The EPA is currently conducting response actions to residential yards, private drinking water wells, non-residential mining and milling wastes, and contaminated soils and stream sediments. There is ongoing investigation work on the Spring River and Neosho River watersheds.
| City | Joplin |
|---|---|
| County | Jasper County |
| State | Missouri |
| Coordinates | 37.10111, -94.42056 |
Oronogo Duenweg Mining Belt is a federal Superfund site in Missouri. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.
Current status: Cleanup underway. Active cleanup is underway, meaning EPA has approved a remediation plan and work is in progress. Cleanup timelines vary widely — some sites take decades depending on contamination depth, groundwater involvement, and funding availability.
EPA has identified 4 contaminants of concern at this site, including cadmium, copper, lead. Contamination has been detected in sediment, soil, solid waste, surface water, groundwater.
If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.