil lead guidance and lead health education in Missouri’s Old Lead Belt and the Tri-State Mining District, which includes Superfund sites in Kansas and Missouri.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department will attend the event and provide free blood lead testing for children and pregnant or nursing women.
EPA’s community meeting will be held:
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024
Open House: 6 to 8 p.m.
Presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.
Riverside Park Community Building
510 Park Avenue
Iola, Kansas
Background
Iola was the home of several zinc and lead smelting plants during the early 1900s. The United Zinc and East Iola smelters were located on the east side of town. The Lanyon smelters were located on the west edge of town. While these smelting plants were demolished long ago, lead contamination associated with these smelters was distributed throughout the city of Iola and remains an environmental and health hazard.
EPA has sampled 2,955 properties in Iola. Approximately 1,371 of these qualify for cleanup. As of Oct. 1, 2024, 1,150 properties have been cleaned up, leaving 221 properties that still need cleanup.
- Visit the Site Profile page for the Former United Zinc Superfund Site.
- For more site information, see the related Fact Sheet.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Visit the Region 7 Media page
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7