Why Pb Urban vs. Rural Medieval German 1500 Nazis Case Study Former United Zinc and Associated Smelters National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site, Iola, Allen County, Kansas - Fact Sheet, July 2024

Former United Zinc and Associated Smelters National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site, Iola, Allen County, Kansas - Fact Sheet, July 2024

Free Lead Testing and Cleanup Opportunity for Yards

Site Overview and Update

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is implementing a free lead testing and cleanup opportunity for residential yards across the city of Iola, Kansas, due to contamination found from the operation of former smelters within the Former United Zinc and Associated Smelters National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site (site).

Lead (Pb) is the main contaminant of concern at this site. Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful if inhaled or swallowed. It affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to children under 7 years old, as well as pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Today, nearly 3,000 residential properties have been tested and a total of 1,371 were found to have lead concentrations above 400 parts per million (ppm). All but 253 of these properties have been cleaned up. EPA’s contractor, SpecPro-Ayuda JV LLC, is in Iola cleaning up these remaining properties that are eligible for cleanup; cleanup work is at no cost to the owner.

• EPA and its contractors will continue to contact residents about the free lead testing and cleanup opportunity to protect children and families from lead poisoning.
• Owners of eligible properties must provide written permission before lead cleanup can be performed. Attempts to contact the 253 eligible property owners through mailings, phone calls, and personal visits have produced 65 signed access agreements for cleanup.

EPA needs permission to remediate (clean up) yards. Therefore, EPA asks all remaining owners of eligible properties to sign a permission form (access agreement) to participate in the free cleanup.

Free Lead Testing and Cleanup Opportunity!

If your property has not been tested for potential lead contamination, please contact EPA and sign EPA’s access agreement (permission form) for free testing.

If your residential property qualifies for cleanup, EPA will clean it up for FREE. Just sign EPA’s access agreement if it’s included with your testing results letter.

Signing and returning the agreement allows the EPA contractor to start cleaning up the affected areas of the yard. Soil lead testing and remediation (cleanup) are free to property owners. Contact EPA today!

Call 913-551-7747; toll-free at 1-800-223-0425; or by email: r7-tsmd@epa.gov or bahnke.donald@epa.gov.

https://www.epa.gov/ks/former-united-zinc-and-associated-smelters-national-priorities-list-npl-superfund-site-iola-3