Representatives tour park, discuss cleanup proposal

By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Published: Sunday, May 03, 2009
Updated: Sunday, May 3, 2009 6:53 AM CDT

Several legislators plan to suggest that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amend its remediation proposal for St. Joe Park to allow slightly higher levels of lead in its mine tailings areas, State Rep. Linda Fischer, D-Bonne Terre, said Friday.

Approximately 1,000 of the park’s more than 8,200 acres is contaminated with lead mining waste. Last month, the EPA and Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) held a public meeting to receive public input on a proposal to eliminate or stabilize the contaminated soil in the park, much of which is in the ORV Park for off-road vehicles.

The EPA will continue to accept suggestions and comments on the proposal until May 14.

The agency’s proposal requires action in areas where the lead level in the soil is 600 parts per million. That action could include removal of contaminated soil and replacement with lead free soil, or could involve stabilizing mine tailings with rock and topsoil.

The action level in a residential setting, where the health risk model assumes a potential 24-hour, 365-day continuous exposure, is 400 ppm.

Some trails in the ORV Park could be closed off and riding areas could be condensed. Fischer fears that would  create congestion in the riding areas. Fischer, who toured the park Friday morning with park staff and a representative for State Rep. Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, said State Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington,  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond also have discussed asking that the EPA lead level limit be changed.

“We want to see that threshold raised to 700 parts per million,” Fischer said. “I can’t find any evidence that wise use of the park right now is a problem. If there is no way around some modifications, then raising it to 700 would reduce by half the number (of sites) that have to be cleaned. That would save about $250,000 in costs.”

Fischer expects the suggestion will be submitted to the EPA within the next week.

In May 2003 a study estimating ATV riders’ exposure to lead was completed and sent to the EPA. Air monitors were strapped to the riders to measure how much lead they might be exposed to during typical activities at the park. The data was used to estimate blood-lead levels for the riders from exposure to chat and tailings dust. The amounts were not enough to cause blood-lead levels to reach levels currently deemed a health risk, the study found.

Staff say the periodic blood tests they have taken through the years have not shown any objectionable lead levels.

The EPA took a closer look at the ORV Park in the summer of 2007 as part of an ongoing remediation program to address all lead-contaminated areas in St. Francois County. Although the park is not on the National Priority List, it is considered a Superfund site, according to Debbie Kring, EPA community involvement coordinator.

St. Joe State Park includes 2,000 acres of mine tailings set aside for ATV and dirt bike use, about 800 acres of which is the “sand flat.” The tailings are waste material from lead mining and are piled up to 100 feet deep in a former valley. The tailings look like sand, but contain so much water that they are classified as liquid by the DNR.

To ensure the safety of residents along nearby creeks, the DNR spent $4.4 million more than a decade ago on a stabilization project. But the EPA is concerned that the lead in the tailings dust can blow into other areas and visitors can track lead out of the park on their clothes and vehicles.

The DNR’s Parks Department has installed a wash area to hose down vehicles so they do not transport lead-contaminated soil from the park. Additional signs have been erected to educate visitors about lead contamination. Lead-contaminated beaches have been replaced or contained at two swimming ponds.

However, the EPA continues to be concerned about controlling wind erosion and storm water runoff. Among the EPA’s recommended actions are proposals to remove creekside tailings deposits, construction of a storm water retention basin, regrading and stabilization of steep slopes, drainage channel improvements, trial network remediation, establishment of vegetation and  limits on public access.

Fischer thinks limiting access would reduce the number of visitors.

“This is a wonderful asset to our community,” she said. “People from the St. Louis area come here to enjoy the park. Visiting today, I was so impressed with the work that is being done out there. So many people are already camping.

“When you start condensing down these trails and where people can and cannot go, you cut down the usage of the park.”

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.

 

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