Iola has been placed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priority List, which opens up Superfund monies for cleanup of ground contamination in the area. THE EPA is not forcing the cleanup on any homeowner, and must receive consent for testing on any property. However, Slaugh said they are strongly encouraging cooperation.
The lead contamination is left from the former United Zinc & Associated Smelters sites from the early 1900s. The Iola City Council voted in favor of being considered for placement on the list in 2012.
The EPA has been conducting soil testing on area residences, completing 1,686 tests. The placement of the NPL will allow for tests on 1,400 additional properties. They have received 79 denials from homeowners.
“We knew there was a process to go through,” City Administrator Carl Slaugh said. “We’ve known about the contamination for the past 100 years, why not just get it done.”
While testing simply consists of “one or two teaspoons worth of soil,” the removal of contaminated soil involves taking off several inches of topsoil.
“It’s going to be a painful process,” Slaugh said. But, the contamination does create a slight hazard for children who may put dirt in their mouth. Lead poisoning can cause developmental problems in adolescents.
Slaugh said there has been “no conclusive study” on whether Iola has issues with lead poisoning.
“They (the EPA) know that lead is a hazard,” he said. If the EPA is willing to front the money for the cleanup, he said it is probably an issue worth addressing.
“The EPA said that they have not forced this issue anywhere, and they don’t plan to here,” he said. “They’re still going to make great efforts to get permission on every property.”
The National Priority List was established in 1983, with a total of 1,685 communities being added. According to a report from Don Banhnke, an environmental engineer with the EPA, 68 percent of the communities on the list have received full cleanup. The soil removal and replacement in Iola would come at no cost to the homeowner.
For more information regarding testing, soil replacement or the National Priority List, contact the EPA field office in Iola at 228-4902.
Iola placed on EPA priority list
